FEATURE | CRISIS CONTROL
memory to hundreds of students each year . I still questioned every single move I made that evening . Did I do the compressions correctly ? Did I see his chest rise and fall ? Pet Tech has a favorite saying , “ You do the best you can , at any given time , with the resources you have ,” and that statement has grounded me again and again over the years . We suspect that he had an aneurysm or arrhythmia , but honestly , we will never know .
The only thing I do know is that no matter how long I did CPR that day , it would not have saved him . But I was not the one who had to decide when that moment was . Other trained professionals came in to help , and they made that call for me . That , in a surreal way , helped me cope a little more in my grieving process . It prevented me from being able to ask myself the most challenging question of all : “ What if I had continued CPR for just a little longer ?” or “ Did I give up too soon ?”
We only tell people to stop CPR in three situations
1 .) The pet becomes conscious ( Obviously !). 2 .) You hand over the care of your pet to a veterinarian when you arrive at the animal hospital . 3 .) You physically cannot do CPR any longer — You did the best you could with the resources you had and should be immensely proud of that . There is no “ magic ” time limit … I tell each of my students that it is a call they never want to make . CPR is effective in many emergencies , so don ’ t ever give up on that hope unless someone else takes over or
The critical piece that many don ’ t realize is that although CPR is not always successful , it is comforting to know that you did everything you could have done to save them . The alternative is watching helplessly and screaming , not knowing what would have happened had you known what to do .
Become Pet CPR and First Aid Trained Although CPR could not bring my Burt back , CPR is successful in many situations . What if this was you ? What would you have done ? Do you know how to perform CPR for your pet ? If you do , congratulations . If you don ’ t know , you should . In our PetSaver seminar , we always promote having other people around you trained properly in Pet CPR . When and if that situation arises , you have someone to rotate with during your 2-minute cycles . Between the panic , adrenaline , and the feeling of hyperventilation , there will be moments when you feel like you can ’ t go on . When you have someone else rotating off with you , you are more likely to continue much longer than doing it all on your own , and most importantly , the pet is receiving new strength in compressions and fresh oxygen from your breaths . If you try to do it all yourself , over time , your power fades , and your oxygen depletes the more exhausted you become . But if you are in that situation performing CPR alone , don ’ t worry ; you will continue as long as you physically can . Fueled by your love for
that animal drives your energy even when you think you have none left .
Get Trained and Stay Current Getting trained in Pet CPR and First Aid is , of course , the first step . Although many organizations , including Pet Tech , issue their Certificate of Training renewing every two years , I encourage pet professionals to stay current every year . Over time , you hopefully don ’ t have to use many of your skills , and they will fade if not reviewed and practiced regularly , just like learning a new language .
Most accurate and up-to-date information Ensure you are being trained accurately with the most up-todate information released by the American Veterinary Medical Association and other professional veterinary publications , medical journals , and associations . Be sure to research Pet CPR and First Aid classes in your area .
Live Hands-On Training It is easy and convenient to take a quick webinar , but will you remember each detail when you need it most ? Taking a live and interactive , hands-on class will build up your muscle memory . It is essential to learn these skills so that you leave the course having practiced hand placement and how to adjust your hands and the position of your pet for the most effective canine and feline CPR chest compressions , based on the size and shape of your pet . If you ’ re ready to take that next step to make sure you know what to do to try to save your pet , visit PetTech . net to find an instructor near you , or if you are joining us at APDT ’ s Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show in Daytona Beach Oct . 19-21 , 2022 , be sure to register for the Pet CPR and First Aid class offered before the conference .
Beth Bowers is the lead dog trainer for Power to the PawZ of Dallas , Texas . She has been in the industry for more than 20 years , including being a veterinary technician for more than 10 years . She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer , Certified Professional Pet Sitter , and a Certified Master Pet CPR and First Aid Instructor . She and her team offer positive reinforcement , force-free dog training , pet sitting , dog walking , pet grooming and many educational programs such as Pet CPR and First Aid classes across the Dallas area along with instructor trainings across Texas .
46 Building Better Trainers Through Education