What Every Pet Owner Should Know About CPR

When emergencies strike, seconds matter — especially when it comes to your pet’s life. Pet CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is an essential skill that every pet owner should understand. Whether your furry friend chokes on a toy, drowns, or collapses due to a sudden cardiac arrest, your knowledge and quick action could make the difference between life and death.

What Is CPR for Pets?

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is a combination of chest compressions and artificial respiration used to manually preserve brain function and blood circulation in a pet who has stopped breathing or whose heart has stopped.

CPR is used when your pet:

Is unresponsive
Is not breathing
Has no detectable heartbeat

This situation is known as cardiopulmonary arrest, and immediate intervention is crucial. Just like in humans, pets only have a few minutes before irreversible damage occurs.

When Should You Perform CPR on a Pet?

Only perform CPR when:

The pet is not breathing
There is no heartbeat
The pet is completely unresponsive

DO NOT perform CPR on a conscious or breathing pet — it can do more harm than good.

Step-by-Step: How to Perform CPR on a Dog or Cat

What You’ll Need:

A flat, hard surface
Your hands and mouth
Calm, quick thinking

Step 1: Check for Responsiveness

Call your pet’s name loudly.
Gently shake or tap their side.
If no response, proceed immediately.

Step 2: Check for Breathing and Pulse

Look for chest movement.
Feel for air from the nose/mouth.
Check for a heartbeat: Place your fingers on the inside of the rear leg (femoral artery) or listen over the left side of the chest.

If no breathing and no pulse, start CPR.

Also check: How to Recognize an Allergic Reaction in Your Pet

Step 3: Positioning for CPR

For Medium to Large Dogs:

Lay the dog on its right side.
Kneel beside the dog, near its chest.

For Small Dogs or Cats:

Lay the pet on its right side.
Place one hand around the chest, behind the front legs.

Step 4: Perform Rescue Breaths (Artificial Respiration)

Gently close the pet’s mouth.
Extend the neck slightly to open the airway.
Place your mouth over the pet’s nose (and mouth for cats and small dogs).
Blow into the nose until the chest rises — not too hard.
Give 1 breath every 2-3 seconds (20–30 breaths per minute).

Step 5: Perform Chest Compressions

For Medium/Large Dogs:

Place both hands over the widest part of the chest.
Lock your elbows and use your upper body weight.
Compress about 1/3 to 1/2 the chest width.
Rate: 100–120 compressions per minute (like the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” ).

For Small Dogs/Cats:

Use one hand wrapped around the chest OR thumb and fingers on opposite sides.
Be gentle but firm.
Rate: 120 compressions per minute.

Do 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. Repeat for 2 minutes.

Step 6: Recheck Every 2 Minutes

Pause CPR every 2 minutes.
Check for a heartbeat and breathing.
If there is no improvement, continue CPR.

CPR should be performed until:

The pet revives (starts breathing or moving)
You reach a vet
You are physically unable to continue

Step 7: Get to a Vet IMMEDIATELY

Even if CPR is successful, the pet still needs urgent medical attention. Transport them to an emergency vet clinic as quickly as possible while continuing CPR if needed.

Important Safety Tips

Don’t practice CPR on a healthy pet.
Keep your vet’s emergency number handy at all times.
Consider pet first aid training classes through organizations like the Red Cross or local animal hospitals.
Know your pet’s anatomy — practice locating pulse points and chest landmarks during calm moments.

Know the Differences: Pet CPR vs Human CPR

Factor	Human CPR	Pet CPR
Mouth-to-mouth	Mouth over mouth	Mouth over nose or both
Compressions	2 hands, center of chest	2 hands (large), 1 hand/thumb (small)
Rate	100–120/min	100–120/min (same)
Breath ratio	30:2	30:2

When CPR Might Not Work

CPR is not always successful — especially if the pet has been down for a long time or has an underlying condition. Don’t blame yourself. What matters is that you acted.

Success rates in pets vary between 5–10% — but even a small chance is worth trying.

Final Thoughts: Be Ready, Not Scared

Emergencies happen when we least expect them. Knowing how to perform CPR on your pet gives you the power to act when every second counts. While you hope you never have to use it, the knowledge could save your best friend’s life.

Make it a part of your pet parenting toolkit. Learn it. Practice mentally. And always keep your vet’s number close.