If your dog collapses and stops breathing, knowing how to perform CPR on a dog could be the difference between life and death. Dog CPR combines 30 chest compressions with 2 rescue breaths in a repeated cycle, delivered at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute, compressing the chest one-third to one-half of its width. This emergency technique maintains oxygen flow to the brain and vital organs until you can reach a veterinary clinic.
According to the American Red Cross and veterinary emergency guidelines, brain damage can begin within 2 to 3 minutes without oxygen. In most emergencies, you will not have time to look up instructions. That is why learning these steps ahead of time matters so much.
I have spoken with veterinarians and reviewed the latest RECOVER (Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation) guidelines to put together this clear, step-by-step guide. Whether you have a tiny Chihuahua or a large German Shepherd, the fundamentals are the same, but the hand placement changes. Let me walk you through exactly what to do.
Table of Contents
How to Know If Your Dog Needs CPR
Before you start chest compressions, you need to confirm that your dog actually needs CPR. Performing compressions on a dog with a heartbeat can cause serious harm. Take a few seconds, no more than 7 to 10 seconds, to assess the situation.
Check Responsiveness
Call your dog’s name loudly. Gently tap their shoulder or the side of their face. A responsive dog will blink, move, or react in some way. If there is no reaction, proceed to the next check.
Check the Airway
Open your dog’s mouth and look inside. Gently pull the tongue forward and check for any object blocking the throat, such as a toy, food, or vomit. If you see something, carefully remove it with your fingers. Never reach blindly into the throat, and never pull on anything you cannot see clearly.
If the airway is clear and the dog is still unresponsive, move on to checking breathing.
Check Breathing
Watch your dog’s chest for rise and fall. Place your cheek near their nostrils to feel for air movement. Do this for no more than 5 to 7 seconds. If the dog is not breathing or is only taking occasional gasping breaths, note this and move to the circulation check.
Check Circulation
Feel for a pulse on the inside of the dog’s thigh, where the femoral artery runs close to the skin. You can also place your hand on the left side of the chest behind the elbow to feel for a heartbeat. Take no more than 7 seconds.
If there is no pulse and no heartbeat, your dog is in cardiac arrest and needs CPR immediately. The “7 second rule” refers to this critical assessment window: spend no more than 7 seconds checking for each of these signs so you can begin resuscitation as fast as possible.
Other signs of cardiac arrest include pale or blue-tinged gums, dilated pupils, and loss of bladder or bowel control. These are indicators that oxygen is no longer circulating through the body.
How to Perform CPR on a Dog Step by Step
Once you have confirmed that your dog is unresponsive, not breathing, and has no heartbeat, begin CPR immediately. Every second counts. Here is exactly how to perform CPR on a dog, broken into six steps.
Step 1: Position the Dog
Lay your dog on their right side on a firm, flat surface. The right side is important because it positions the heart closest to the surface of the chest, making compressions more effective. Extend the head and neck so the airway is straight and open.
If you have a second person with you, have them call the nearest emergency veterinary clinic while you begin CPR. Give the hospital your estimated time of arrival so they can prepare.
Step 2: Locate the Heart
For most dogs, the heart sits in the lower half of the chest, just behind the left elbow. When the dog is lying on the right side, the highest point of the chest wall is roughly where you want to place your hands for compressions.
On a barrel-chested or deep-chested dog, this landmark shifts slightly. I will cover breed-specific hand placement in detail later in this article.
Step 3: Position Your Hands
For medium and large dogs, cup your hands together with your fingers interlocked. Place the heel of your lower hand on the chest at the point you just located. Keep your arms straight and your shoulders directly above your hands so you can use your body weight to compress.
For small dogs under 20 pounds, you can use one hand. Wrap your thumb and fingers around the chest from underneath, with your thumb on the side facing up, and squeeze to compress. For very small puppies and toy breeds, use your thumb and forefinger to gently compress the chest.
Step 4: Give 30 Chest Compressions
Push down firmly and quickly, compressing the chest to a depth of one-third to one-half of the chest width. This is roughly 1 to 2 inches for small dogs and 2 to 4 inches for large dogs.
Aim for a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. A helpful way to stay on pace is to compress to the beat of the song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. Let the chest fully recoil between each compression so the heart can refill with blood.
Count your compressions out loud if you can. This helps you stay focused and track where you are in the cycle.
Step 5: Give 2 Rescue Breaths
After 30 compressions, pause and give your dog 2 rescue breaths. Close your dog’s mouth gently and extend the neck to straighten the airway. Place your mouth over both nostrils, creating a seal around the nose. Blow into the nostrils just until you see the chest rise.
Do not blow too hard, especially for small dogs. Over-inflating the lungs can cause damage. For small dogs, use small puffs of air from your cheeks rather than a full breath from your lungs.
If the chest does not rise, reposition the head and try again. The airway may not be fully open, or there could still be an obstruction you did not see earlier.
Step 6: Repeat the 30:2 Cycle
Return to chest compressions immediately after the 2 breaths. Repeat the cycle of 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths without interruption. This is the standard 30:2 cycle used in canine CPR, and it mirrors the technique used for human resuscitation.
Continue CPR without stopping until one of the following happens: your dog starts breathing on their own and has a pulse, a veterinarian takes over, you reach the emergency vet hospital, or you are too physically exhausted to continue. If you have a second person with you, switch roles every 2 minutes to avoid fatigue and maintain effective compressions.
During transport to the vet, keep performing CPR in the vehicle if it is safe to do so. Have someone else drive while you continue compressions and breaths in the back seat or cargo area.
CPR Techniques for Different Dog Sizes and Breeds
Not all dogs are built the same, and hand placement during CPR needs to adjust based on your dog’s body shape. I have broken this down into four categories so you can find the right approach for your specific dog.
Small Dogs (Under 20 Pounds)
Use the one-hand encircling technique. Wrap your hand around the dog’s chest from underneath, thumb on one side and fingers on the other. Squeeze to compress. This gives you more control over the depth of compression and works well for dogs like Chihuahuas, Yorkies, and Shih Tzus.
Medium to Large Dogs (20 to 90 Pounds)
Use the standard two-hand technique. Interlock your fingers and place the heel of your lower hand on the highest point of the chest. Lean over the dog with straight arms and use your upper body weight to compress. This covers breeds like Labradors, Boxers, and Golden Retrievers.
Deep-Chested Breeds
Breeds like Greyhounds, Dobermans, and Whippets have narrow, deep chests. For these dogs, place your hands slightly higher on the chest wall, closer to the armpit area. The heart is positioned differently in these dogs, so compressing at the widest part of the chest will not be as effective.
Greyhound owners on Reddit have specifically noted that their dogs’ narrow build requires a different hand position. The key is finding the point where you can feel the strongest “spring back” from the chest wall.
Flat-Chested (Barrel-Chested) Breeds
For Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, and other brachycephalic breeds, standard side positioning may not work well. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends placing these dogs on their back (dorsal recumbency) and compressing the sternum directly, similar to human CPR. Place the heel of your hand on the mid-chest, right over the breastbone, and push straight down.
This flat-backed position allows better access to the heart in dogs with wide, shallow chests. Barrel-chested breeds like Labs can also benefit from this approach if side compressions feel ineffective.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Performing Dog CPR
Even with the right intentions, small errors can make CPR less effective. Here are the most common mistakes veterinarians see, and how to avoid them.
Compressing too slowly or too fast. The ideal rate is 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Going slower than 100 means blood is not circulating fast enough. Going much faster than 120 means the heart does not have time to refill between compressions.
Not letting the chest fully recoil. If you lean on the chest between compressions, you prevent the heart from refilling with blood. Release all pressure and let the chest return to its normal shape before the next push.
Positioning the dog on the left side. Always place the dog on the right side. This positions the heart closest to the surface and makes your compressions far more effective.
Not sealing the snout for rescue breaths. Air will escape through the mouth if you do not close it. Gently hold the mouth shut with one hand and seal your lips around both nostrils.
Stopping CPR too early. It can take sustained effort to revive a dog. Keep going until you reach a vet, the dog recovers, or you physically cannot continue. Many dogs have been revived after 15 to 20 minutes of CPR.
Skipping the pulse check. Compressing a beating heart can cause it to go out of rhythm. Always check for a pulse before starting compressions. If the heart is beating but the dog is not breathing, only rescue breaths are needed, not full CPR.
What to Do After Performing CPR on Your Dog
If your dog starts breathing and their pulse returns, that is great news, but you are not done yet. Get your dog to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately, even if they appear to have fully recovered. Cardiac arrest can happen again, and there may be underlying damage that is not visible.
Keep your dog warm and as calm as possible during transport. A blanket can help regulate body temperature. Limit movement and handle your dog gently.
If CPR was not successful, I want you to know that you did the right thing by trying. Veterinarians consistently say that attempting CPR is always better than doing nothing. Your actions gave your dog the best possible chance.
To prevent future emergencies, schedule regular wellness exams with your vet, keep small objects and toxic substances out of reach, and learn the early warning signs of heart disease, heat stroke, and respiratory distress. The American Red Cross offers a pet first aid course, both online and in person, that covers CPR certification along with other emergency skills.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog CPR
What is the correct way to perform CPR on a dog?
The correct way to perform CPR on a dog is to lay the dog on their right side on a firm, flat surface. Place your hands over the highest point of the chest and give 30 firm compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute, compressing one-third to one-half of the chest width. Then give 2 rescue breaths by sealing your mouth over the dog’s nostrils with the mouth closed. Repeat this 30:2 cycle without stopping until the dog recovers or you reach a veterinarian.
What is the 7 second rule for dogs?
The 7 second rule refers to the maximum amount of time you should spend checking each vital sign before starting CPR. You should spend no more than 7 seconds checking responsiveness, no more than 7 seconds checking for breathing, and no more than 7 seconds checking for a pulse. Speed is critical because brain damage can begin within 2 to 3 minutes without oxygen.
What are common mistakes in dog CPR?
The most common mistakes include compressing too slowly or too fast (the correct rate is 100 to 120 per minute), not letting the chest fully recoil between compressions, positioning the dog on the left side instead of the right, failing to seal the snout during rescue breaths, stopping CPR too early, and skipping the pulse check before starting compressions.
Do you CPR a dog on the right or left side?
You should always perform CPR with the dog lying on their right side. This positions the heart closest to the chest wall, making your compressions more effective. The one exception is flat-chested breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs, which may be placed on their back for direct sternal compressions.
How long should I perform CPR on my dog?
Continue CPR without stopping until the dog starts breathing on their own, a veterinarian takes over, you reach an emergency vet clinic, or you are too physically exhausted to continue. There is no set time limit. Dogs have been successfully revived after 15 to 20 minutes of sustained CPR. If another person is present, switch roles every 2 minutes to avoid fatigue.
Be Prepared Before an Emergency Happens
Learning how to perform CPR on a dog is one of the most responsible things you can do as a pet owner. The technique is straightforward: 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths, repeated at 100 to 120 compressions per minute, with the dog on their right side. That simple cycle can keep oxygen flowing to your dog’s brain and organs during the critical minutes it takes to reach professional help.
I strongly recommend taking a hands-on pet first aid and CPR course through the American Red Cross or a local veterinary clinic. Reading about CPR is valuable, but practicing on a training mannequin builds the muscle memory that kicks in during a real emergency. Keep your nearest emergency vet’s phone number saved in your phone and posted on your refrigerator.
Share this guide with everyone in your household. In an emergency, the person closest to the dog may be the one who needs to act. Being prepared is the best protection you can offer your dog.