First CPR Guidelines For Cats And Dogs Released

If your dog has a heart attack and collapses, what should you do?

For years, different veterinarians may have offered different pieces of advice -- but now veterinary medicine researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University have produced the first set of evidence-based guidelines for resuscitating dogs and cats with stopped hearts.

University of Pennsylvania researcher Manuel Boller and his colleagues looked at decades of peer-reviewed data and determined that the proper rate for chest compressions on dogs and cats is between 100 and 120 per minute. That's the same rhythm recommended for humans. It also happens to align to the 103-bpm Bee Gees classic disco hit "Stayin' Alive," which studies have shown aids medical students in performing chest compressions.

The guidelines, while primarily for veterinarians, are "very translatable to pet owners and bystanders," Boller said in a phone interview.

Of course, performing chest compressions on a Pekingese is very different from doing so on a full-grown person, or even on a Great Dane.

For most dogs, you can apply chest compressions to the widest part of the chest while the animal lies on its side. Credit: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

For most dogs, chest compressions can be performed on the widest part of the chest while the animal's lying on its side. But in some breeds like greyhounds with more keel-shaped chests, the guidelines recommend pushing down closer to the dog's armpit, directly over the heart. Barrel-chested dogs like English bulldogs can be laid on their back and compressed on the sternum, like people.

Smaller cats and dogs can either be chest-compressed with one hand wrapped around the sternum, encircling the heart or two-handed on the ribs.

For cats and small dogs, you can use one hand wrapped around the sternum to try and restart the heart. Credit: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

One fundamental difference between human patients and animal patients is that dogs and cats have much lower rates of coronary heart disease, the most common cause for cardiac arrest in people.

"Sudden cardiac arrest in dogs is therefore not as common as in people and may be more comparable to what occurs in young athletes with structural abnormalities of the heart muscle or a defect in the electrical circuitry," Boller said in an email.

Pets can also suffer a cardiac arrest due to difficulties with breathing or a severe illness that also affects the heart.

Boller says it's gratifying to have these standards, especially since the original experiments on animals used in their review were instrumental in developing CPR guidelines for people.

"Now we can translate that benefit back to their own kind," he says.

SOURCE: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 22. Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation: Evidence and Knowledge Gap Analysis on Veterinary CPR.

Ask the Vet - What should I do if my dog has a constant cough?

My dog "coughs" alot. She is a chihweenie, & it almost seems to be a nervous habit of hers. It does seem to happen when she is excited, like when we get home aftet being gone awhile. It sounds like honking. Every dog I have ever had has coughed a few times in their lives, but, this one excessively coughs. Do you know what this could be and should I have it checked?

Coughing can occur for a variety of reasons in our canine patients. A cough originates from the respiratory structures, but can be caused by primary disease in the lungs or in the heart. Physical examination can give us clues as to what the cause of the cough might be.

Coughing that originates from the trachea, or the windpipe, is frequently described as a 'honking' cough. Tracheal irritation can occur from infectious diseases such as Infectious Tracheobronchitis (commonly known as Kennel Cough) or from structural problems in the trachea.

A commonly seen structural problem in middle aged, small breed dogs is called Collapsing Trachea. The trachea is a tubular structure that is held in place by C-shaped rings of cartilage. A ligament connects the two ends of the 'C'. This ligament can become floppy as the pet ages and the cartilage rings weaken. When the ligament 'collapses ' into the airway, the patient coughs. Unfortunately, the more the patient coughs, the more inflamed the ligament becomes, allowing it to further collapse into the trachea. An important part of treating the disease is stopping this cycle of coughing.

Radiographs of the patient's thorax and neck, especially if taken while the patient is coughing, can often be diagnostic for this condition.

Many patients with Collapsing Trachea can be treated medically with cough suppressants and anti-inflammatory medications. Removing any sources of airway irritants, such as secondhand smoke, is also very important. Weight loss can be helpful in patients that are overweight.

However, in some severely affected patients, surgery is indicated. Recently, a procedure has been adapted from human medicine that involves placement of a wire mesh stent that holds the trachea open.

It is important that any coughing patient be seen by your veterinarian to rule out other causes of coughing, such as primary heart disease or disease of the lower airways.

Dr. Julie Irwin

Dr. Julie Irwin, VMD was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She attended Cornell University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree with a dual major in Mathematics and Biology. She then attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, graduating in 1998. Julie and Steve met in veterinary school and were married shortly after graduation. Julie’s other interests include rowing, cross-country skiing and hiking. She and Steve, along with their three children, have recently relocated to Seattle and are enjoying exploring the Pacific Northwest.

http://www.seattledogspot.com/blog/2012/07/20/ask-the-vet

Pets & Insects

It's time to go outdoors with your pet and check out all flowers and plants. Make sure to keep an eye on your pet in case a bee decides he doesn't want your pet to get up close and personal. There are all sorts of flying critters out in the garden, so make sure your pet is protected from allergic reactions to insect bites or stings. Protect your pet so you both can enjoy the summer season together!