CPR is the method used to treat an animal who is not breathing or who has no heartbeat. It consists of rescue breathing (also called mouth to nose/mouth resuscitation) and chest compressions. CPR is based on three basic principles, called the ABCs of CPR.

You must follow the ABC order (Airway, Breathing and Circulation) when attempting CPR.

Even when performed by an experienced veterinarian, CPR does not always work. Don't be discouraged if your attempt fails, but know that you did try to save an animal's life.

Does the animal have an open airway? (The airway is the passage the animal breathes through. Check to see if the throat and mouth are clear of foreign objects.) If the answer is Yes, then go to BREATHING. If the answer is No, you need to open the airway. Do the following:

1. Lay the animal down, on either side.
2. Gently tilt the head slightly back to extend the neck and head.

3. Pull the tongue between the front teeth.
4. Use your fingers to check for and remove any foreign material or vomit from the mouth.

Do not place your fingers inside the mouth of a conscious animals, you may be bitten.

Is the animal breathing? If the answer is Yes, allow the animal to assume a comfortable body position. Then, move on to CIRCULATION. If the answer is No, do the following:


1. Make sure you have first opened the AIRWAY.

2. For medium and large dogs, seal the mouth and lips by placing your hands around the lips, gently holding the muzzle closed. For cats and small dogs (less than 30 pounds), your mouth will seal the mouth and lips.

3. Place your mouth over the animal's nose and forcefully exhale.

4. Give four or five breaths rapidly, then check to see if your pet is breathing without assistance. If the animal begins to breathe, but the breathing is shallow and irregular, or if breathing does not begin, continue artificial respiration until you reach the veterinary hospital or for a maximum of 20 minutes. (Beyond 20 minutes there is little chance of reviving your pet.)

5. Use the following breathing rates: 20-30 breaths per minute for small dogs (under 30 pounds) or cats; 20 breaths per minute for medium or large dogs (over 30 pounds).

Do not attempt this on a conscious animal.

Is there a heartbeat or a pulse? If the answer is No, perform chest compressions.

For Small Dogs (Under 30 pounds) or Cats:

1. Lay your pet down, on the animal's right side.
2. Kneel next to your pet with the animal's chest facing you.
3. Place the palm of one of your hands over the ribs at the point where the elbow touches the chest. Place your other hand underneath the right side of the animal.
4. Compress the chest 1/2-1 inch (your elbows should be softly locked during the compressions).
5. Chest compressions are alternated with breaths.
6. If working alone, do five compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.
7. If there are two people, one person does the breathing while the other does the compressions at a rate of three compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.

Do not assume there is no heartbeat or pulse simply because an animal is not breathing. Do not start chest compressions before checking for a heartbeat. (If the animal is conscious and responds to you, then the heart is beating).

Continue CPR until the animal has a strong heartbeat and pulse, or until you reach the veterinary hospital, or until 20 minutes have passed and your efforts have not been successful. CPR can be performed on the way to the veterinary hospital, as long as there are at least two people present (one to drive).

Medium to Large Dogs (30 to 90 pounds):
1. Stand or kneel with the animal's back to you.
2. Extend your arms at the elbows.
3. Cup your hands over each other.
4. Compress the chest at the point where the left elbow lies when pulled back to the chest.
5. Compress so the chest moves about 1-3 inches with each compression.
6. If working alone, do five compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.
7. If there are two people, one person does the breathing while the other does the compressions at a rate of two or three compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.

Giant Dogs (Over 90 pounds):
1. Use technique for medium to large dogs.
2. If working alone, do ten compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.
3. If there are two people, one person does the breathing while the other does the compressions at a rate of six compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.

Do not assume there is no heartbeat or pulse simply because an animal is not breathing. Do not start chest compressions before checking for a heartbeat. (If the animal is conscious and responds to you, then the heart is beating).

Continue CPR until the animal has a strong heartbeat and pulse, or until you reach the veterinary hospital, or until 20 minutes have passed and your efforts have not been successful.

CPR can be performed on the way to the veterinary hospital, as long as there are at least two people present (one to drive).

Use caution not to get bitten, especially if you must work on a conscious or semiconscious animal.

1. Open the mouth and carefully sweep from side to side with your finger to see if you can feel and dislodge the object. Be careful not to push the object further into the throat or to get bitten.

2. Pull the tongue forward, removing any object, vomit or foreign material present.

3. If the animal is small enough for you to comfortably lift and suspend, suspend the animal by the hips with the head hanging down.

4. If the animal is too large to suspend, hold the animal's legs in the air (like a wheelbarrow) so the head hangs down.
5. If the object does not come out by doing this, here are more options:

More Choking Techniques
Use caution not to get bitten, especially if you must work on a conscious or semi-conscious animal.

1. Have the animal either stand or lie down.
2. Place your arms around the animal's waist.
3. Close your hands together to make a fist and place the fist just behind the last rib.
4. Compress the abdomen by pushing up with this fist five times in a quick and rapid manner.(This is similar to the Heimlich maneuver commonly performed on humans to dislodge materials in the throat.)
5. Perform Rescue Breathing for five breaths. Even a small amount of air getting past the foreign object will make this thrust maneuver more effective.

6. If this is not successful in dislodging the object, administer a "sharp blow" with the flat side of your hand between the shoulder blades, then repeat the abdominal compressions.
7. Carefully sweep the mouth with your finger, to see if you can dislodge the object, if it has not come out on its own.

Once the object is dislodged, stop the thrusts, check for the ABCs, initiate CPR if needed and get the animal to a veterinary hospital at once.

If a piece of bone is protruding from the fracture site: First, wash the area with warm water or saline (add one teaspoon of salt to a quart of warm water).

Loosely place a dressing over the wound, extending several inches past the opening. It is best to use a sterile dressing such as a non-stick pad or a gauze sponge. Otherwise, use a clean piece of cloth.

Wrap the dressing with tape. Extend the tape several inches past the opening. Make sure you do not disturb the bones or wrap the dressing too tight.

If you cannot transport the injured animal in a box, carrier or a cage, or otherwise keep the animal completely still, try to splint the fracture. Splints keep the fracture immobilized to prevent further damage.

An incorrectly placed splint can cause more harm than good. To correctly immobilize a fracture, the joints above and below the fracture must be included in the splint.

1. Splint the limb in the position you find it. Place a rigid structure along each side of the fractured limb. You can use rolled-up newspaper, sticks, tongue depressors or pens (for cats and small dogs).

2. Hold the splint in place with tape placed at multiple sites surrounding the splint and limb. You can also use cloth strips, wrapped and tied around the limb and splint at multiple spots. Do not disturb the bones or wrap too tightly.