Evaluate the Situation

• Is the situation safe?  -
• Do not put yourself in danger
• Do not walk or run into a busy street or intersection
• Do not attempt to break up a fight between two dogs that you cannot control – get help!

Evaluate the Pet

• Level of Consciousness - Is the pet fully conscious, partially responsive, or non-responsive?

• Heart Rate - Does the pet have a heartbeat?  Is it normal, fast, slow, or irregular? 
• You can check your pet’s heartbeat at the point where the left elbow touches the chest when bent
• Put your hand in this area and count the number of beats in 60 seconds
• Normal Heart Rate (can vary based on breed, age, and activity)- canine= 50-150 per minute, feline 160-220 per minute

***If the pet does not have a heartbeat, begin CPR and contact us immediately

• Respiratory Rate - Is the pet breathing?  Is the pet breathing normally? 
• Looking at the chest, count the number of times the chest rises and falls in 60 seconds
• Normals (can vary based on temperature, age, and activity)- canine= 10-12 per minute, feline= 20-30 per minute
• Open-mouth breathing in cats (similar to panting in dogs) is normally a sign of respiratory distress.  Contact us for additional information.

***If the pet is not breathing, begin rescue breathing and contact us immediately

• Body Temperature
• Use of a digital or mercury thermometer is recommended
• Carefully lift the tail and visualize the anus just below where the tail meets the body
• Insert the thermometer into the rectum approximately ½ inch (just enough to cover the bulb or metal tip)
• A mercury thermometer should be read after approximately 1- 1 ½ minutes.  A digital thermometer can be read as soon as it beeps
• Normals- canine & feline= 101°F to 103°F

• Mucous Membrane Color - What does the color of the gums look like?  Are they pink?  Is the capillary refill time prolonged (> 2 seconds)?
• Your pet’s gum color will help you determine if the oxygen level in the blood is sufficient
• Locate the mucous membranes by lifting the upper lip
• Pink indicates that enough oxygen is in the blood stream
• Gums that appear white, pale, blue, purple, or yellow are indicative that your pet is in a crisis situation- contact us immediately

***Note: Some breeds have naturally occurring black pigmentation in the gums.  The inside of the lower eyelid can be observed if your pet has black pigmentation in the gums.

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