Initial Assessment

• Rescue breathing in animals requires the rescuer to provide oxygen to the animal either through the use of mouth-to-nose resuscitation or by using a respiration apparatus. The rescuer must first determine whether or not the animal is breathing. To do this, she should place her cheek in very close proximity to the nose and mouth of the animal with the face pointing toward the rear of the animal. The idea is to listen and feel for breath while watching the chest for movement.
  
  

Positioning

• If no breath is detected, the rescuer should then gently roll the animal onto his back and slightly tilt the head back, opening the mouth and pulling the tongue away from the back of the throat. Once again, the rescuer should look, listen and feel for breath before beginning rescue breathing techniques. Exceptional care should be taken to avoid overextending the neck, especially in animals that appear to have head or neck trauma because irreversible damage to the spinal cord can occur.
  
  

Rescue Breathing Procedure

• Place a respiration mask over the mouth and nose of the animal, or if one is not available, place your mouth over the mouth and nose of the animal and give two gentle breaths. You should be able to watch the air fill the lungs and the chest rise. Allow the chest to fall between breaths. If there is no noticeable rise and fall of the chest during breathing, reposition the head of the animal and try again. Continue breathing until help arrives or a veterinarian can see the animal.
  
  

Rate of Respiration

• Animals' normal rate of respiration varies among species but cats and dogs average 20 to 30 breaths per minute. This means that to be effective in your rescue breathing attempts you must mimic this rate or give at least one breath every two to three seconds. Keeping count is an easy way to help you keep your rhythm.
  
  

Considerations

• Most rescue breathing attempts will not trigger a spontaneous resumption in breathing by the pet. However, it is important to check to see if the animal has resumed breathing while you provide artificial respiration. Check for breathing in the same manner as your initial assessment, but place your cheek near the nose and mouth of the animal and watch for chest movement. If breathing is still absent, continue rescue breathing attempts.