How dogs and cats can get lifesaving CPR from their owners

Watching a beloved pet fall seriously ill can be heart-wrenching, especially if Fluffy or Fido becomes unresponsive. But did you know you might be able to save your dog's or cat's life by administering CPR?

"When pet owners or bystanders initiate life support, we have seen successful outcomes and the pet may go back home with a good quality of life," said Dr. Jamie Burkitt, an associate professor of clinical small animal emergency and critical care at the University of California, Davis.

Burkitt is co-chair of the Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation, or RECOVER, Initiative, which published new guidelines in 2024 for administering CPR to dogs and cats. The guidelines for veterinary health professionals are based on a review of more than 1,370 studies and outline how to deliver chest compressions and "mouth to snout" resuscitation if the animal's heart has stopped.

The RECOVER Initiative also offers online classes to pet owners who want to learn how to administer lifesaving care to their fur babies.

Dr. Manuel Boller, a critical care specialist at Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital in Victoria, Canada, and co-chair of the RECOVER Initiative, said the reasons a pet's heart would stop differ from the heart-related conditions that lead a human's heart to stop, but the techniques for restoring breathing and a heartbeat are similar.

How do you know if your dog or cat needs CPR?

The human heart can stop suddenly and without warning, Burkitt said. But with pets, "most of the time, you have some indication the animal is ill before its heart stops."

Signs that an animal is in medical distress include difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, lethargy, loss of appetite or excessive vomiting. Or "if a cat is breathing with its mouth open, ever," she said. "These are things we'd be very worried about" and may lead the animal's heart to stop. As with humans, the animal will become unresponsive.

What should you do if a dog or cat becomes unresponsive?

Do not call 911, Boller said. Instead, begin CPR and have someone call the nearest veterinary hospital to tell them you are coming. Make sure to know the location and phone number of the veterinary hospital ahead of time.

Chest compressions and rescue breaths can be performed in the car, he said, but only if someone else is available to drive while a second person delivers the care while wearing a seat belt.

"Driving safely is the most important thing," Boller said. "But if there are ample people to provide chest compressions while someone else is driving, delivering continuous compressions is very important for a dog or cat, just like it is with people."

How do you give CPR to a dog or cat?

Chest compressions are given to most dogs and cats while they are lying on their sides, but dogs with wide chests, such as English bulldogs, can be lying on their backs.

The location of compressions differs based on the dog's breed. For round-chested dogs, such as retrievers, give compressions at the widest part of the chest. For wide-chested dogs on their backs, give compressions in the middle of the breastbone.

For medium and giant dog breeds, the person performing compressions should lock their elbows with arms extended, overlap the hands and place the heel of the bottom hand on the animal's chest. Shoulders should be vertically positioned over the wrists, and fingers should be interlaced and not fanned out.

With small dogs and cats, overlapping, two-handed compressions are not recommended. Instead, Burkitt said, the hands are wrapped around the animal's chest, using the thumbs to give compressions.

A one-handed technique may also be used for cats or small dogs. In one version, the non-dominant hand braces the animal while the dominant hand wraps around the animal's chest using the thumb and flat fingers to compress the heart. Or, the heel of the dominant hand may be used for compressions.

If the animal is lying on the floor, the person giving compressions should be beside it on their knees. It's important to push hard and fast on the animal's chest, Boller said.

Compressions on dogs and cats should be given at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute, with two rescue breaths given after every 30 compressions. That's also what the American Heart Association recommends for humans in cardiac arrest.

Ideally, breaths that deliver oxygen to the organs are given along with the chest compressions that get blood to the organs, Boller said. To deliver mouth-to-snout ventilation, "encircle the nostrils of the animal with your lips to make a tight seal and deliver a breath," he said.

For people, call 911 and start CPR, with or without breaths. Place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest at the nipple line, place the other hand on top and interlock the fingers. Send someone to retrieve an automated external defibrillator, or AED, if one is nearby. It's a device that can shock a heart back into rhythm.

Is it safe to give CPR to a dog or cat?

Burkitt said there is little risk involved in administering CPR to a pet, which could include breaking its ribs or being bitten. "The potential for benefit is so much greater than the potential for harm to either party," she said.

Hands-only CPR may be delivered if there is a risk that the animal is carrying an infectious disease or if the person feels unsafe delivering breaths.

Can CPR be done on other pets?

While resuscitation techniques may be used on other household pets, such as bunnies, there is little evidence showing how effective this might be, Burkitt said.

The RECOVER Initiative is, however, developing CPR guidelines for larger animals, such as horses, said Burkitt, who expects guidelines for rabbits and other non-domestic pets within the next five years.