A zoo in Germany has devised a novel way of maintaining its first-responder capabilities by training a dog to administer CPR to other animals. This one-of-a-kind service dog, a female Rhodesian Ridgeback mix named Fritzi, is capable of rendering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on many species of animals at the Rheinschaft Zoo in Mainz, Germany.
An animal helping animals.
The dog’s trainer, Martin Zander, chief veterinarian and animal psychologist at the zoo, saw the need for better first-responder capabilities after the zoo had lost several birds and mammals to airway obstruction incidents. Many animals, particularly birds, are highly susceptible to choking on small objects, such as food, feathers, plant matter, cigarette butts, and plastic 6-pack rings. Fritzi’s instincts enable her to quickly spot when an animal is in peril and respond long before human zookeepers even notice. The dog is trained to force her muzzle deep inside the ailing animal’s throat and 
use her tongue to dislodge stubborn objects, all the while exhaling much-needed air into the victim’s lungs.
Fritzi, shown at left, is removing a herring lodged in the gullet of a Great White Pelican.
In addition, Fritzi possesses the uncanny ability to sense when an animal is suffering from cardiac arrest. Fritzi knocks the animal down to the ground and applies pressure to the chest using her paws to revive the ailing critter. More amazing is that Fritzi knows to apply just the right amount of force based on the animal’s size. In the past year she has successfully revived a baby Hippo, two Rhesus monkeys and even a Black-casqued Hornbill.
Aiding humans the next step.
Zander would like Fritzi to become a model for future first aid dogs–skilled animals that would have the ability to perform CPR on humans. It is not inconceivable to him that canines could be properly trained as service animals, ready at a second’s notice to apply mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions to their masters. Zander sees a completely untapped market in providing such dogs to police and fire departments worldwide.
Public acceptance of canine first-responders would be an uphill battle. Many people would be appalled at the thought of a dog’s mouth contacting a human’s. Further, the sight of a dog shoving its snout into some person’s mouth and then climbing onto the victim’s chest to perform compressions would certainly be an unnerving sight. A bystander might think the dog is attacking or perhaps humping the person. But properly trained CPR dogs could be outfitted with brightly colored vests bearing messages like “It’s OK I have medical training!” Education is key. The public’s reluctance can be mitigated by informing them that despite the canine penchant for ball-licking and drinking from toilets, dogs’ mouths are still far cleaner than those of most humans.
While Fritzi’s skills have never been tested on a human subject, Zander is confident that she would “leap into heroic action” if any zoo visitor were to collapse.
