Resuscitating Rex

By Cindy McIntyre, Fort Sill TribuneDecember 17, 2015

Dog CPR
Capt. Auvian Williams, branch chief of Fort Sill Veterinary Services, demonstrates how to do CPR on a small dog, compressing both sides of the chest, Dec. 14, 2015, at olf Fire Station No. 2. On a large dog, like the training aid dog "Jerry," compres... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla. (Dec. 17, 2015) -- Members of the Fort Sill Veterinary Treatment Facility taught the firefighters of Fire Station No. 4 how to give CPR and other first aid interventions to military working dogs and other animals.

While many of the techniques such as treating bleeding wounds and burns were similar to treating humans, animals are often more sensitive to injuries and will deteriorate more quickly if untreated.

Spc. Brianna Jamieson, veterinary technician, warned the 18 firefighters present that, as with humans, CPR has a high failure rate, but it is worth trying to save the life of a military working dog or someone's pet.

Circulating blood is the only way to resuscitate a dog from cardiopulmonary arrest, said Jamieson, but if a second responder is present, breathing into a dog's mouth can help as well.

Capt. Auvian Williams, VTF Veterinary Service Branch chief, said keeping the beat to the song "Staying Alive" helps assure the 120 compressions a minute dogs need.