How to do cpr on a dog?

If your dog suddenly collapses, knowing a few clear, practical steps can make the difference between life and death. The guidance below is written from the perspective of a veterinarian who has treated many emergencies; it focuses on what to do immediately, why those actions help, and how to be better prepared so you can act confidently if the worst happens.

What CPR Can Mean for Your Dog

A dog collapsing in the home, during a walk, or while traveling is more common than people expect, and the first few minutes after collapse are critical. Owners often encounter situations where professional help is minutes to hours away: a pool-side drowning, a choking episode at a dog park, or sudden collapse in a hotel room while traveling. In those early minutes, basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation is likely to be the only thing standing between a reversible arrest and permanent damage.

Certain situations increase the risk your dog may stop breathing or lose a pulse: swimming and near-drowning, exposure to toxins, heatstroke during a summer outing, or severe trauma from a vehicle. Perioperative complications also account for arrests—problems during anesthesia or immediately after surgery can lead to sudden respiratory or cardiac failure. I typically see arrests after collars get caught, during fights, or after ingesting human medications or chocolate; those are the kinds of practical risks worth preparing for.

Who should learn pet CPR? Anyone who spends significant time with dogs: single owners who may be alone during an emergency, families with children, professional dog walkers, breeders, and trainers. If you transport dogs frequently, care for multiple animals, or own a breed with airway or cardiac risks, a short hands-on course is a very reasonable investment in their safety.

CPR at a Glance: Immediate Steps to Take

If a dog collapses and appears unresponsive, act quickly but calmly. These three steps summarize what to do first so you can start effective care without delay:

1. Check safety and responsiveness. Make sure the scene is safe, shout the dog’s name, and gently pinch or rub to see if there is any response. Look for normal breathing; absent breathing or only occasional agonal gasps suggests an emergency.
2. Call for professional help immediately. Phone your emergency veterinary clinic or local animal emergency number and, if possible, have another person call while you begin care. Provide your location and a brief description of the situation so they can prepare ahead of your arrival.
3. Begin chest compressions and rescue breaths without waiting for veterinary staff. Place the dog on a flat surface and start compressions at a steady rate, interspersed with breaths if you are alone; continue until professional help takes over or the dog regains an effective heartbeat and breathing.

How CPR Restores Breathing and Circulation in Dogs

The heart’s job is to move oxygenated blood to the brain and other vital organs; when the heart stops, tissue quickly becomes starved of oxygen and can suffer irreversible damage. The lungs oxygenate blood; without ventilation, oxygen levels fall and carbon dioxide rises, worsening cellular injury. Basic CPR aims to temporarily substitute for these functions until the heart and lungs can recover or veterinary therapy can address the underlying problem.

Chest compressions squeeze the heart between the ribs and sternum, generating a modest but crucial forward flow of blood. Rescue breaths supply oxygen into the lungs so subsequent compressions push oxygen-rich blood to the tissues. Together, compressions and ventilations maintain a level of perfusion that may be enough to preserve brain function while definitive treatment is arranged.

Recognizing When CPR Is the Right Move

CPR is indicated when a dog is unresponsive and not breathing normally, or when there is no detectable pulse. Common causes include drowning or near-drowning, airway obstruction from choking, ingestion of toxic substances, severe trauma from being hit by a car, and massive bleeding leading to circulatory collapse. Heatstroke can progress rapidly to respiratory failure and shock, especially in hot weather or with prolonged exercise.

Veterinary-related causes include complications from anesthesia, unexpected reactions to medications, or cardiac arrest during the immediate post-operative period. Breed and individual factors matter: very young or very old dogs, brachycephalic breeds with narrow airways, and dogs with known heart or lung disease are more likely to experience respiratory or cardiac emergencies.

Warning Signs: Urgent Red Flags to Watch For

Some signs indicate that collapse is imminent or that immediate transfer to a veterinary hospital is required even if CPR is started. Unresponsiveness coupled with absent breathing or only weak, irregular gasping is the clearest sign. Pale, gray, or blue-tinged gums and a very weak or absent femoral pulse suggest poor circulation and high urgency.

Severe uncontrolled bleeding, ongoing seizures, or clear signs of poisoning (for example, drooling, vomiting, rapid collapse after eating a toxin) should prompt urgent veterinary transfer; CPR may buy time but definitive care is often needed to treat the cause. If a dog’s breathing becomes increasingly labored, loud, or absent, prioritize getting professional help while beginning basic support.

Owner Action Plan: Clear, Practical CPR Steps

These practical steps are grouped for clarity so an owner can follow them under stress. Work through them in order and ask someone to call your vet or emergency clinic while you start care.

1. Assess and call. Ensure the area is safe for you to approach. Shake gently and call the dog; if there is no response and breathing is absent or abnormal, call the emergency clinic immediately. If someone else is present, have them call while you begin care.
2. Positioning and airway. Lay the dog on a flat surface on its side (lateral recumbency). Open the airway by extending the neck to a neutral, slightly extended position—avoid severe hyperextension. Look into the mouth and remove any visible obstruction with fingers if you can see and safely reach it; do not blindly sweep if you cannot visualize the object, as you may push it deeper.
3. Chest compressions. For most medium-to-large dogs, place both hands over the widest part of the chest and compress straight down, aiming to depress the chest about one-third to one-half of its width. For deep-chested breeds (like greyhounds), place hands over the area just behind the elbow where the heart lies. For small dogs and cats, encircle the chest with one hand and compress with the thumb and fingers. Maintain a steady rate of roughly 100–120 compressions per minute. Allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions. Avoid interruptions—do not stop for more than about 10 seconds to check a pulse.
4. Rescue breaths and cycles. After 30 compressions, give two rescue breaths if you are trained and able: create a tight seal over the dog’s nose and mouth (muzzle closed), or use a pediatric or pet-sized mask if you have one, and breathe until you see the chest rise. For very small dogs or cats, cover the nose and mouth with your mouth and give gentle puffs. If another person is assisting and the airway is secured with an endotracheal tube (in hospital settings), give about 10 breaths per minute while continuing compressions without pausing. If alone and untrained, continue cycles of 30 compressions to 2 breaths until help arrives.
5. When to stop or change approaches. Continue CPR until the dog shows clear signs of recovery—spontaneous breathing, purposeful movement, or a return of a strong pulse—or until trained help takes over. If the scene becomes unsafe, move the dog only if you can do so without stopping compressions for more than a few seconds. If airway obstruction is suspected and you can safely reach the object, attempt to remove it; otherwise, prioritize chest compressions and emergency transport.

Prepare Your Space — Training and Practice Tips

Learning and practicing under supervision is the single best way to improve your ability to help. Enroll in a hands-on pet CPR and first-aid course that uses manikins; I recommend courses that include repeated practice of compressions, breaths, and airway management. Watching videos is useful, but muscle memory from hands-on practice is what matters in an emergency.

Create a written emergency plan: list your regular veterinarian, the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic with directions, and any pet caregivers’ contact information. Keep that list near your phone, in your car, and on your phone as a shortcut. Rehearse how you would move a large dog into your vehicle; practice removing a harness or seatbelt buckle quickly.

Reduce the chance of emergencies by pet-proofing: keep human medications, cleaning chemicals, and certain foods out of reach; supervise swimming and limit heat exposure; ensure collars and harnesses fit and won’t easily snag. When traveling, carry a copy of vaccination and medical records, a list of medications, and contact information for local emergency vets at your destination.

Essential Emergency Gear Every Dog Owner Should Have

A simple bag of items can make CPR and transport easier. Have a charged phone and a flashlight readily available. Disposable gloves protect you and keep wounds cleaner; clean towels or blankets provide a flat surface and help control heat loss. Keep a sturdy leash and a soft muzzle for when consciousness returns and the dog may bite out of fear or pain.

A pocket mask with a one-way valve in a pediatric size or a pet-adapted mask is useful for delivering rescue breaths more safely than mouth-to-nose, but only if you know how to use it. A basic first-aid kit that includes bandage tape, gauze, and instant cold packs will help with bleeding and shock. If you have access to oxygen and know how to use it safely, it can be invaluable, but oxygen therapy is a veterinary-level treatment unless you have formal training and appropriate equipment.

Where This Guidance Comes From

• RECOVER Initiative: Veterinary CPR Guidelines (Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation), Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society; detailed protocols published in Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (RECOVER guidelines, 2012; updates 2017).
• Merck Veterinary Manual: “Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in Small Animals” — practical clinical overview and techniques for emergency responders.
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): “Disaster and Emergency Preparedness for Pets” and pet first-aid resources for owners and clinics.
• American Red Cross: Pet First Aid course and Pet First Aid smartphone app—basic skills and scenario-based practice for owners.