Resuscitation Procedures - Key Notes

When to take action - Inform the veterinary surgeon

Area Monitored	Normal	Abnormal
Respiratory pattern	Regular	Dyspnoea, irregular or ceased respiration
Respiratory rate	10-30bpm in cats and dogs	Bradypnoea or tachypnoea
Respiratory depth	Chest and reservoir bag movement observed	Breathing becomes shallow
Heart rate	60-180bpm in the dog 110-180bpm in the cat	The heart stops beating and the apex beat cannot be detected by auscultation
Pulse rate and depth	Regular	Pulse deficit, rhythm alters or becomes irregular
Mucous membranes	Pink in colour	Pale, cyanotic (blue) or ashen in colour
Capillary refill time	Less than 2 seconds	Greater than 2 seconds
Temperature	38.3-38.7 degrees C in the dog 38-38.5 degrees C in the cat	Pyrexia, hyperthermia or hypothermia

Also inform the veterinary surgeon in the event of equipment failure or any matter which gives rise to concern.

Claim CPD