by Manuel Rodriguez for news.gather.com
An 8-year-old, 3-pound Chihuahua was miraculously saved via CPR after he was bit by another dog. The incident took place in Barrington, Chicago while the dogs were being taken care of by Dr. Larry Kosinski who was watching the Sunday football games. The dog, wearing a tiny Brian Urlacher jersey, stopped breathing and had no pulse when Kosinski reacted.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the Chihuahua was named Valentino and was rescued months earlier from a puppy mill. Kosinski is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and quickly went to work on Valentino after he was bit and stopped breathing.
“It’s not that different from what you would do on an infant,” said Kosinski. He gave Valentino a set of two quick rescue breaths, used his index finger and thumb to create a seal around the dog’s muzzle, and then putt his hands around Valentino’s chest with two thumbs around the sternum to begin compressions. Valentino’s chest rose after the rescue breathing, and his owner quickly saw life returning to him.
“He’s on the couch eating tonight — it’s a milestone,” Kosinski said.