How to determine if a dog is alive or not? - briefly
To determine if a dog is alive, first check for breathing by placing your hand near its nose and feeling for air movement. Additionally, look for signs of heartbeat, which can be detected by gently pressing on the chest area or feeling for a pulse in the femoral artery located inside the hind leg.
How to determine if a dog is alive or not? - in detail
To determine if a dog is alive or not, one should look for several key indicators. First and foremost, check for signs of respiration. Place your hand near the dog's nostrils to feel for warm air being exhaled. Additionally, observe the chest for any rise and fall movements indicating breathing. The absence of breath for more than a minute is a strong indicator that the dog may no longer be alive.
Next, assess the dog's heart rate by feeling for a pulse. Place your fingers gently on the inside of the dog's thigh, where the femoral artery is located, or on the chest near the shoulder blade, where you can feel the heartbeat. A normal resting heart rate for dogs ranges from 60 to 120 beats per minute. If there is no detectable pulse after a thorough check, it may indicate that the dog has passed away.
Checking for reflexes is another crucial step. Gently pinch the skin on the dog's paw or behind its ear. A live dog should respond with a slight twitch or attempt to pull away from the stimulus. The absence of any reaction could suggest that the dog is no longer alive.
Additionally, observe the dog's eyes for any signs of life. In a living dog, the pupils will react to light by constricting. Shine a light into the dog's eye; if there is no response or the eyes appear glazed over, it could be an indication that the dog has passed away.
Lastly, examine the gums and tongue for color. In a living dog, the mucous membranes should be pink. If the gums and tongue are blue, gray, or pale white, it may suggest a lack of oxygen and could indicate that the dog is no longer alive.
By carefully evaluating these signs, one can determine with reasonable certainty whether a dog is still alive or has passed away.