Dog CPR
🌿 LAKEWOOD RANCH DOODLES EDUCATION SERIES
🐾 PET CPR & EMERGENCY FIRST AID
Knowing what to do during an emergency can save your dog's life. While CPR and first aid are not a substitute for veterinary care, they may help stabilize your pet until professional assistance is available.
CPR should only be performed when a dog is unconscious, not breathing normally, and has no detectable heartbeat or pulse. Have someone contact the nearest emergency veterinary clinic immediately while CPR is being performed.
🚨 STEP 1: CHECK RESPONSIVENESS
If your dog collapses:
✔ Call their name
✔ Gently touch or tap them
✔ Check for breathing
✔ Check for a heartbeat or pulse
How to Check a Pulse
The easiest location is the femoral artery on the inside of the upper hind leg where it meets the body.
Signs of Circulation
✅ Pink gums
✅ Normal breathing
✅ Responsive pupils
Emergency Warning Signs
❌ No breathing
❌ No pulse
❌ Unresponsive
❌ Pale, white, blue, or gray gums
❌ Fixed or dilated pupils
🫁 STEP 2: OPEN THE AIRWAY
Carefully:
✔ Extend the neck
✔ Pull the tongue forward
✔ Look inside the mouth for any visible obstruction
✔ Remove an object only if it can be safely reached
❤️ STEP 3: RESCUE BREATHING
If your dog has a pulse but is not breathing:
- Close the mouth.
- Extend the neck.
- Place your mouth over the nose.
- Give a breath until the chest rises.
- Allow the chest to fall completely.
Rescue Breathing Rate
• 1 breath every 2–3 seconds
• Approximately 20–30 breaths per minute
Continue until breathing resumes or veterinary help takes over.
❤️🩹 STEP 4: CHEST COMPRESSIONS (CPR)
If there is NO pulse and NO breathing, begin CPR immediately.
Positioning
✔ Lay your dog on their right side
✔ Place your hands over the widest part of the chest
✔ For deep-chested breeds, place hands directly over the heart area
Compression Rate
✔ 100–120 compressions per minute
✔ Compress the chest approximately 1/3–1/2 of its width
✔ Allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions
🔄 CPR CYCLE
Perform:
30 chest compressions
followed by
2 rescue breaths
Repeat continuously.
Check for breathing and pulse every 2 minutes.
🚫 CHOKING OR AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION
If your dog is conscious and choking:
✔ Stay calm
✔ Open the mouth and look for an object
✔ Remove only if easily visible
✔ Seek emergency veterinary care immediately
If unconscious and airway obstruction is suspected:
✔ Begin CPR
✔ Recheck the mouth between cycles
☀️ HEATSTROKE EMERGENCY
Signs include:
❌ Excessive panting
❌ Bright red gums
❌ Weakness
❌ Collapse
❌ Vomiting
What To Do
✔ Move to shade or air conditioning
✔ Apply cool (not ice-cold) water
✔ Offer small amounts of water if conscious
✔ Seek immediate veterinary care
🎓 PET FIRST AID TRAINING
Reading about CPR is a great first step, but hands-on training can give you the confidence to respond during a real emergency.
We encourage all dog owners, guardian families, groomers, trainers, breeders, and pet sitters to complete a certified Pet First Aid and CPR course.
Canine Health Canada offers Canine CPR and Emergency First Aid certification courses across Canada and teaches the RECOVER method of canine CPR. Their programs are veterinarian-reviewed and designed to help pet owners become effective first responders in emergencies.
Learn more at:
⚠️ IMPORTANT
Pet CPR is intended to help maintain circulation and oxygen until professional veterinary care is available.
Always transport your pet to the nearest veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately, even if they appear to recover.
🐾 Partnering with you for successful dog ownership.