When Dog CPR is Needed
If your beloved dog suddenly collapses, loses consciousness, and you cannot detect breathing or a heartbeat—such an emergency is never someone else's problem. Cardiac and respiratory arrest can occur from various causes, including traffic accidents, drowning, severe anaphylactic shock, electrical shock, and severe heat stroke.
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is emergency first aid to maintain life when the heart and breathing have stopped. While the basic principles are the same as human CPR, it must be performed using methods adapted to a dog's body size and anatomical characteristics.
Important: CPR is most effective when performed by someone with professional training. Please use the following information as a general reference. In an emergency, always contact your veterinary hospital or emergency animal medical center while proceeding with treatment.
Emergency Assessment—Determining if CPR is Needed
STEP 1: Ensure Safety
Confirm your own safety and your dog's safety. If in a roadway or dangerous location, first move to a safe place.
STEP 2: Check Consciousness
- Call your dog's name
- Gently shake their shoulder or body
- If there is no response, determine that consciousness is lost
STEP 3: Check Breathing
Observe chest or abdominal movement for 5–10 seconds. Also confirm air flow by placing your hand near the nose.
STEP 4: Check Heart Rate
Check the pulse by placing your fingers on the femoral artery (inner thigh). Unlike humans, the carotid artery in the neck is difficult to detect, so the inside of the hind leg near the groin is easiest to feel.
No breathing or pulse → Immediately begin CPR + Call the animal hospital
CPR is difficult for one person to perform alone. If possible, have one person make calls and another perform CPR. If you are alone, call the hospital first, then begin CPR.
- Pre-register your regular veterinary clinic's emergency contact number
- On nights and holidays, search for 24-hour or emergency animal hospitals
- Tell the clinic the dog's breed, weight, and current condition over the phone
- Continue treatment while following their instructions
Dog CPR Procedure
Position by Body Size
| Body Size | Position |
|---|
| Small dogs (under 10 kg) / Cat-sized | Lay on their right side |
| Medium to large dogs (10 kg or more) | Lay on their right side |
| Barrel-chested breeds (Bulldogs, etc.) | Lay on their back and compress from the sternum |
Chest Compression (Heart Massage)
- Confirm position: When lying on their right side, place the heel of your dominant hand on the highest part of the chest (sternum)
- Depth of compression: Press to a depth of 1/3 to 1/2 of the chest cavity (firm and fast)
- Rate: 100–120 compressions per minute (at a steady rhythm)
- Allow full recoil: After compression, let the chest fully return to its original position before the next compression
- Rotate: As fatigue decreases compression quality, change persons every 2 minutes
Artificial Respiration
- Open the airway: Tilt the head back slightly and pull the tongue out to open the airway
- Close the muzzle: Firmly close the muzzle with your hand
- Blow air through the nose: Place your mouth over the nostrils and blow air over 1–1.5 seconds with enough force to inflate the chest
- Frequency: 2 breaths for every 30 chest compressions (30:2 cycle)
For small dogs: You can also cover the muzzle with your mouth and blow through both the nose and mouth.
CPR Duration Guidelines
- Continue until heart rate and breathing resume
- Continue until you arrive at the animal hospital
- Continue until a professional determines it can be stopped
Special Situations
In Case of Drowning
Before CPR, it may be necessary to try to remove water from the airway. For small dogs, this is done by holding the hind legs and inverting the body for about 30 seconds, after which proceed to normal CPR.
In Case of Electrical Shock
Always turn off the power before touching an electrically shocked dog. Grabbing a dog that is actively electrocuted can cause you to be electrocuted as well.
Allergic Shock (Anaphylaxis)
With anaphylaxis, airway swelling can occur. If the airway is not open, artificial respiration is difficult, so prompt transport to the hospital is especially important.
Care After CPR
Even if CPR restores heart rate and breathing, always transport your dog to an animal hospital. After CPR, dogs may experience:
- Risk of neurological damage from oxygen deprivation to the brain
- Possible cardiac arrhythmias
- Need for treatment of the original underlying cause
Keep the dog warm during transport (wrap in blankets) and move quietly, minimizing stimulation.
Preparation Saves Lives
Prepare the following before an emergency:
- Register your regular veterinary clinic's after-hours emergency contact number
- Note the contact for nearby 24-hour or emergency animal hospitals
- Review CPR basics with your entire family (Ideally, attend a pet first-aid training course for pet owners)
- Prepare a pet first-aid kit (bandages, hemostatic agents, etc.)
Summary
When performed with the correct procedure, dog CPR can be a lifeline until you reach the animal hospital. However, treatment performed in panic or without proper knowledge can be counterproductive. We strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with emergency contact numbers and, if possible, take a pet first-aid training course for pet owners. In an emergency, calmly follow the sequence: "Call the hospital → Get instructions → Perform treatment."
