Dog CPR: Step-by-Step

Learning pet first aid is one of the most important things you can do to keep your dog safe. Among the skills all pet owners should learn is dog CPR.

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a life-saving technique that can help revive a dog that stops breathing or whose heart stops. Your dog’s breathing or heartbeat can stop due to drowning, choking, trauma, or illness. CPR helps restore circulation and oxygen flow until emergency veterinary help is available.

Dog-specific CPR techniques differ slightly from human CPR. In this article, we will guide dog owners on how to administer CPR, including how to check for vital signs, perform chest compressions, and deliver rescue breaths.

Chocolate Labrador, alert and calm, ideal for dog CPR demo.

Table of Contents

Don’t leave your pet’s safety to chance

When Does a Dog Need CPR?

CPR should be administered to a dog who is unresponsive, not breathing, or does not have a heartbeat. Here’s how to check those vital signs before starting CPR:

Breathing: You should feel air moving in and out of the dog’s nose or see the dog’s chest rise and fall.
Heartbeat: Place your hand on the dog’s chest, just behind the left elbow, or find the pulse on the inner thigh (femoral artery).
Responsiveness: Call the dog’s name or tap the dog.

If the dog isn’t breathing, you can’t find a heartbeat, or the dog is unresponsive, begin CPR immediately.

Common situations where CPR may be required include:

Near-drowning: Your dog is in respiratory distress from being submerged in water.
Choking: An object is lodged in your dog’s airway and can’t be cleared, or the object has been cleared but your dog is still not breathing.
Trauma: Your dog is unresponsive or has difficulty breathing after an accident or injury.
Cardiac arrest: During sudden cardiac arrest, CPR can keep blood flowing to vital organs.

If the dog is breathing but is unconscious, do not perform CPR. Seek emergency veterinary care.

Step-by-Step Guide: How Do You Do CPR on a Dog

Many pet owners do not know how to perform CPR on dogs or may panic in a crisis. Learn these steps so you can perform CPR on a dog in a life-threatening emergency.

1. Check for breathing and a heartbeat.

Run through the vital signs checklist listed above.
Ensure there is no obstruction in the airway. If there is, remove the obstruction manually or via the Heimlich maneuver modified for dogs.

2. Position the dog properly.

Lay the dog on his side on the floor.
Straighten the dog’s neck so the head is aligned with the spine.
Position yourself behind the dog kneeling so that your knees are directly behind the dog.
Lock your elbows and engage your core so you can maximize your strength.

3. Begin chest compressions.

Position your hands on the widest part of the dog’s chest. To find this spot, feel for the top of the rib cage while the dog is lying on one side.
Push hard and fast compressing 1/3 to 1/2 the width of your pet’s chest at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute. (Songs are often used in CPR training, and popular songs with beats in this range include Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” and The Bee Gee’s “Stayin’ Alive.”)
For small dogs, use one hand instead of two but follow the same depth and rate guidelines.

4. Perform mouth-to-snout respiration.

Hold the dog’s mouth closed with one hand.
Place your mouth over the dog’s nose and seal it entirely. For small dogs, cover both the nose and the mouth with your mouth.
Blow two breaths into the mouth quickly. Check to ensure the dog’s chest rises with each breath.

5. Continue CPR.

Perform 30 chest compressions, pause for five seconds, deliver two rescue breaths.
Repeat. Check every two minutes to see if the dog is breathing on his own.
Ideally, you can alternate with a second person. Or, if possible, one person performs CPR while the second person drives you and the dog to an emergency vet.

6. Continue dog CPR until the pet is breathing on their own and their heartbeat has returned or you reach a veterinary clinic and emergency personnel have taken over.

Even if the dog’s heartbeat and breathing return while administering CPR, you still need to get the dog to a veterinary clinic for additional care.

Common Dog CPR Mistakes to Avoid

Key mistakes can reduce the effectiveness of CPR.

Performing CPR on a dog that is still breathing or has a pulse (can cause harm).
Not applying enough pressure for chest compressions, especially in large dogs.
Failing to position the dog properly before starting CPR.
Blowing too hard during rescue breaths, which can damage the lungs.
Stopping CPR too soon—some dogs take several minutes to respond.

What to Do After Performing CPR

Small dog wrapped in a blanket, recovering after CPR care.

See a veterinarian. Post-CPR, your dog requires medical attention. Follow these steps after you have performed CPR on a dog:

Even if a dog starts breathing and the heartbeat returns to normal, seek veterinary care immediately to check for complications.
Watch for signs of distress, such as labored breathing, weakness, or disorientation.
Dogs that experience respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, or trauma may have internal injuries.
Oxygen therapy, IV fluids, or medication may be needed for recovery.
If CPR was unsuccessful, owners should still take their pet to a vet for confirmation and support.

Prevent Emergencies That Require CPR

Knowing how to perform CPR can save a dog’s life, but these proactive steps reduce the risk of life-threatening situations.

Prevent choking: Supervise dogs with bones, rawhide, and small chew toys. Throw away any small pieces or sections that break off.
Be water safe: Use a dog life jacket to prevent near-drowning.
Be cautious in extreme temperatures: Prevent heat stroke and frostbite.
Visit the vet regularly: Identify and treat any underlying conditions that could lead to cardiac arrest.
Know your pet’s normal breathing and heart rate: You can quickly detect abnormalities.

Conclusion

Being prepared with pet first-aid knowledge can make all the difference in an emergency. Dog CPR can save a life in an emergency, but it should only be performed when necessary. Stay calm, follow proper techniques, and seek veterinary help immediately after administering dog CPR. Finally, consider taking a first aid and CPR course to get hands-on, life-saving experience.

Images by Rebecca Scholz from Pixabay; Deborah Windham from Pixabay and Thomas from Pixabay

Dog CPR: Step-by-Step

When Does a Dog Need CPR?