A. Airway

1. Pull the tongue out of the animal’s mouth.
2. Make sure the neck is reasonably straight.
3. Attempt 2 rescue breaths by closing the mouth and performing mouth-to-nose ventilations. If they go in successfully continue to B. Breathing
4. Reposition the neck and try step 3 again.
5. Visually inspect the airway by looking into the mouth and down the throat for foreign objects occluding the airway. Reach into the airway and remove foreign objects that are visible.

B. Breathing

1. Pull the tongue out of the animal’s mouth and straighten its neck.
2. Close the animal’s mouth and perform mouth-to-nose ventilations. If they do not go in with ease go to A. Airway.
3. Ventilate at 20 breaths per minute. If supplemental oxygen is available and the animal is breathing on its own, use a high-flow blowby.
4. Proceed to C. Circulation while continuing respiratory support as necessary.
5. Turn the animal upside down with its back against your chest.
6. With both arms give 5 sharp thrusts to the abdomen. Stop and check the airway for the object. If it can be removed, give 2 rescue breaths.

C. Circulation

1. Make sure that there are no major points of bleeding. Control as necessary.
2. Lay the animal on its right side.
3. Locate your hands where its left elbow touches the chest, at approximately the middle of the rib cage.
4. Compress the chest 15 times followed by 2 rescue breaths (3 compressions every 2 seconds).
Compress: ½” - small dogs
1” - medium dogs
1.5” - large dogs
5. Repeat as necessary.


From Colorado Book Associates Inc.