CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a critical procedure performed in emergencies that, just as in people, can save your dog's life. It’s a way to issue temporary life-saving measures until you can get your pet to veterinary professionals.
When to Perform CPR on a Dog
The only time you should perform CPR on a pet is if there’s no breathing or heartbeat.
If you do CPR on a breathing dog, you can cause harm. Therefore, before you begin CPR, you should check:
- Consciousness: Call the dog’s name and gently shake them.
- Breathing: Monitor chest movement or put the palm of your hand in front of the nose to feel for airflow.
- Pulse: The femoral artery is on the inside of the hind leg. Feel for a pulse. You can also place your hand on the chest. If there is no breathing and no pulse, proceed with CPR immediately.
Steps to Perform CPR on a Dog
Position
- Always lay the dog on the right side and place on a firm surface.
- Extend the neck slightly to keep the airway open.
Check for Obstructions
- Check for obstructions in the throat by opening the mouth and looking for vomit, food, or a foreign object. If something is blocking the airway, remove it carefully.
Rescue Breaths
- Keep the neck extended and close the mouth.
- Place your mouth over the dog’s nose (for small dogs and cats, cover both the mouth and nose with your mouth).
- A rescue breath should last about one second.You should deliver two of them.
- As you breathe for the pet, watch to see if the chest rises. If it doesn’t, reposition the neck and try again.
Compressions
The compression technique varies based on the dog’s size and breed:
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Small Dogs or Cats (under 30 lbs): Place one hand over the heart and compress with your fingers. Compress about ½ to 1 inch deep at 100-120 compressions per minute. That sounds like a lot and it is. The smaller the animal, the faster their heart beats. If you have a helper with you, you may need to alternate performing the compressions.
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Medium to Large Dogs (30 lbs and above): Place both hands over the widest part of the rib cage (not directly over the heart), interlock your fingers and use the palms of your hands to push down about ⅓ to ½ of the chest depth. Maintain a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute. Again, you may need help, but don’t pause between a change of partners.
- Barrel-Chested Dogs (e.g., Bulldogs): Perform compressions with the dog on its back, similar to human CPR.
Length of Time
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You will want to perform 30 compressions in a row with two rescue breaths in between each set of compressions. Repeat this cycle continuously for two minutes.
- After two minutes, check for breathing and a pulse. If there is none, continue CPR.
Continue Until Veterinary Help Arrives
You should continue to perform CPR until the pet begins to breathe on its own, a pulse is detected, or veterinary professionals arrive. If there is no response after 10-15 minutes, survival chances are low.
After CPR: Seek Veterinary Care Immediately
Even if your pet regains consciousness, it still needs to be checked by a veterinarian. During compressions, ribs can be broken. It is also important for a veterinarian to find the underlying cause of the cardiac arrest.
Knowing how to respond and perform CPR on a pet, is the chances between survival and death. Preparing and practicing can help pet owners act quickly and effectively to save their beloved companions
Shelby Neely, VMD