ARC First Aid and CPR 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dog is choking on a foreign object and is still conscious. What is the recommended first step?
- Perform abdominal thrusts immediately
- Open the mouth and attempt to remove the object if visible (Correct answer)
- Begin CPR compressions
- Induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide
Correct answer: Open the mouth and attempt to remove the object if visible
If the animal is conscious and an object is clearly visible, carefully attempt to remove it with fingers or tools before escalating to abdominal thrusts.
Question 2: What does the acronym 'ABC' stand for in animal emergency assessment?
- Airway, Breathing, Circulation (Correct answer)
- Alert, Bleeding, Compression
- Assess, Bandage, Carry
- Airway, Blood, Consciousness
Correct answer: Airway, Breathing, Circulation
ABC stands for Airway, Breathing, Circulation — the three primary systems checked during an emergency triage assessment.
Question 3: Which of the following scenarios calls for using the Heimlich maneuver on a dog?
- The dog is vomiting repeatedly
- The dog is pawing at its mouth and unable to vocalize (Correct answer)
- The dog has labored breathing after exercise
- The dog has a swollen abdomen
Correct answer: The dog is pawing at its mouth and unable to vocalize
Pawing at the mouth and inability to vocalize are classic signs of a complete airway obstruction requiring the Heimlich maneuver.
Question 4: When treating a heat stroke victim in the field, which cooling method is SAFEST for the animal?
- Immerse the animal in ice water
- Apply cool (not cold) wet towels to the neck, armpits, and groin (Correct answer)
- Cover the animal with a dry blanket
- Administer cold water orally in large amounts
Correct answer: Apply cool (not cold) wet towels to the neck, armpits, and groin
Cool wet towels applied to blood-vessel-rich areas bring temperature down safely; ice water can cause shock and vasoconstriction, trapping heat.
Question 5: An animal has a severe nosebleed after trauma. What is the correct first aid response?
- Tilt the head backward to drain blood into the throat
- Apply firm pressure to the bridge of the nose with a cloth (Correct answer)
- Pack the nostril tightly with gauze
- Elevate the animal's hind end above its head
Correct answer: Apply firm pressure to the bridge of the nose with a cloth
Firm, gentle pressure on the bridge of the nose helps slow blood flow; tilting the head back can cause the animal to swallow blood.
Question 6: How often should you check for a pulse while performing CPR on an animal?
- After every 10 compressions
- Every 30 seconds to 1 minute
- Every 2 minutes (Correct answer)
- Only when the animal shows signs of movement
Correct answer: Every 2 minutes
Checking for a pulse every 2 minutes balances the need for continuous compressions with the need to assess cardiac return.
Question 7: What is the correct ratio of compressions to breaths when performing one-rescuer CPR on a cat?
- 15:2
- 30:2 (Correct answer)
- 5:1
- 60:2
Correct answer: 30:2
A 30:2 ratio (30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths) is the standard for one-rescuer CPR in cats and small dogs.
ARC First Aid and CPR 3
A dog is choking on a foreign object and is still conscious.
What is the recommended first step?