One of our worst fears is being unable to help our canines when they need help. So, read below to learn CPR for dogs in the case of an emergency.

If you are in a position where a dog is having a medical emergency, you should contact your vet or animal hospital. Then, ensure the airway is clear, and your pal is breathing and has a heartbeat. If the dog is not breathing, follow the CPR steps below.

Place Your Mouth Over The Airway

If you have a small dog, cover their nose and mouth with your own. However, if you have a large dog, place your mouth over their nose and use one hand to hold their jaw closed to prevent air from escaping.

Perform Artificial Respiration

Blow air into your dog’s nose/mouth to cause the chest to rise. Then, release your lips to let the air escape. Try to produce 20-30 breaths per minute.

Begin Chest Compressions

Lay your hand over the heart and press firmly to compress the chest 1/3 to 1/2 its usual depth. Try to produce 10-12 compressions within 5 seconds.

Repeat Breaths and Compressions

Then, repeat the previous two steps. For each breath, complete 10-12 compressions. Additionally, someone else should take over compressions after two minutes. This is because you will be completing over 100 compressions per minute.

Compress The Abdomen In Large Breeds

If you have a large dog, gently compress the front part of the belly. This will help circulate blood back to the heart. However, this is a secondary focus on the breathing and chest compressions.

Assess

Periodically check to see if your canine has started to breathe again. This is best done about every two minutes. If they have not started breathing, continue with artificial respirations until help arrives.

Knowing how to perform CPR on a dog can help you be better prepared for emergencies. So, please be sure to become familiar with the steps above if the need for CPR arises. Check out our blog to learn more about ways to help your dog!