1 – You should start CPR if your dog is not breathing or has no heartbeat.
If your pet is not breathing and doesn’t have a heartbeat within 15 seconds, begin chest compressions.

2 – Chest compressions guide per animal size.
Small Dogs (Less Than 15 Pounds)
Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, etc.
Position yourself on the top of the animal.
Put the dog on its side. You will perform CPR on the side of the chest.
Find where the heart is located by bending the front leg on the top all the way close to the chest. The point where the elbow meets the chest is where the heart is located.

One-handed Technique: Wrap your hand around the sternum (center of the chest) at the level of the heart with your thumb on the upside and the rest of the fingers underneath. Like you were holding the dog with your thumb above one armpit and the fingers above the other.

Two-handed Technique: Place one hand over the other, with the heel (bottom of the hand) of the hand directly over the heart. Lock your elbows, so your shoulders are above your hands.
Compress 1/3 to 1/2 the width of the chest.
Before compressing again, make sure you release the chest completely.

Medium – Large Round Chested Dogs
Retrievers, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, etc
Position yourself on the top of the animal.
Put the dog on its side. You will perform CPR on the side of the chest.
Place one hand over the other, with the heel of the hand (bottom of the hand) on the highest or widest part of the chest. Lock your elbows, so your shoulders are above your hands.
Compress 1/3 to 1/2 the width of the chest.
Before compressing again, make sure you release the chest completely.

Medium-Large Deep, Narrow, Keel Chested
Greyhounds, Doberman Pinchers, Borzois, etc.
Position yourself on the top of the animal.
Put the dog on its side. You will perform CPR on the side of the chest.
Place one hand over the other, with the heel of the hand (bottom of the hand) directly over the heart. Lock your elbows, so your shoulders are above your hands.
Compress 1/3 to 1/2 the width of the chest.
Before compressing again, make sure the chest has fully retracted.

Barrel, Flat-Chested Dogs
Boston Terriers, Pugs, French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, etc.
Put the dog on its back.
Position yourself on the top of the animal.
Place one hand over the other, with the heel of the hand (bottom of the hand) placed on the highest part of the sternum. Lock the elbows and shoulders above the hands.
Compress 1/3 to 1/2 the width of the chest.
Before compressing again, make sure you release the chest completely.

3 – Start compressions. You’ll do 1 to 2 compressions every second (rate of 100-120 compressions per minute).

4 – Perform cycles of around 30 compressions by counting 1-8 while doing the compressions, then perform 2 rescue breaths.
If you are alone, stop the chest compressions when you finish counting to 8 and perform 2 rescue breaths.
If there are two rescuers, switch jobs every 2 minutes. Switch as quickly as possible to minimize the time with no compressions.

Rescue Breath Instructions:
Close the dog’s mouth gently and extend the neck to open the airway.
Wrap your hands around the mount and nose of the dog and exhale until you see the dog’s chest rise. The air should go into the nose of the dog.
Blow air into the dog’s nose for about 1-2 seconds.
As soon as 2 rescue breaths are delivered, resume compressions.

5 – Check for a heartbeat and spontaneous breathing every 2 minutes.
CPR can be done for 10-20 minutes.
Be careful not to lean your whole weight over the dog.

6 – Perform CPR until you reach a veterinary hospital.
There is little chance of reviving a dog after 10 minutes without CPR. Good quality CPR can save a dog’s life while in transit to the vet.