How to Give Your Dog CPR

How to Give Your Dog CPR

1. Position Your Dog For Treatment

  • Lay your dog on a stable, flat surface with their right side down.
  • Straighten their head and neck as best you can to create a direct passage for their airway.
  • Pull the tongue forward so that it rests against the back of their teeth and shut their mouth.
  • Position yourself behind their back.

2. Find The Heart And Prep For Compressions

  • Place both of your palms, one over the other, on top of the widest part of the rib cage, near the heart, but not directly over it.
  • For smaller dogs weighing 30lbs (13.6kg) or less, cup your hands around the dog’s rib cage, placing your fingers on one side of the chest and your thumb on the other.

3. Begin Compressions

  • Keeping both elbows straight, push down on the rib cage in firm, quick compressions. Only compress 1/4 to 1/3 of the chest width.
  • Repeat compressions at a quick rate of 15 per 10 seconds.
  • For smaller dogs, use your thumb and fingers to squeeze the chest to about a 1/4 or 1/3 of its width. Repeat this at a slightly quicker pace than for larger dogs, aiming for 17 compressions in 10 seconds.

4. Begin Artificial Respiration

  • If performing CPR alone, give your dog artificial respiration after each set of 15 compressions.
  • Begin by sealing the dog’s lips. Place your hand over the dog’s muzzle and ensure the mouth is completely closed.
  • Next, place your mouth over the dog’s nostrils and blow gently, watching for the chest to lift and expand. If the chest does not rise, blow harder into the nostrils and check that the mouth is properly sealed.
  • For smaller dogs, place your mouth over their entire muzzle.
  • Remove your mouth from the nose/muzzle between breaths to allow for air return.
  • Administer one breath for every 15 compressions.
  • *If you are only performing artificial respiration, follow the same procedure as above for sealing your dog’s mouth, and administer one breath every two to three seconds at a steady pace of 20 to 30 breaths per minute.

5. Administer An Abdominal Squeeze

  • Place your left hand under your dog’s abdomen, and your right hand on top. Push down to squeeze the belly and assist in the circulation of blood back to the heart.
  • Give one abdominal squeeze after each set of 15 compressions and one breath.

6. Repeat

  • Continue CPR or artificial respiration until the dog starts to breathe on its own and has regained a steady pulse. If the dog is not breathing after 20 minutes, it’s time to consider discontinuing treatment, as it is not likely you will have success after this point.

Local Veterinarians

Harbourside Animal Hospital

(813) 229-3322

1112 Channelside Drive #4

Tampa, FL 33602

Closes at 6 pm

0.3 miles away

Tampa Veterinary Hospital

(813) 254-3031

2517 West Kennedy Blvd

Tampa, FL 33609

Closes at 8pm

2.5 miles away

Animal Doctors of South Tampa

(813) 839-7200

3002 W Gandy Blvd

Tampa, FL 33611

Closes at 5:30pm

6.8 miles away