Knowing how to perform dog CPR can mean the difference between life and death for your canine companion in an emergency. This life-saving technique keeps oxygen flowing to your dog's brain and vital organs when their heart and breathing have stopped.
Learning proper dog CPR techniques before you need them prepares you to act quickly and confidently if your dog ever experiences cardiorespiratory arrest. The steps are straightforward but must be performed correctly to be effective and avoid causing harm.
Top Questions About Dog CPR
When should I perform CPR on my dog?
Dog CPR should only be performed when your dog shows no signs of breathing and has no detectable heartbeat. Check for responsiveness by calling their name and gently touching them. If there's no movement of the chest and you cannot feel a pulse, start CPR while arranging transport to an emergency veterinary hospital.
What are the basic steps of dog CPR?
Dog CPR combines chest compressions with rescue breathing in cycles. Place your dog on their side, perform 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute, followed by two rescue breaths. These actions help maintain blood flow and oxygen delivery until professional veterinary care is available.
How long should I continue CPR?
Continue performing dog CPR until you detect a heartbeat or breathing, or until you reach veterinary care. If possible, have someone drive while you continue CPR in the car. Switch with another person every two minutes if available to prevent getting tired and maintain effective compressions.
Why Dogs Experience Cardiorespiratory Arrest
Cardiorespiratory arrest in dogs can happen due to trauma, choking, drowning, or severe heart problems. Some dogs experience sudden collapse without warning signs, while others may show weakness or breathing difficulties beforehand. Older dogs and those with existing health conditions may be at higher risk.
Spotting Mild Cases
Not all breathing or heart issues require CPR. Dogs who are still responsive, even if showing low energy or breathing differently, do not need CPR. Mild cases might include brief coughing episodes that clear up quickly or momentary breathing changes that return to normal.
Recognizing Serious Cases
Serious cases requiring quick dog CPR include complete unresponsiveness with no breathing and no detectable heartbeat. A dog in cardiac arrest will be completely limp and unresponsive to any stimulation. The gums may appear pale or bluish rather than their normal pink color.
What To Do
Step 1: Check Responsiveness and Airway
Call your dog's name and gently shake them to check for any response. Look inside their mouth for obvious obstructions like toys or food that could be blocking the airway. Remove any visible objects carefully if possible.
Step 2: Position Your Dog
Place your dog on a firm, flat surface on their right side with their legs extended away from you. For small dogs, you may need to place them on a table or elevated surface. Make sure their neck is straight to keep the airway as open as possible.
Step 3: Begin Chest Compressions
Place your hands over the widest part of the chest for most dogs. For barrel-chested breeds like bulldogs, place hands directly over the heart behind the elbow. Compress the chest one-third to one-half of its width at a rate of about two compressions per second.
Step 4: Give Rescue Breaths
After 30 compressions, close your dog's mouth and extend their neck slightly. Place your mouth over their nostrils and exhale gently until you see the chest rise. Give two breaths, allowing the chest to fall between breaths.
Step 5: Continue CPR Cycles
Quickly check for breathing and a heartbeat after each cycle of compressions and breaths. Feel for a pulse in the inner thigh where the leg meets the body. Continue cycles of 30 compressions followed by two breaths until you detect signs of life or reach veterinary care.
Potential Life-Threatening Conditions
Several serious conditions can lead to cardiorespiratory arrest in dogs. Heart disease may cause sudden cardiac failure without warning. Severe trauma from accidents can damage vital organs and lead to blood loss and shock.
Choking on toys, bones, or food can block airways completely. Heat stroke, especially in flat-faced breeds, can cause breathing failure. Severe allergic reactions may cause the airway to swell shut, preventing normal breathing.
Helping Your Pet Before the Vet Visit
While performing dog CPR, have someone call the nearest emergency veterinary hospital to alert them you're coming. Keep your dog as level as possible during transport to help blood circulation. Continue CPR during the journey if possible, or have brief pauses only to move your dog.
Remain calm and focused despite the stress of the situation. Your dog needs steady, effective compressions rather than panicked actions. Drive safely to the emergency hospital – having someone else drive while you continue CPR is ideal.
Preventing Future Cardiorespiratory Emergencies
Regular wellness exams can help identify heart or breathing conditions before they become emergencies. Discuss any concerning symptoms like coughing, exercise intolerance, or breathing changes with your veterinarian right away.
Keep hazardous items that could cause choking out of reach. Use appropriately sized toys and watch your dog while they chew bones or tough treats. Learn to recognize signs of heat stress and avoid exercising your dog during extreme temperatures, especially for at-risk breeds.
We're Here to Help
We understand how frightening it is when your dog needs emergency care. Our hospital teams are prepared to take over CPR efforts as soon as you arrive and provide the advanced care your dog needs.
For mild symptoms like occasional coughing or brief episodes of unusual breathing that clear up quickly, scheduling an appointment with your primary veterinarian is appropriate. For severe symptoms like collapse, unresponsiveness, or difficulty breathing, call an emergency veterinary hospital immediately.
If you're not sure, call us — we can talk you through the situation.
Key Takeaways
- Dog CPR is only for unresponsive dogs with no breathing or heartbeat - check before starting to avoid injuring a dog who doesn't need it.
- The basic cycle is 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths, repeated until you detect signs of life or reach veterinary care.
- Time is critical - begin CPR right away while arranging transport to an emergency veterinary hospital.
The information contained in the article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of the advice of a veterinarian.
