Veterinary Practice TeleTriage Solutions
CPR Instructions
DOG or CAT
Step 1: Confirm Cardiopulmonary Arrest (CPA)
Check Consciousness - Shake or tap your pet while calling their name loudly.
Open Their Mouth - Open their jaw, check if the jaw is stiff or limp, pull out the tongue and make sure nothing is lodged at the back of their mouth (Figure 1).
Assess Breathing - Watch their chest closely for any movement and listen for breathing noises.
If they are NOT BREATHING and UNCONSCIOUS, then start CPR.
Tip: A heartbeat or pulse does NOT need to be checked before starting CPR.
Figure 1. Check the mouth and airway by opening the jaw and pulling the tongue out.
Step 2: Compression Location
Compression Location
It is important to find the appropriate compression point based on the conformation and size of your pet. If unsure, the default is to place them directly over the widest part of the chest (Round Chests).
Dogs with ROUND chests
Example: Labrador Retrievers, Pitbull Terriers
Note the sphere shape of the chest when the dog lies on their side (red dashed lines). Lay the dog on their side and focus compressions on the widest part of the chest.
Figure 2. Round‐chested dogs. Source: J Vet Emergen Crit Care, Volume: 34, Issue: S1, Pages: 104-123, First published: 26 June 2024, DOI: (10.1111/vec.13391)
Figure 3. Keel‐chested dogs. Source: J Vet Emergen Crit Care, Volume: 34, Issue: S1, Pages: 104-123, First published: 26 June 2024, DOI: (10.1111/vec.13391)
Dogs with NARROW, DEEP chests
Example: Greyhounds, Dobermans, Shepherds (some)
Note the “ski slope” shape of the chest when the dog lies on their side. Lay the dog on their side and focus compressions over their heart. Bend the front leg back slightly and the point where the elbow touches the chest (~4th rib) is where the heart is.
Figure 4. Cats and Small Dogs. 1-handed heel technique. Source: J Vet Emergen Crit Care, Volume: 34, Issue: S1, Pages: 104-123, First published: 26 June 2024, DOI: (10.1111/vec.13391)
Cats and Small Dogs (<10lbs)
Lay them on their side. Start with the 1‐handed heel technique compresses the heart under the heel of the dominant hand, while the non-dominant hand braces the back.
A variation is the 1‐handed technique that compresses the heart between the thumb and the flat fingers of the dominant hand wrapped around the bottom part of the chest, while the non-dominant hand braces the back.
Figure 5. Cats and Small Dogs, 1-handed technique. Source: J Vet Emergen Crit Care, Volume: 34, Issue: S1, Pages: 104-123, First published: 26 June 2024, DOI: (10.1111/vec.13391)
Figure 6. Wide‐chested dogs. Source: J Vet Emergen Crit Care, Volume: 34, Issue: S1, Pages: 104-123, First published: 26 June 2024, DOI: (10.1111/vec.13391)
Wide-Chested Dogs
Example: Bullsdogs, Pugs, or other squishy faced dogs
Dogs that fall naturally onto their back may undergo chest compressions in that manner. Lay your dog on its back. Place your hands right on the center of the sternum/chest. The thorax should be compressed approximately 1/4 of its depth in this position.
Step 2: Start Compressions
Lay your pet on their side or back (Wide-Chested) on a firm surface.
Hand Position
For most dogs, put one hand on top of the other, palms overlapping, fingers interlaced (Figure 6) and place them over the compression point. Use figure 4 for cats and small dogs.
Figure 7. Palms overlapped position. Source: J Vet Emergen Crit Care, Volume: 34, Issue: S1, Pages: 104-123, First published: 26 June 2024, DOI: (10.1111/vec.13391)
Figure 8. Appropriate rescuer posture. Source: J Vet Emergen Crit Care, Volume: 34, Issue: S1, Pages: 104-123, First published: 26 June 2024, DOI: (10.1111/vec.13391)
Posture (Medium/Large Dogs)
Keep elbows straight, and position yourself directly over the dog.
Bend at the waist, not the elbows (Figure 2).
Press down about a third or halfway through the chest and allow full chest recoil before the next compression. Reduce the depth to 1/4 of the chest for Wide-Chested Dogs.
Pace
Aim for about two compressions per second (100-120 compressions per minute). You can sing along to 'Stayin’ Alive' to keep the right pace.
The metronome that is currently playing on this site is set to 110 beats per minute to help you keep pace
After 30 compressions we are going to give rescue breaths.
Guided CPR Instructions. Press play when you are ready to begin compressions. Use when you don't have veterinary team members to coach.
Metronome for compressions and audible cues for giving breaths only. Use this if you are being coached by a veterinary professional.
Step 3: Give Mouth-to-Snout Breaths
Position
Keep their neck and back relatively straight and line up their nose with the spine. You can give breaths positions from behind or beside them.
Create a Seal
Close their mouth and try to seal their lips as much as possible as we want to prevent air coming out. Place your lips over their nose and create a seal like blowing up a balloon.
Give a Breath
Blow gently into the nostrils for about 1 second and watch the chest rise to ensure your breath goes in and then release.
Then give a second breath immediately afterwards.
Resume compressions immediately afterwards.
Figure 9. Mouth-to-Snout position. It is important to straighten the airway and create a seal.
Step 4: CPR Cycles
Compression and Rescue Breaths
Continue with 30 chest compressions, then 2 Mouth-to-Snout breaths, then back to compressions immediately.
2-Minute Cycles
Every 2 minutes, pause just long enough—no more than 10 seconds to swap rescuers performing chest compressions.
Try to assess if your pet is breathing on its own or moving. STOP compressions if any of the following occurs:
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Breathing on their own
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Start to move or react
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You can feel an obvious heartbeat
If nothing’s changed or if there is any doubt, keep going with CPR.
Transportation
Logistics
Once someone is available to help transport, set up your vehicle for CPR.
Identify the nearest veterinary facility that is equipped to receive a critical care (during or after CPR). Ensure the veterinary facility is contacted and is ready to receive the incoming critical case.
Load your pet into the vehicle, minimizing the break in CPR.
Set-up for CPR in a Vehicle
Minimum 2 People: One dedicated driver, plus at least one person to administer CPR without distraction.
For large dogs, place seats down or a firm surface is often necessary to achieve proper compression depth. Avoid overly soft, compressible surfaces.
For smaller pets, they may be placed on a lap or next to the person performing compressions with minimal interference with the driver.
Safe Travel
Always prioritize safety during travel and ensure compliance with road rules.
The driver must focus on the road, put the call on speakerphone/hands free, seat belts fastened, if possible perform CPR in the back seat to avoid distractions to the driver.
Disclaimer
This webpage is intended as a supplemental resource to assist Animal HealthLink’s (AHL) medical team in coaching pet owners during suspected cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) events. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary care or in-person medical advice.
CPR performed on animals without veterinary supervision may cause unintended injury to the pet. Additionally, attempting CPR in moving vehicles or unsafe environments may place individuals at risk of harm. Animal HealthLink and its partner veterinary clinics are not liable for any injury, damage, or other consequences that may arise from performing CPR on a pet, including but not limited to physical injury to the person, unsafe driving conditions, or harm to the animal.
If you suspect your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, seek immediate veterinary attention.