09/21/2026
🐶 Would you know what to do if a dog suddenly became unresponsive?
Before starting CPR, quickly check:
1. Responsiveness
Call to the dog and confirm they are unconscious.
2. Airway
Extend the tongue and look toward the back of the mouth. If you can clearly see an obstruction and can safely remove it, do so.
3. Breathing
Look for chest movement and feel for air from the nostrils.
4. Heartbeat
Feel the chest just behind the elbow, or check for a pulse high on the inside of the thigh.
If there is no heartbeat, begin CPR immediately.
How to perform dog CPR:
• Lay most dogs on their right side. Flat, barrel-chested dogs such as Bulldogs may need to lie on their back.
• Place your hands according to the dog’s size and chest shape. See the graphic for hand placement.
• Give 30 compressions at about 2 per second. Use the beat of Stayin’ Alive to help keep the rhythm.
• Compress the chest about 1/3 to 1/2 of its width, allowing it to fully rise between compressions.
• Hold the mouth closed and give 2 rescue breaths through the nostrils, watching for the chest to rise.
• Check for a heartbeat. If there is still none, continue cycles of 30 compressions + 2 breaths while arranging immediate transport to a veterinarian.
• If a heartbeat returns, stop compressions and get the dog to a vet immediately.
❤️ CPR is an emergency measure, not a substitute for veterinary care. Knowing these steps before an emergency can make those first critical minutes count.
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