3.1 Make a DIY Pet CPR Dummy (CRITICAL ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION)︱Pet First Aid Course


You can easily modify any stuffed animal (preferably a dog that approximates the sizes you will encounter) and make a CPR dummy like the one used in this CPR video:



Chest with recoil:

  • Use scissors to gain access to the chest/abdomen area. Fill the chest area with partially inflated balloons so that the chest recoils back when you push on it. You can use old T-shirts or towels to stuff further to mimic the rigidity of the body. Close the incision by lacing it up like a shoe (using string or a shoelace) so that it is easy to re-inflate any deflated balloons before practice.


For vet staff:

  • Veins for IVC placement: create veins for practicing (in all of the anatomic places- both cephalic, media/lateral saphenous, jugular) by filling IV tubing with povidone iodine solution (to create a realistic flash when the catheter enters the "vein") and knotting the ends. Secure with elastic adhesive to used rolls of 4" vetrap to recreate the rigidity of each extremity.
  • Intubatable airway: Use tape (electrical tape seems to not leak) to secure a section of clear tubing from the hardware store (to mimic the trachea) to an anesthetic rebreathing bag. To mimic the larynx, tape two balloons longitudinally across the proximal opening of the hose- this way the airway must be visualized during intubation. The cuff may be inflated as welll.


"How To" video coming soon.. in the meantime, here is some raw video footage where we show the inside of our CPR dummy. Thanks for your patience:)  -Dr. Lopez