In emergency situations, you may not always be able to make it to the vet in time. If something should happen to your pet and their breathing or heartbeat stops, you may be able to save them by performing CPR. To help you learn the correct way to perform CPR on your pet, Fairport Animal Hospital in Fairport, NY, offers a background of the basics.

In an emergency situation, call a veterinarian first. Describe what happened as fully as possible and listen to any instructions they give. In the event your pet’s airway is blocked, Fairport Animal Hospital recommends doing the following:

• Mouth-To-Nose Resuscitation: Unlike giving CPR to a human, when resuscitating your pet, close the animal’s mouth and breathe into their nostrils. Give three to four strong breaths to begin. If they’re still not breathing after that, continue breathing for the animal 10 to 12 times per minute.
• Chest Compressions: If your pet doesn’t have a heartbeat, you will need to perform some chest compressions to try and get their heart beating again. Fairport Animal Hospital recommends giving five chest compressions for every one quick breath and continuing until the animal starts breathing on their own again.
• Get To The Vet: If your pet isn’t responding to mouth-to-nose resuscitation or chest compressions, get them to an emergency vet as soon as possible. Have someone else drive so you can continue to perform CPR on your pet until you make it to the animal hospital.

Whether your pet is experiencing an emergency or just needs a routine checkup, the compassionate veterinarians at Fairport Animal Hospital are there for your best friend. To schedule an appointment, call (585) 388-1070. You can also visit them online for a full list of their services.