Animal Emergency Service Fast Facts!

First Aid Kit

Carrying a few basic items can ease the stress of simple emergencies when away from home. Start with a small collection of the following:

1. Tweezers
2. Sterile saline (contact lens solution)
3. Roll gauze and gauze sponge
4. Adhesive tape
5. Antibiotic ointment
6. Nylon leash
7. Latex gloves

Household Medications

DO NOT give your pet any medications (Advil,Tylenol, aspirin, etc.) without checking with a veterinarian first. Many human drugs are toxic to animals and could preclude use of important medications to help your pet.

Artificial Respiration

Check the airway for any foreign objects and then gently hold the muzzle sealing the mouth and lips with your hands. Forcefully blow air into the animal’s nose. Give four or five rapid breaths and then check to see if the animal begins breathing without assistance. If not, repeat until you reach a veterinary hospital or for a maximum of 20 minutes.

Performing CPR

DO NOT assume that there is no heartbeat or pulse simply because an animal is not breathing. Do not start chest compressions before checking for a heartbeat. If the animal is conscious and responds to you, then the heart is beating.

Small Dog (< 30 lbs.) or Cat:
Lay your pet down on it's right side with the chest facing you. Kneel and place the palm of one of your hands over the ribs at the point where the elbow touches the chest. Place your other hand underneath the right side. With your elbows softly locked, compress the chest 1/2 to 1 inch. If working alone, perform 5 chest compressions for each breath (see above) for five rotations and then check for pulse. If there are two people, have one perform the compressions at a rate of three compressions for each breath, then check for pulse.

Medium to Large Dog (30-90 lbs.):
Stand or kneel with the animal’s chest towards you. Extend your arms at the elbows and cup your hands. At the point where the left elbow lies when pulled back to the chest, compress the chest about 1 - 3 inches. If working alone, perform 5 chest compressions for each breath (see above) for five rotations and then check for pulse. If there are two people, have one perform the compressions at a rate of two or three compressions for each breath, then check for pulse.

Giant Dogs (90+ lbs.):
Use technique for medium to large dogs but do ten compressions for each breath and then check for pulse.

Vital Signs

Taking a Heart Rate or Pulse:
The heartbeat of a dog or cat can be felt at about the point where the left elbow touches the chest (about the 5th rib). Place your hand or stethoscope over this area and count the heartbeats.

Pulses can also be felt with a light touch on the inner thigh approximately half way between the front and back of the leg, just below the wrist on the front legs or just below the ankle of the rear legs.

Normal Heart and Pulse Rates:
Small breed Dogs (< 30 lbs.): 100-160 beats per minute.
Medium to large breed Dogs (30+ lbs.): 60-100 beats per minute.
Puppy (until 1 year old): 120-160 beats per minute.
Cats: 60 - 220 beats per minute.

Normal Breathing Rates:
Dogs: 10 - 30 breaths per minute and up to 200 pants per minute.
Cats: 20 - 30 breaths per minute. (Note: Panting in a cat can be a sign of serious illness and requires immediate veterinary attention.)

Normal Temperatures:
Dogs: 100° - 102.5° F
Cats: 100° - 102.5° F

Animal Emergency Service, 825 White Spruce Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14623
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