Knowing how to give a dog CPR can save a life in an emergency. Here’s a step-by-step guide (for general knowledge — always call a vet immediately if your dog is unresponsive).
🐾 Step 1: Check for breathing and heartbeat
- Lay your dog on their right side on a flat surface.
- Extend their head and neck to open the airway.
- Look, listen, and feel for breathing.
- Place your hand on the chest, just behind the elbow, to check for a heartbeat.
🐾 Step 2: Start rescue breaths (if not breathing)
- Close the dog’s mouth and extend their neck so the airway is straight.
- Place your mouth over the dog’s nose (and mouth if it’s a small dog or puppy) and blow until you see the chest rise.
- Give 1 breath every 2–3 seconds (about 20–30 breaths per minute).
🐾 Step 3: Chest compressions (if no heartbeat)
The technique depends on dog size:
- Medium/large dogs (>30 lbs): Place one hand over the widest part of the chest, the other hand on top, and push down 1/3 to 1/2 the chest width at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute.
- Small dogs & cats (<30 lbs): Use one hand to encircle the chest with your thumb on one side and fingers on the other, then squeeze at the same rate.
🐾 Step 4: Combine breaths & compressions
- Give 30 compressions, then 2 rescue breaths.
- Continue cycles of 30:2 until the dog breathes on their own or you reach emergency help.
🐾 Step 5: Get veterinary care immediately
Even if your dog responds, they’ll need a vet to check for underlying issues.
⚠️ Important: CPR should only be done if a dog is truly not breathing and has no heartbeat. Performing it on a breathing dog can be dangerous. Rebel DK assumes no responsibility for CPR done on a dog.