Pet CPR + First Aid Certification Manual: CPR

Pet Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is used when a dog or cat is unresponsive and is not breathing normally. CPR combines chest compressions with rescue breaths to help circulate oxygenated blood to the brain and other vital organs until spontaneous circulation returns or professional veterinary care takes over. Rapid recognition and immediate chest compressions are important during cardiopulmonary arrest.

Recognizing Cardiopulmonary Arrest

Possible signs include:

• Sudden collapse
• Unresponsiveness
• No normal breathing
• No signs of circulation

If the pet is unresponsive and not breathing normally, begin CPR promptly rather than delaying care for a prolonged assessment.

First Aid Steps

1. Ensure scene safety
2. Check the pet for responsiveness and normal breathing
3. Call for help and arrange emergency veterinary transport as soon as possible
4. Quickly check that the airway is clear before beginning CPR
5. Position most dogs and cats on their side on a firm surface
6. Begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute
7. Compress the chest approximately one-third to one-half of its width and allow the chest to fully recoil after each compression
8. Give 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths
9. For rescue breaths, keep the pet's head and neck aligned, close the mouth, create a seal over the nose, and give each breath only until the chest visibly rises
10. Continue cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths while arranging immediate veterinary care
11. Continue CPR until the pet begins showing signs of life or veterinary professionals take over

Chest Compression Position

Most dogs and cats should receive chest compressions while lying on their side.

For medium and large dogs, compression placement depends on chest shape:

• Round-chested dogs: Compress over the widest part of the chest
• Keel-chested or narrow-chested dogs: Compress over the heart
• Wide-chested dogs: Chest position may require modification based on body shape

For cats and small dogs, one-handed or circumferential techniques may be used to compress the chest over the heart.

Rescue Breathing

When providing mouth-to-nose rescue breaths:

1. Keep the head and neck aligned
2. Close the pet's mouth
3. Place your mouth over the nose to form a seal
4. Give a breath until the chest visibly rises
5. Give 2 breaths after every 30 compressions

If providing mouth-to-nose breaths would create a safety risk to the rescuer, chest-compression-only CPR may be performed while emergency veterinary care is being arranged.

Rescuer Safety

An injured, frightened, or recovering pet may bite or scratch unexpectedly. Protect yourself whenever possible, especially when working near the mouth or airway. Do not place yourself at significant risk while providing care.

When Emergency Veterinary Care Is Needed

Cardiopulmonary arrest is always an emergency. Arrange immediate transport to an emergency veterinarian while CPR is being performed whenever additional help is available. Even if the pet begins breathing or shows signs of recovery, emergency veterinary evaluation is necessary because the underlying cause of the arrest may still be life-threatening.