How to do CPR on a dog

• 01Check response and breathing, 10 seconds, no more
• 02Compressions first: 30, then 2 breaths into the nose
• 03Recheck every 2 minutes, keep going on the way to the vet

How do I know if my dog needs CPR?

Two things together: your dog does not respond when you call its name and tap its shoulder, and it is not breathing normally. Look at the chest for up to 10 seconds. An occasional gasp is not breathing.

If your dog is breathing but will not wake up, do not start compressions. Keep the neck straight, keep them warm, and drive to the vet. CPR on a dog whose heart is beating can do harm.

What to do if your dog is not breathing

1. 01

   Check for a response

   Say their name, tap the shoulder. Ten seconds, no more.

2. 02

   Look for breathing

   Breathing but limp: no CPR, drive to the vet.

3. 03

   Lay them on their right side

   Flat, firm surface. Flat-chested breeds go on their back.

4. 04

   Hands on the chest

   Placement depends on chest shape, see the table below.

5. 05

   Push 30 times, hard and fast

   100 to 120 a minute. Let the chest rise fully each time.

6. 06

   Give 2 breaths into the nose

   Hold the mouth shut, straighten the neck, breathe until the chest rises.

7. 07

   Repeat, recheck at 2 minutes

   Swap rescuers every 2 minutes. Someone else drives.

Where do I put my hands on my dog's chest?

How fast and how deep do I push?

Fast: 100 to 120 compressions a minute, about 2 a second. The beat of Stayin' Alive is the classic pace. Deep: one third to one half of the chest width with the dog on its side. On its back, push about a quarter of the chest depth.

Let the chest come all the way back up between pushes. That recoil is when the heart refills. Lock your elbows and push from your shoulders, not your arms, or you will tire in a minute. If you want to go over pace and hand position before you ever need them, our online pet CPR and first aid course covers both at your own speed.

How do I give rescue breaths to a dog?

1. 01

   Close the mouth

   Hold the muzzle shut with one hand.

2. 02

   Straighten the neck

   Head in line with the spine, like a straight pipe.

3. 03

   Breathe into the nose

   Your mouth over the nose. About 1 second per breath.

4. 04

   Watch the chest rise

   If it rises, that breath worked. Give the second one.

5. 05

   Back to compressions

   Keep the pause for breaths under about 10 seconds.

How long do I keep doing CPR?

Recheck breathing every 2 minutes, briefly. Keep going in the car while someone else drives, and call the emergency hospital so they are ready. Stop if your dog starts breathing on its own or moves, or when the vet team takes over. PetAid, our free first aid app for iPhone, keeps these steps on your phone for the drive.

Be ready for the honest number. Even with good CPR, fewer than 1 in 10 dogs in cardiac arrest survive to go home, according to RECOVER data. The minutes you give still matter, and the drive to the vet is where most of that chance lives.

What changed in 2026

The 2026 RECOVER First Aid Guidelines put compressions first for a dog that is not responding and not breathing. Older guides, and some apps, start with an airway check and several rescue breaths. Start with compressions.

The same guidelines say not to sweep the mouth blindly with your fingers. Only remove an object you can clearly see and grab.

Learn it properly

American Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid, online at your own pace. $50, certificate when you finish.

Start the course →

Keep the steps on your phone

PetAid for iPhone, for dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, fish and reptiles. Free on the App Store.

Get PetAid →

The same compressions-first idea applies to people. Learn human CPR in person at our West Covina classroom: Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED.