CPR Guide Every Pet Owner Should Know

🩺 How to Perform CPR on Your Dog or Cat

Knowing how to perform CPR won't replace emergency veterinary care—but in a life-threatening emergency, it may help keep oxygen flowing to your pet's brain and vital organs until you can reach a veterinarian.

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What Is CPR?

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure used when a pet's heart has stopped beating and they are no longer breathing.

CPR is intended only as a temporary life-support measure while transporting your pet to the nearest veterinarian or emergency hospital.

🐾 Begin CPR only if your pet is:

• Unresponsive

• Not breathing

• Has no detectable heartbeat or pulse

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Recognize the Signs

Take no more than 10 seconds to determine whether your pet needs CPR.

🐾 Call your pet's name.

🐾 Gently tap or shake them.

🐾 Look for chest movement.

🐾 Check for a pulse on the inside of the rear leg (femoral artery).

If there is no breathing and no pulse—begin CPR immediately.

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Step-by-Step First Aid

Step 1 – Position Your Pet

Lay your pet on their right side.

Extend the neck to help open the airway.

Open the mouth and look for any visible obstruction.

If an object is easily reachable:

🐾 Use a pen light for better visibility.

🐾 Carefully remove the object using hemostats or tweezers.

Do NOT:

• Sweep blindly inside the mouth with your fingers.

• Attempt to remove an object that is deeply lodged.

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Step 2 – Begin Chest Compressions

Compress the chest one-third to one-half of its width.

Perform 100–120 compressions per minute.

Allow the chest to fully recoil after every compression.

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Hand Placement

Medium & Large Dogs

Place both hands over the widest part of the chest.

Deep-Chested Dogs

(Greyhounds, Dobermans)

Place your hands directly over the heart.

Barrel-Chested Dogs

(Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers)

Place the dog on its back if possible and compress over the center of the breastbone.

Small Dogs & Cats

Use one hand to compress the chest or encircle the chest using your thumb and fingers.

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Step 3 – Give Rescue Breaths

After 30 chest compressions:

🐾 Close the mouth.

🐾 Extend the neck.

🐾 Seal your mouth over your pet's nose.

🐾 Give 2 gentle breaths.

Each breath should cause the chest to rise visibly.

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Step 4 – Continue the CPR Cycle

Repeat:

❤️ 30 Chest Compressions

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💨 2 Rescue Breaths

Continue for 2 minutes (approximately 4 cycles) before checking again for a pulse.

If your pet regains a pulse:

• Stop chest compressions.

• Continue monitoring breathing.

• Transport immediately to a veterinarian.

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🚨 When to See a Veterinarian

Immediate veterinary care is required.

Even if your pet appears to recover, CPR does not treat the underlying cause of cardiac arrest.

Seek emergency veterinary care immediately.

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Prevention Tips

🐾 Know where your nearest emergency veterinary hospital is located.

🐾 Keep a fully stocked PetMD Essentials First Aid Kit at home and in your vehicle.

🐾 Learn where to check your pet's pulse before an emergency happens.

🐾 Review CPR steps periodically so you're prepared if the unexpected occurs.

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🩺 Dr. Debbie's Tip

One of the biggest mistakes I see is waiting too long because you're not completely sure your pet has no heartbeat.

If your pet is unresponsive, not breathing, and you cannot find a pulse within 10 seconds, don't delay. Start CPR immediately while someone transports your pet to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital.

Every second counts.

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✔ PetMD Essentials Checklist

Helpful items include:

☑ Pen light

☑ Hemostats

☑ Stainless steel tweezers

☑ Slip lead

☑ Pet First Aid Companion

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CPR Quick Reference

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⚠️ Important to Remember

🐾 CPR performed at home is intended only as a temporary life-support measure during transport.

🐾 Survival rates are highest when veterinary care is reached as quickly as possible.

🐾 Immediate veterinary treatment offers your pet the best chance of survival.