How To Do CPR on Your Dog

Diamond's Friends Pet Rescue
Jun 12
3 min read

It’s something no dog parent ever wants to imagine, but emergencies can happen. Knowing how to perform CPR on your dog could mean the difference between life and death.

Whether you live with a mischievous puppy or a sweet senior, understanding pet CPR is a life skill that every dog owner should know.

Here’s the scoop on doggy CPR.

Why Is It Important To Know How To Do CPR on Your Dog?

Dog CPR is a potentially lifesaving technique you can use when your dog’s heart stops beating and they stop breathing. This could be due to drowning, choking, trauma, electric shock, poisoning, or severe illness.

The goal is to keep oxygen moving through your dog’s body until a veterinarian can take over.

Studies have found that doing CPR in dogs can significantly improve their chances of survival if they are experiencing cardiopulmonary arrest. So, if you want to potentially save your dog’s life, this is a critical skill to know.

When Should I Do CPR on My Dog?

The Red Cross says CPR is only appropriate when your dog is not breathing and has no detectable heartbeat. Other experts recommend also making sure your dog is unresponsive.

You can quickly check for:

Breathing: Watch their chest for movement or feel for air coming from their nose.
Heartbeat or pulse: You can check for a heartbeat by putting your hand where your dog’s left elbow touches their chest.
Unresponsiveness: Call or try to wake your dog. If you are unsuccessful, CPR may be appropriate.

If your dog has a pulse and is breathing, do not perform CPR. Instead, contact your emergency vet and transport your pet immediately if you are concerned about their well-being.

Learn More: At-Home Health Checks for Your Dog

How To Do CPR on Your Dog

Give the video above a watch for a visual on how to give your dog CPR! The steps are also listed below.

Step 1: Check Responsiveness

Gently shake your dog or call their name. If there’s no response, check for breathing and a heartbeat. However, don’t wait too long to start CPR as you do these checks. The longer you wait, the greater the risk to your dog.

Step 2: Position Your Dog

Lay your dog on their side on a firm surface unless you are dealing with a barrel-chested dog. Barrel-chested dogs need to be positioned on their backs.

Step 3: Begin Chest Compressions

Depending on the type of dog you have, your hand position will change:

Barrel-chested dogs: Give compressions over their sternum.
Narrow-chested dogs: Deliver compressions directly over your dog’s heart.
Super small dogs: Wrap both hands around your dog’s chest and position your thumbs over your dog’s heart. Use your thumbs for compressions.
Wide-chested dogs: Put your hands over the widest part of their chest, not over their heart.

When it comes to how to do compressions and how frequently to do them:

Compress the chest about 1/3 to 1/2 of its depth.
Aim for 120 compressions per minute (like the beat of the song Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees).
Allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions.

Step 4: Provide rescue breaths

After 30 compressions:

Close your dog’s mouth and extend the neck to open the airway.
Wipe away any fluids from your dog’s face.
Place your mouth over your dog’s nose and give two deep breaths.

Repeat the cycle: 30 compressions and two breaths

Step 5: Continue CPR

Perform CPR for 2 minutes, then check for breathing and pulse. Continue until the dog revives or you arrive at the vet.

If your dog responds to CPR, put them in a recovery position. This involves placing them on their side with their head tilted down slightly so that fluids that come out of their mouths don’t go back into their airways.

Even if your dog recovers, please transport them to the vet for further evaluation.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to do CPR on your dog is knowledge you’ll hopefully never need. However, if the moment comes, you’ll be prepared.

Consider taking a pet first aid & CPR course through your local animal shelter, vet clinic, or the Red Cross.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended as professional medical advice. It is based on personal experience and online research. Please consult with your veterinarian if you are concerned about your dog's health.