CPR for Cats & Dogs

These guidelines are not American Heart Association guidelines; they are a compilation of my personal research.  American Heart Association does not teach CPR for animals.

CPR for cats and dogs is very similar to CPR for humans. These directions assume the animal is unconscious and the risk of being bitten by the animal is not present.  Always make sure the scene is safe before helping any victim.

1. Check Airway – Just as with humans, you need to look, listen and feel for breathing

            1.  Look at the chest to see if it is rising and falling.

            2.  Listen to see if you can hear breathing

            3.  Feel for breath on your cheek

2. Check for airway obstruction - Open animals’ mouth and make sure the air passage is clear.  If not, remove the object obstructing the air passage.  If there is no object have someone call the emergency clinic and continue with CPR.

      3.  Give 2 Breaths - Extend the head and give several artificial    respirations:

       a. For large dogs: close the animal's jaw tightly and breathe into the nose.  The animal's chest should rise.  Give 2 long breaths. (breaths should be 1.0-2.0 secs. long)

       b. For small dogs and cats you may be able to cover the nose and mouth with your mouth as you breathe. The animal's chest should rise.     Give 2 breaths

4. Perform chest compression  -

              a. For large dogs you may be able to position the dogs on its back and compress the chest just like for humans.

                    b. For small dogs and cats as well as large dogs with funnel chests, you may need to lie the animal on its side and compress the side of the rib cage. Alternatively you can position the animal on its back and press on both sides of the rib cage.

          The rate of chest compressions varies with the size of the animal

                1.  Dogs over 60 lbs: 60 compressions per minute
                2.  Animals 11 to 60 lbs: 80-100 compressions per minute
                3.  Animals 10 lbs or less: 120 compressions per minute

                4.  Alternate breaths with compressions

     The ratio of compressions to breaths should be approximately the same as for     humans - 30:2 Continue doing this until the animal responds or begins to breathe on its own.  If animal does not respond take immediately to emergency animal clinic.