Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (cpr)

CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important emergency lifesaving technique to know, although it is rarely needed by pet owners.

CPR is used whenever there is an event or illness that causes breathing or the heartbeat to stop, such as drowning, electric shock, or choking. It can also be used to assist severely impaired breathing or heart function. Signs that indicate the need for CPR include unconsciousness accompanied by absence of a heartbeat, absence of a pulse, mucous membranes that are gray, blue, or white (pale pink or normal pink color may be present if aid is administered immediately), dilated pupils, and failure to breathe.

CPR must be administered within three to five minutes of respiratory and/or cardiac arrest to be effective. Its two components, artificial respiration and external heart massage, are described below.