If you’ve ever been to a CPR class, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the basics of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.  First, check to make sure the patient has a clear airway, then check to see if the patient is breathing, check whether the patient has a heartbeat and, if the patient awakens during the process, be careful that you don’t get bitten by the patient.

The American Red Cross has been instructing people in CPR for pets for quite some time now and has classes that include all manner of first aid, including mouth-to-snout resuscitation.

The procedure is similar to traditional mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for humans, with the main difference being that the person performing the procedure will close the dog’s mouth and instead provide breaths into the dog’s nose.  Knowing how to perform mouth-to-snout resuscitation on your pet could literally save its life.

In addition to the mouth-to-snout procedure, dogs can have chest compressions performed in an emergency where the heart stops.  Learning and knowing these techniques can save the life of a dog in distress and let him live to chase rabbits or play fetch another day.

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