CPR for Dogs

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers this advice for pet owners...

CPR may be necessary if you remove the object your dog is choking on, but he is still unconscious.

First check to see if he's breathing. If not, place him on his side and perform artificial respiration by extending his head and neck, holding his jaws closed and blowing into his nostrils once every three seconds. (Ensure no air escapes between your mouth and the dog's nose.) If you don't feel a heartbeat, incorporate cardiac massage while administering artificial respiration -- three quick, firm chest compressions for every respiration -- until your dog resumes breathing on his own.

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Dog Heatstroke Survival Guide

Know how to treat and prevent this dangerous condition.

Robert Newman

What is heatstroke?

In simple terms, heatstroke occurs when a dog loses its natural ability to regulate its body temperature. Dogs don't sweat all over their bodies the way humans do. Canine body temperature is primarily regulated through
respiration (i.e., panting). If a dog's respiratory tract cannot evacuate heat quickly enough, heatstroke can occur.

To know whether or not your dog is suffering from heatstroke (as opposed to merely heat exposure), it's important to know the signs of heatstroke.

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Dog Food by Hand

By Carol Lemmon

Many DSFCA members and/or their dog-loving friends are either cooking their own food for their dogs or composing a diet of fresh raw foods.  Most of us grew up being told that only the pet food companies know how to properly feed our non-human family members.   Deviation from commercial kibble was considered to be capricious, uncaring and dangerous behavior.   Dog owners felt guilty about even consistently feeding canned dog food. Vets were taught the same thing and diligently backed up this message that really came as marketing from pet food producers.  This is beginning to change.   Large numbers of dog and cat owners have come to distrust commercial pet foods for good cause, for example, the revelation several years ago that melamine had become an ingredient in most of the major pet food brands and was killing animals. 

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