Many of us pet owners have never been faced with a serious first aid situation with our furry family members. But when the situation arises, it can be frightening for pet owners and their pets.

To help pet owners and to train people volunteering in animal shelters, the Blue Mountain Animal Rescue Society hosted an animal first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training class in September at their center in Stroudsburg.

Diane Sharpless, coordinator of the Schuylkill County Animal Response Team, went over cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques for cats and dogs, and Beth Bialek, a trainer with SCART, showed how to make a muzzle out of gauze. The class also provided basic first aid tips for common injuries and emergencies, and a packet of first aid information.

Making a muzzle

Bialek began the training by demonstrating how to make a gauze muzzle and then placed it on her dog, Joey. He unwittingly helped out by playing the part of the animal patient. A muzzle is needed before first aid can be started.

“I know you love your animals and you swear to God your animals will not hurt you or bite you,” Bialek said. “If they’re hurt — they’re an animal — so you need to muzzle them if you’re going to do something.”

Bialek began by cutting a string of gauze about three feet long. Do not use a narrow band of rope, wire or other material because these can cut into the animal’s snout.

Tie a loose knot in the center of the string and then crisscross the ends forming a circle large enough to fit over the animal’s snout. Place the circle over the snout with the knot under the chin; pull the ends to tighten the circle. Only tighten enough to keep the mouth closed, but being careful not to be too tight.

“Tie it to where he can’t bite you,” Bialek said. “It will keep his mouth basically closed.”

Bring the ends down around the chin, crisscross again, and back up behind the animal’s head. Tie the ends into a bow.

“He can still bark, but he can’t bite,” she said.

Animal CPR

Next, SCART coordinator Diane Sharpless presented the CPR training. She had with her two animal manikins — a medium sized dog and a cat.

Sharpless said that before doing CPR, place the animal on its right side and check for a pulse. Use two fingers and press on the inside of the back leg close to the body. If there is no pulse, then begin CPR.

Keep the mouth of the animal closed and do “mouth to nose” breathing. For compressions, find the bottom edge of the rib cage and press there.

• Kittens and puppies — Using one finger, do five compressions, then one breath. Rescue breathing and CPR is at the same rate as for a human baby, one breath every three seconds.

• Adult cats and medium-sized dogs — Using one hand for CPR, do five compressions, then one breath. Rescue breathing and CPR is at the same rate as for a human child, one breath every three seconds.

• Large dogs — Using two hands for CPR, do 15 compressions, then two breaths. Rescue breathing and CPR is like that used for a human adult: one breath every five seconds.

“The first time I took the CPR class, I was surprised at how hard it is,” Bialek said. “The person who does it makes it look easy.”

The normal pulse rate for a dog is between 100 and 150 heartbeats per minute, Bialek said. It is higher for small dogs and cats.

Placing an oxygen mask

Sharpless and Bialek also demonstrated how to place an oxygen mask on an animal.

Using Joey for the demonstration, Bialek placed the cone-shaped mask — specially designed for animals — on his snout covering both the nose and mouth.

She said it is important to push it up the whole way.

In their experience, oxygen usually is only needed if an animal has been in a house fire, for example, and may have suffered smoke inhalation.

Administering oxygen is something they do on the rescue team or for animal shelter volunteers to do, but not usually done by pet owners.

The level of oxygen being provided should be:

• Kittens and puppies — 1 to 3 liters per minute;

• Adult cats and small dogs — 3 to 5 liters per minute;

• Medium to large dogs — 5 to 7 liters per minute.

Sharpless said, “There’s really not a lot you can do with smoke inhalation.”

Providing oxygen is essential though in some rural areas, Bialek said. An animal hospital could be an hour away. Without giving the animal oxygen, it would die.

Blue Mountain Rescue Shelter is always seeking more volunteers. Training is available, but optional.

For more information, email bluemountainrescuesociety@gmail.com or call 570-249-7890.