How to perform Chest or Heart Compressions on a collapsed dog

 

This incident occurred on 3/16/08.

 

I let Jack out and he played crazy for a couple of minutes with the younger dogs and then collapsed.  I ran to him, dropped to my knees and scooped him up.  He was dazed and moving very little.  I couldn't get up because of my bad knees.  Jack was limp by now.

Al was right behind me so I handed Jack to him with one arm under his belly and the other arm under his chest.  I did this so when he lifted him  he had Jack's heart in the crook of his arm.

As we ran to the house, Jack's gums & tongue went totally blue.  We thought we lost him.  All the time, I was screaming, "Stay with me Jack!  

 

By the time we got to the top of the stairs, Jack started to kick.

Al laid him on the couch and I continued to stimulate him by rubbing his chest and face briskly and constantly talking to him.  His gums were white then and slowly went to pink.    I called the heart specialist and was told to immediately give him an increase of his heart meds.

Jack then began a very excited period of activity because his adrenalin was pumped so high.  His body did it to bring him back to life.  He drank  a lot of water and ran around like nothing had happened.  I put the holter on him right after we decided he was stabilized.

After about an hour, he was so tired his eyelids bagged.  He slept for 6 hours straight with us constantly checking on him.  This was due to his  body recovering.  His medication is now changed and so far it's  working.  Today he is his usual self, barking at the others and playing  with his squeaky ball. He'll see the cardiologist tomorrow.

What saved Jack's life was the chest compressions Al gave him by carrying him in that manner.  Because Jack's heart was in the crook of his arm, every time Al took a step it compressed Jack's heart.  Going up the stairs probably jarred Jack which added more heart stimulation.

I am so glad I was home and that we were watching  him.  I am so thankful that I learned this technique years ago and knew what to do.

You should all become familiar with how to do this.  It could save your dog's life one day.  It can't work in every situation, but I am glad it worked for Jack!

Shown above is the way to carry your dog to perform chest compressions.  This must be done as fast as possible after they collapse.  When the dog is collapsed, he will hang and be totally limp, so his chest will fall deep into your elbow. 

 

Jack is fighting me on this demonstration because he is not collapsed.  Do not attempt this procedure if the dog is awake and alert.

 

Jack is shown above on 3/23/08 doing fine!

 

It's easier to demonstrate without all of the extra help!

 

I am getting too old to lift these boxers anymore!

 

 

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