New Zealand company, really high-quality pet food. Leo licks the bowl clean when he eats this. Smells really good, high percentage of meat. Super nutritional and I love that it has Green Lipped Mussel, really great for joint health.
Hi! So sorry this is a long overdue update, I've been settling in for school (only a little over a month left?! no way!)
Because Leo is not the biggest fan of sugary foods (phew) his teeth is usually not forming cavities. However, when I do give him sticky foods such as a little bit of cooked rice, or yams, I do make sure he gets some healthy gums afterwards.
He loves the flavour of healthy gums and, I have realized applying it on my fingers first then wiping that on his gums is a much better way of administering this product. Also please watch out, if you do drop if on your white shirt, wash it immediately.
Here's more information on Healthy Gums:
Periodontal health is something every dog owner needs to be aware of once a canine reaches age 2 to 3. Multiple factors determine oral health status and these will become more critical as your pet ages. In particular, consider the type of diet your pet eats (including treats) and anything else your pet chews.
Early and advanced stages of gingivitis are both reversible.
I do really like this product and would recommend it.
4.75/5 [Has Rosemary. There has been some kind of connection between Rosemary and dog seizures. If your dog is prone to Seizures, I would not recommend this.]
This may be one of his favourite foods ever. He licks the bowl clean when this is given. I don't really buy into the "Holistic" stuff but it doesn't mean anything holistic is bad. This is advertised as such, and it is fantastic food. The beef is free range, the zucchini is definitely there. He does really well on it despite the fact that there's potato in this and he usually gets yeasty when potatoes are eaten.
Also the food smells great from a human perspective as well!
So as Autumn is in full swing, dogs like Leo who don't have a lot of winter fur and is used to Mexican weather is starting to want to stay indoors more often. I try to get him out of the house but he just shivers at our front door. That's okay!! We just jacket him then he feels a little better.
I'm still putting Agile Joints into his food every morning, for joint health and arthritis prevention. When he is out and playing, he seems as energetic as ever. I still try to run stairs once a week and he still beats me everytime!
I do recommend this awesome product, especially for middle to senior aged dogs like Leo.
So Leo is still doing really well with the SPARK supplement, He still devours it with his food as per usual. I put a little water with the powder since I am afraid he might get the powder in his nose. it helps his digestion and keeps his fur super super soft. People always compliment on how soft he is (which I wish he understood!)
Spark also gives the pets healthy bones, better nutrient absorption, and stronger immune system! So all around a great product.
(This is from Pet Wellbeing and I think it's great info)
Healthy Gums is a potent infused herbal product with added nutrients for gum and oral health: Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin C and Zinc. It does not contain alcohol or harsh ingredients that can cause further irritation of the gums!
I've been trying a new tactic because even though he is a small dog, and it's not that hard to force his mouth open, he hates it. So I've been dripping it on my fingers and swiping his gums with it. It works pretty well since he really likes the bacon flavor of it. His breath also smells great! Please click here for more information on Healthy Gums
Every morning I give him 3 to 5 drops of this stuff and he always LOVES it. He runs around like a little rascal when I walk him and of course, I want him to be as healthy and happy like this, always. This product is really solid, made of good, natural ingredients.
Of course, the most important thing to prevent arthritis for human AND pets is keeping a really healthy weight. Once you've got that down, you can take things to the next level, do some conditioning with Agile Joints.
People don't usually associate Gum health and Heart/ cardiovascular health
(I understand, they aren't exactly the closest thing on the body)
But they are closely linked due to blood vessels.
Essentially when you have plaque on your gums, it goes into the bloodstream and just like cholesterol, it blocks the arteries.
And of course, this does not only happen to humans. Dogs and cats also have hearts, and they can also have heart diseases.
Thankfully, Leo doesn't like to eat sweets. However, the fruit and vegetables we give him still has a significant amount of sugar.
This is why I use healthy gums for his health and his breathe. When we went to the vet, she told us that his teeth is okay for now, but we need to be diligent about brushing it. I try to brush it once ever few days (it's not ideal but I'll improve)
But the gum drops only take about 1 min (if he behaves) and I find that his gums do look cleaner as well as immediately fresher breathe. Healthy gums is also completely natural with really clean ingredients so I'm really happy with it. His breath smells super nice and fresh and,
you know what, when he smiles (which he does when he is taking nap usually), it looks bright!
Leo's taking a small break before going out for more exercising!
So sorry for the late update, I'm actually overseas for school and traveling this summer. But reports from my family members who are taking care of Leo says he is doing super well and his fur is as soft as ever. He is also energetic and soooo happy to just hangout and do lots of outdoor activities!
Agile joints is a fantastic supplement that is natural. Not to mention he enjoys the taste of it! I just asked my family to put 3 drops on his food in the morning and he eats it happily. Although he is senior, he can still climb stairs with more agility than me even! With this supplement, I hope to climb stairs with him for many many years to come.
Please click here for more information, this is one of my favorite companies for Pet products and not only do they have great customer service, but they also truly care about pets!
A little update on SPARK, his fur has never felt so incredibly soft! It looks shiny and feels almost velvety. His appetite is great as is his energy levels. I just put a little bit in every morning, and he loves the taste as well!
I have purchased a couple open range products in the past and had loved them. So it wasn't long until I got this bully "spring" in which I felt that it was easier to chew for leo (not necessarily a good thing if I want him to use it as a dental stick) but nevertheless he likes it as well.
This one is made of muscle, so I wouldn't really consider it an authentic bully stick but works about the same way. Is not as smelly as Bully sticks.
After me dicing it up and putting some water with it. Looked a little like canned food.
As mentioned before, I love freeze dried stuff. This food just looked and smelled really good. It was quite light but substantial. Leo had it for dinner one night and he devoured it. Looking at the ingredients, I thought that it was definitely a top notch choice.
I'm also a sucker for gorgeous packaging.
Because it is got an impressive ingredient list, it is quite a pricey food. However, I do trust and believe it is a fantastic product. So if your budget allows, I would recommend this food. They also have food for cats as well.
After accidentally feeding him puppy food, we thought that the results were surprisingly not bad despite it was pretty high in fat and protein. So I decided to try the adult version with the same main meats. There are many meats at the front of the ingredient list, which I'm happy about.
Leo has always enjoyed Petcurean food despite his potato sensitivity (he gets yeasty/ shakes head a lot). This one has a significant lower percentage of potatoes than the Now! line which I stay away from now. He maintained his healthy weight on this kibble and it smelled pretty amazing.
Personally, I am still questioning the importance of grain free, as I feed my dog oatmeal occasionally and it just.. works with his body. But it's good to know the option to go grain free is out there.
I would recommend this food if your dog does not have potato problems.
Hello readers! Happy sunday, you know what time it is!! It's time for another update!
Healthy gums and overall good dental health promotes
Good resistance to oral infections
Less plaque build up
More pleasant breath
Soothing of the gums
Prevention of problems that result from gum inflammation
Although Leo is still fidgety when I apply this to his gums, He does also lick it up afterwards (which means that he likes the taste!) I may have found a solution.
What this product does is give him AMAZING breath. Truly a good breath refresher after those delicious salmon treats.
I like to read through ingredient lists and found this one to be full of natural and herbal stuff, which I love. And did I mention it smells amazing? (I did. :P)
The woman who either baked them / works for the company is inCREDIBLY friendly and approachable. I had such a good time talking to her. She also loved Leo. This is 100% salmon skin. which is the only ingredient, which I like. Leo ADORES this (as you can see in the video)
They look and smell really phenomenal. Crispy goodness.
Has it been another week already? Time is flying by these days!
I just wanted to update on SPARK and let you know that Leo is still doing very well on it!
Now that we have run out of yougurt for now, I have simply been mixing this all in one supplement with a little water and then putting his breakfast into the water! One thing about adding water to kibble though - Please read the ingredients and watch out for citric acid - If there is citric acid, there is a high chance of BLOAT for especially large dogs if you add water to it. Bloat is a painful condition in which dogs will need to go to the emergency since their stomachs can twist.
Leo still loves this, and his poop and fur all look really nice. He has lots of energy and can take super long walks with me. He also sleeps very well.
Here are just some of the benefits of SPARK
Healthy bones, teeth and coat
Good digestion and nutrient absorption
Joint and muscle health
Immune system and normal recovery
Healthy hormone levels
Fighting free radical damage (anti-oxidant)
Important vitamins & minerals for growth, aging and normal cell repair
Okay perhaps this is for a 4 pound dog because my 9 pound dog does not chew on these because they are so tiny. They smelled really good though.
My review 3/5/ Leo's review, 4/5
Aside from potatoes, I love all the ingredients in this food - omega 3 and 6, coconut oil, etc.
While I've heard other dogs do super well on this formula, mine was not the best.
NOW FRESH is Petcurean's "fresher" line. When I was trying this out I noticed that Leo was shaking his head a lot (1 sign of yeast overgrowth) and he was also smelling like yeast. Then I noticed that this line is heavy in potatoes. However, this could also be from other reasons but this is the biggest suspect as of now. I switched him to a less potato-y food and he's definitely shaking his head less.
Although it is suitable for more older dogs, I felt that their GO! line is still an superior product. And look at the kibble! He was swallowing them whole. I wish it was the same design just twice as big.
Even for a chihuahua, I felt that the kibbles were a little bit too tiny.
Overall, I trust Petcurean as a company and they have a fantastic company that always donates food to shelters.
Wow! This is quickly becoming one of my most viewed series! I'm so glad you all enjoy my reviews of supplements!
This week, I'm going to reviewing Healthy Gums by Pet Well-being. Gums, the red part on top of your teeth, essentially your teeth's clothes, are an extremely important part of your body. Did you know that having bad gums causes plaque that can cause obstructions in the arteries, and dogs and humans can die from heart attacks and aneurysms from it? Not many people pay attention to their dog's teeth but they really, really should. Plaque is common and it needs attention because it's terrible for the overall being.
Out of the 3 supplements I have reviewed so far, this is one you might need to ease your pet into it. Leo does enjoy the flavor, it's just that it's always hard to force a dog to show his gums when he' not pissed at you. (Not that Leo's ever showed his gums to me)
The smell is super pleasant, it smells like oranges and mint. When we visited the vet, she said his gums are okay for now but if it gets worse (he has a small amount of plaque), we might need to give him a dental cleaning. This product will help aid in keeping his gums healthy.
Hello everyone! Welcome back to Supplement Sunday. Today, I'm going to review, SPARK, from Pet Wellbeing essentially a multivitamin and nutritional supplement for your pets (works for cats too)!
Some of the benefits of SPARK are:
Healthy bones, teeth and coat
Good digestion and nutrient absorption
Joint and muscle health
Immune system and normal recovery
Healthy hormone levels
Fighting free radical damage (anti-oxidant)
Important vitamins & minerals for growth, aging and normal cell repair
The ones I am most interested in are - Immune system and good digestion.
(Spoon not included haha)
5/5
SPARK is a dark green powder that reminds me of spirulina (which IS one of the ingredients). Click the ingredient list.I first tried gave it to him in powder form and he licked most of it up. I have also tried adding a little water and giving to him in a paste, which he liked as well. But what I enjoy most is putting a dollop of greek yougurt and this powder on top, before his breakfast.
I have noticed that his poops look more Ahem, "well rounded" and more structured with SPARK and he seems to have more energy as well. Especially for allergy season like now, I think it's absolutely vital for him to keep his immune system strong. His coat also feels soft.
Raw feeding is all the rage right now. I personally am not doing raw feeding just yet BUT I do feed him an variety of stuff (raw bones, vegetables) so there is definitely a possibility that his diet is unbalanced, so this supplement is a great add on. I do absolutely recommend this for people who are doing raw feeding.
UPDATE: on agile joints. (Click me to read the review of Agile joints) Leo seems to have a fuller range of movement now, before, he never used to lie with his hips on the ground, now he does it effortlessly. WOOHOO!!! He also continues to do great at stairs.
Pet wellbeing is a fantastic website and a Canadian company that I trust. They not only have great customer service, swift shipping time but also quality products.
You can also purchase it from Amazon by clicking down below as well.
On a nice saturday, the fam popped over to our favorite pet food shop, My Fluffy Friends to check out a food demo!
On top, it says 100% ingredients approved for human consumption(impressive)but honestly I had 0 urges to taste it. The food looked very bland.
This is definitely a gourmet food, I love the whole design of the labels - very chic. But is Leo chomping down on the the label designs? Noooo... In the information package, there are 6 things their customers have claimed (I like science, but you know, we will work with what we've got)
No more allergies
Disappearance of tartar (This is possible since the food is quite hard)
Improved joint mobility
Improved digestion
Shinier coat
No more burnt grass
The food smelled like nothing, which concerns me a little. Where's the smell? Where is that FLAVORTOWN I love so much? Also they say I could rehydrate (which I regret not trying) but it just seems like another extra step.
I received a generous sample from a demo event at a local pet food shop. Noticed right away that while Leo was eating the food, he wasn't wolfing it down like when I feed him his normal petfood (Currently Petcurean). I also noticed that he had a little difficulty breaking the food into smaller pieces (If I am correct, they are about the same size as these marrow bones and also kind of looked like them)
With the leftovers, I just toss 3 or 4 into his regular food, and use it as treats. He does a moderate tail wag for them but no EXCITEMENT EXCITEMENT he gets with other treats. I am very interested in dehydrated foods (which is a nice in between raw and kibble) But this one just seemed... brittle.
While the ingredients actually look pretty good (First few are Deboned-chicken, Green Lentil, Chicken Liver) the protein content (24%) is not as high as I'd like it to be.
All in all, Leo with Canisource is like me with Kale - I'll eat it, but I'm not going to be ecstatic about it unless you put on a delicious sauce.
Again, another Canadian company. I do trust that their ingredients are good, but perhaps a little less animal protein as I'd prefer. This also seems like if you dehydrated it, would make a decent topper.
This is a new exciting segment I am starting today. Supplement Sunday aims to help give you in depth information and my personal review of the pet supplements that are on the market.
Today, I will be reviewing Agile Joints by Pet Wellbeing. A wonderful Vet approved preventative product that can also be used for post surgery recovery for your older pets.
Leo may still look like a puppy (I get stopped on walks by people asking how many months he is!) but he is already in his fiftys in human years. I noticed that almost every time he sits down, his knees crack, so I was looking for a joint medicine that would alleviate this problem. Additionally, I take him stair walking sometimes and just really want to take care of his joints.
After using Agile joints for a week, I'm happy to say that his knees crack considerably less.
Agile Joints is super easy to use and Leo eats it like normal. One way you can administer it is simply drop it into his mouth, but Leo is a little squirmy when we try to open his mouth so I usually JUST drop 2 to 3 drops onto his breakfast kibble and he eats it like normal.
This is can used in conjunction with with Glucosamine and chondroitin which I believe is an ingredient in his kibble so it was perfect.
The bottle itself is shelf stable (you don't need to put it in the fridge) and The dropper has the ml written on it already.
We will continue to use this and check up with you next week (along with an review of a new product!)
So, a TLDR for those who hasn't got any time for reading:
Agile Joints is an anti inflammatory supplement for your older cats and dogs.
It's herbal and tastes like bacon
Leo has had less joint cracking since using this product
Click here if you'd like more information, see other people's reviews and purchase this product for your fur baby!
You can also purchase it from Amazon by clicking down below as well.
As mentioned in a previous post, we bought this after the huge success with the other open range treat. This one takes significant longer time to finish since it's harder.
We got him a very long one and hacked it into 1/3 s with a butchers knife. It took a considerable amount of effort.
Below is where you can see more information about this bully stick
Since it's a Canadian company, I'm not sure you can get it from the US. Please let me know!
If only we all had a Cap America in our lives.
Leo does like to chew on this as well BUT one warning is that with any bullystick, you MUST be present because when they are small enough, your fido CAN and might try to swallow it and it's a chocking hazard. WHAT TO DO WITH LEFTOVER BULLYSTICK
The first one third, we would give him the bullystick until he drops it to go look for other food. Then I pick it up and put it in a ziplock bag and put in the freezer.
1 this keeps it fresh
2 it kills bacteria.
When we want to give him the bully-stick again, I just take it out from the freezer and throw it on the ground.
In Our recent vet visit, I was told that his teeth is okay for now and a small reason could be that we are using bully sticks. I also brush his teeth, which will be in a future post!
Do you feed your dogs bullysticks? If so, which kind?
Some background information - Leo was very recently adopted (a about month ago) and we know that he has not had any vaccines done in the past 5 years. It's always important to see a vet, not just when emergency happens but also for wellness checks.
We have a family friend who is a fantastic vet so of course we went to her Capitol Hill Animal Hospital which was a really positive experience.
The annual exam and vaccines took about 30 minutes and she answered many of my questions and concerns.
TIPS FOR GOING TO THE VET
If it's your first time with your adopted/rescue pet, IF you do have any documents, bring a copy of them so they can put it on file. If not, then it's okay.
Have a list of questions either written down or in your mind
Have the pet on leash since there is a high chance there are other animals and dogs at the vet.
Let the dog pee before hand.
Book your appointment in advance
DOGGO GOT -
Lyme Vaccination (needs a booster shot in a month) - We got this for him because I found a tick in my front yard. Also ticks love shrubby areas which we frequent.
Leptospirosis (Found in Raccoon and Skunk Urine). Although my doggo does actively avoid waters, he also steps in puddles with full confidence. And I do want to take him swimming sometime. However, I read afterwards that Lepto is only effective for 30% of dogs, so this is one I need to research more.
IN ADDITION,
Our Chi likes to scoot on the carpet. And this is usually a sign that his anal glands are filed up.
So we got his anal glands expressed (they were pretty big.)
We are going to add more fiber into his diet. Metamucil and pumpkin was recommended.
LEO is an active senior dog that is around 4kg and I fed 1/3 of a cup of this food a day + snacks such as veggies and a spoon of yougurt. He walks average an hour a day.
4.75/5 Leo gives it a 100% amazing delicious wow gimme more.
You know, sometimes I make mistakes. I read ingredients and percentages so diligently I forget to look at the label on the front. Definitely saw that this had fish meal and a significant amount of protein got too excited.
So I got a sample bag. Leo adores this food. The small kibble size is fairly easy for him to gobble up, I noticed that the kibble itself is quite shiny (It is high in fat and protein to promote the growth of a puppy). And of course, there are many arguments on the internet about if a senior dog needs as much protein (I personally believe so). All in all, this, on top of many other factors, Leo gained a tiny bit of weight. (half a pound) But generally speaking, he maintained his weight and honestly, everything is pretty good and I would recommend this food. One thing I'd like to add is that due to it being quite oily, one should add a little more fibre into their puppy's diet such as Steamed pumpkin and Yams.
A personal preference thing is that his breath smells quite fishy since it's got trout in it. One way to counter this, is with a minty gum supplement called Healthy Gums which I will do a complete separate post about soon. I've tried the home remedy of Cilantro but it didn't make much of a difference. Fish is one of the best proteins and other minerals for canine health.
He digests this food well and his poos are looking good on this puppy food.
I love this brand because it's Canadian and their ingredients are quite good. On active online communities, it has always been held in high regard.
Let me know what kind of main dish you feed your Fido in a comment below!
Just some background information. Leo is an active 8 or 9 years old chihuahua that currently weights 4kg or 8.8 pounds. This is the beef chomper, I got the 4 inch.
Open range farm is a Canadian owned company and I appreciate that their products have minimal packaging. I personally bought this bully stick from Tisol but many other pet stores carry it.
I was looking around for a good bully stick and honestly thought this looked a little too hard. Little did I know, he devoured it in 20 minutes - the entire thing!!! I tried to take it away from him at one point and he just started to pretty much gulp it.
So in retrospect, I would recommend this as a treat (especially for medium sized and large dogs)
but for chihuahuas, I would saw it in half so he can enjoy it two times.
However, seeing this is beef esophagus, it actually looked quite high in fat content, so I would recommend lowering his calorie intake in other foods and/or taking him on extra long walks the next few days.
Leo gives this a 5/5 (I LOVE THIS WOULD INHALE AGAIN)
I give it a 4.5/5 because I doubt it's teeth cleaning properties and also the need to portion it out for him for next time. Would repurchase.
We recently bought the water buffalo stick from the same company, so look out for that review soon!
The trendy girl in me (although this may not be reflected upon how I dress) is always looking at the global trends of things. Whether it is cars, technology, entertainment, or food. Of course, I saw a couple interesting pet food articles that presented the global pet food trends of late 2015 early 2016.
Here are some notable quotes I pulled from the articles.
Aging animals suffer from age-related conditions such as joint, coronary, cognitive, and immune-system issues, and even diabetes and cancer.
The pet industry saw a wave of premiumization in 2014, such as organic and natural treats, food, and toys, as well as high-tech medical therapies, prescription medications, and luxury services.
Many companies and brands still push the human/pet bond theme...
A survey conducted in January 2015 found that only 11 percent of dog owners say they have an overweight dog and 20 percent of cat owners say they have an overweight cat. When in reality, just over half of American dogs are overweight, and 58 percent of cats are overweight.
While still a small category at only US$74 million in 2014 (just 1% of the petfood market in that channel), sales of freeze-dried petfoods and treats increased 43.7% from 2013.
Grain-free petfood sales reached US$2.2 billion in 2014—a 30% petfood market share in US pet specialty—and accounted for four of every 10 new items.
Another major petfood launch announced at GPE came from Nutram, a division of Canada-based, private label manufacturer Elmira Pet Products.
more than 10% of US pet owners are new pet owners, equating to nearly eight million new pet owners within the last year, the majority of which are Gen Y and Gen X.
Vet Ranch is one of the best Youtube channels right now. Just watch this amazing video. <3 I always learn so much and feel so much when he saves animals.
Mercola, a little bit of a more corporate channel BUT has lots of good information. They never push their product which is nice.
One of my favorite charities, with a wonderful Youtube channel.
Their videos are definitely getting better with time. I recommend following your local SPCA's youtube. Lots of good info.
If you ever felt like you need a good cry but also a restoration in humanity, watch these amazing rescue stories.
BONUS VIDEO
One of the chillest people ever, tells us what good stuff she gives to her dog to keep him healthy!!! Most of her other videos are human food based, but I found this video to be super helpful.
Hello, it's me! Leo! The little dog that everyone adores! I guess it wouldn't exactly be a blog about my life if I didn't tell you some of my favorite foods!!
RICE
When I first arrived in my new home, I found my first obsession, rice! It's soooo yummy!! and smells so appetizing!
Rice Pros: surprising rich in nutrients, yummy, easy to digest
Rice cons: Lots of sugar so it's bad for teeth.
ALTERNATIVES: brown rice, just cook it longer than white rice
OATMEAL
What is it with breakfast foods? Why so good?
Oatmeal Pros: Good for regulating bowel movements, easy to digest, especially good for older dogs
Oatmeal cons: If you are using steel cut oats like I am, try to cook then leave in a slow cooker overnight.
BROCCOLI STEMS
Oh my god!!! SOOO crunchy!! and great amount of antioxidants!!
Pros: nutrient rich, good fiber
Cons: too much of this may cause Hypothyroidism (similar to raw cabbage), Do not feed too much broccoli florets (the flower part) because it has traces of something poisonous for dogs.
CUCUMBER
you may be beginning to see a pattern here... I really like crunchy green vegetables. hehe!
PROS: good for cooling off after a hot day, good source of Vitamin K
CONS: NEED. TO. PEE!!!!!
EGGS (FREE RANGE)
Sooooo yummy. Just leave me with the leftovers in the shell and I'll be sooo happy!
Pros: Protein, many other important nutrients, keeps fur very shiny!
Cons: Some say high in cholesterol, give it once every week or every two weeks.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Tumeric powder (a lil mix with raw egg) anti inflammatory,
Small amounts of Tomato (too much can cause heart problems)
Small amounts of shrimp and fish
Ground flaxseed (fiber & good digestion)
Coconut oil on Rye crackers (SO. YUM.)
Carrots (very finely chopped and sometimes cooked with coconut oil)
Watermelon rinds
In order to be on the safe side, please try a small amount first, just in case your dog is allergic to any of these items! No dogs are born the same (unless they are twins I guess..) Also it's very important to try one food at a time, for the digestion to be optimum.
More to come! Please follow this blog to see my future posts!
TLDR: FOR SMALL DOGS hold them upside down by their back and shake vigorously. OR place two knuckles of one hand on the abdomen just below the ribs and the other hand flat on the dog's back to help steady him, then give a quick, hard poke upward with your knuckles.
Sometimes my dog eats something too fast or too much grass and he does the hairball cough up thing that cats do. I noticed this and thought about how I don't have adequate information to do CPR or the Heimlich Maneuver if anything serious happens. So here's some research I did.
Prevention and knowledge is key. It's good to read this over so when panic sets in you know what to do.
How to Give Canine CPR By Lori S. Mohr (as referenced by First Aid For Dogs by Tim Hawcroft)
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is the process of breathing life back into an unconscious human. A similar technique can also work effectively on dogs.
The signs that indicate the need for CPR include unconsciousness, lack of arousal, lack of physical movement, or eye blinking. These symptoms can occur from drowning, choking, electrical shock, or a number of other situations.
The key to canine CPR is remembering the ABCs: A irway, B reathing, and C ardiac compression.
To perform the three techniques, follow these steps. Lay the dog on a flat surface on its right side and extend the head back to create an airway.
Open the jaws to check for obstructions, and if any exist and are not easily removed, do one of two things, depending on the size of the dog. For small dogs, hold them upside down by their back end and shake vigorously to try removing the obstruction. For large dogs, lay them on their side and, if necessary, use long-nosed pliersto remove the obstruction.
Cup your hands around the muzzle of the dog's mouth so that only the nostrils are clear. Blow air into the nostrils with five or six quick breaths, again, depending on the size of the dog. Continue the quick breaths at a rate of one breath every three seconds or 20 breaths per minute. Small dogs and puppies require short and shallow breaths. Large dogs need longer and deeper breaths.
Check for a heartbeat by using your finger on the inside of the thigh, just above the knee.
If you don't feel a pulse, put your hand over the dog's chest cavity where the elbow touches the middle of the chest. If you still don't find a pulse, have one person continue breathing into the nostrils (mouth to snout), while another gives cardiac massage.
Give the dog a cardiac massage by placing both hands palms down between the third and sixth rib on the chest cavity. For small dogs or puppies, place one hand or thumb on the chest. For large dogs, place your hands on top of each other. Use the heel of your hand(s) to push down for 10 quick compressions and then check to see if consciousness has been restored.
If consciousness has not been restored, continue the compressions in cycles of about 10 every six seconds for 10 cycles a minute.
After each cycle of compression, the other person should give the dog two breaths of air in the nostrils. If only one person is present, this procedure can still be done successfully.
Once the dog has started breathing, contact a veterinarian immediately.
Canine CPR and Heimlich maneuverKnow what to do if your dog stops breathing. By Betsy Brevitz, D.V.M.
If you know your dog has a small ball, toy, piece of food, or other object stuck in his trachea (windpipe) and he can't breathe, do the Heimlich maneuver immediately.
How to give the Heimlich maneuver to your dog: 1. Stand (if he's a tall dog) or kneel (if he's a small or medium dog) behind the dog, with the dog facing away from you.
2. Put your arms around the dog's waist. Make a fist with one hand and place your fist, thumb side up, on the dog's abdomen just below his ribs. Wrap your other hand around that fist.
3. Give a hard, fast jerk or squeeze upward, toward the dog's backbone. Apply enough force to move the dog's whole body. If he's a very small dog, place two knuckles of one hand on the abdomen just below the ribs and the other hand flat on the dog's back to help steady him, then give a quick, hard poke upward with your knuckles.
If the object does not come out of the dog's mouth on the first try, give another hard jerk. If after three or four jerks the object still has not come out or the dog still can't breathe, rush him to the nearest veterinary clinic, where a vet can do a tracheotomy (cut a hole in the dog's windpipe below the obstruction) to get air into the lungs and then remove the object surgically.
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