How long can a pet live after heart stops?

Question

A few days ago, my little brother's dog got hit by a car. :( We didn't see him get hit. He was running around outside, and went looking for him when he didn't come back. He got hit right down the block (our neighbors didn't know he was our dog) When we found him, the neighbors told us they found him about 15 minutes previous, and that they checked for a pulse and couldn't find one. So we wrapped the poor baby in a towel and took him home. Now a few days later, I feel terrible because I never even thought to try cpr on the little guy. I know he was not breathing, and his heart had most likely stopped already for 15 minutes, but could I have saved him still? I tried to look info up on the internet to see how long after the heart stops that cpr is still effective, but I couldn't find anything. BTW, he was a toy poodle (small dog) if that has any effect on the answer. Thanks in advance for your answers

Answer 1

in humans brain death starts to occur after 4 to 6 minutes. Of the 20 or so cardiac arrests I have been on at work we only got a pulse back on 1, he died later that night. 2 of those were witnessed arrests where we were interviewing them as they went into cardiac arrest. I personally have not seen a traumatic arrest come back but if this gives you an idea of their chances, helicopters in atleast California will not fly out a person if they are in traumatic arrest, their best bet is massive amounts of fluids or they have irreversible brain/body trauma. We had access to advanced level drugs and a defibrillator. CPR does not resuscitate it only prolongs the time the brain lives before advance cardiac life support can arrive. I'm sure this all translates to our canine friends, I am so very sorry and I hope this gives you some comfort in your loss.

Answer 2

15 minutes is too long, good thinking though.

Answer 3

He would have died almost immediately,being so small.When the heart stops,the dog loses conciousness immediately,and the brain can only go without oxygen for about 3-5 minutes,so your dog had no chance.You didn't do anything wrong and you couldn't have brought him back.I'm sorry about your dog. Not to sound mean,but I hope that you have learned your lesson the hard way,and your next dog won't be allowed to run loose.

Answer 4

I'm soooo sorry..

After about 3 minutes, 4 absolutle max, his brain would have been starved of oxygen to the point of no return..

Please don't feel bad, if it had been 15 minutes, there's absolutely nothing you could have done at that point..

Again, I'm soooo sorry.. :-(

Answer 5

The vets at our shelter will go from 3-5 mins, tops, depends on how serious the dog is........if really bad will cut off at 3-4 mins, if bleeding and dog has faint pulse and heart sounds, they will work on one for up to 5 mins......after that it is useless

sorry you loss your baby, don't blame yourself, the poor baby was already gone after 15 Min's...

I am so sorry

Answer 6

I am so sorry for your loss. Be assured that you couldn't have done anything to save him. Three to five minutes is the maximum time he could live without a heartbeat.

I find a lot of  comfort from this pet loss support site>

http://www.petloss.com/

The weekly candle services are especially helpful.