Hopefully you will never have to perform CPR on your beloved dog, but it is better to be safe than sorry. So here are the ABC’s of Doggy CPR:

Airway

You should gently tap your dog and call their name to see if they move. If you do not get a response it is time to Look, Listen and Feel:

• Look – at the chest of the dog to see if it is moving.

• Listen – for the sound of your dog breathing.

• Feel – either using your cheek or the back of your hand, feel for any breath exiting the mouth or nose.

Breathing

If your dog is not breathing, pull out their tongue just a little bit. Close the mouth and tilt their head back  to open their airway. Give them 4 to 5 breaths from your mouth to their nose. This is called Mouth to Snout Resuscitation. They need just enough air to make their chest rise. (This means the larger the dog the more air they need.) Remember, you just want to get their chest to rise; too much air can hurt them.

Circulation

You need to find the pulse in your dog. The best place to find the pulse in a dog is in the Femoral Artery. This would be on the inside of the rear leg, towards the top of the leg.

If there is a pulse:

Continue Mouth to Snout Resuscitation, giving 1 breath every 3 seconds. If it is a really small dog give 1 small breath every 2 seconds.

If there is no pulse:

You need to start CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

CPR

Move the dog to a hard surface and lay it down on its right side. Take the left front leg and bend it at the elbow, rotating at the shoulder. The point where the elbow of the dog touches the body is where you should place your hands for the compressions. Place one hand on top of the other and clasp your fingers together. Lock your elbows and start performing compressions. Push approximately 2 to 3 inches deep. Give compressions (based on the size chart below) first then a breath. After 1 minute check for a pulse. Repeat if there is no response.

• Giant Dogs (80+ pounds) – 1 breath every 10 compressions.
• Medium to Large Dogs(30 to 80 pounds) – 1 breath every 5 compressions.
• Small Dogs (15 to 30 pounds) – 1 breath every 5 compressions.

CPR and Toy Dogs

Place the dog's back flat on the ground. Place hands on either side of the chest, right behind the shoulder blades. With your palms over the heart compress approximately ½ to 1 inch deep. After 1 minute, check for a pulse again.

• Toy Dogs ( under 15 pounds) – 1 breath every 3 compressions.