PAWS ON DECK
FIRST AID
Unresponsive / Not Breathing / CPR
CHECK NOW — CPR OR RESCUE BREATHING?
only gasping
❤ START CPR ONLY When All Apply
• Unresponsive
• Not breathing / only gasping
• No heartbeat / pulse
🫁 START RESCUE BREATHING ONLY when
● Not breathing / only gasping
● Heartbeat / pulse IS PRESENT
NO chest compressions
✋🏾 DO NOT START RESCUE BREATHING / CPR
● Responds & breathing on their Return to First Aid Emergency
● Breathing on their own but struggling Go to Breathing Difficulty First Aid
FIRST AID CARD —
CPR / NOT BREATHING
DOG CPR – NO HEARTBEAT / PULSE
30 CHEST
COMPRESSIONS
100–120/min
Compress ⅓–½
chest width
Allow full recoil
2 RESCUE
BREATHS
Close mouth. Seal
over nose.
each breath
to see chest rise
REPEAT
30 COMPRESSIONS
→ 2 BREATHS
Keep interruptions
to a minimum
EVERY 2 MINUTES
STOP BRIEFLY &
RECHECK
Heart rate / pulse
Breathing
CHECK
Is your dog unresponsive
and not breathing?
normal breathing
or not sure → START CPR
CHECK AIRWAY
Open mouth.
Pull tongue forward.
Look for blockage.
→ Go to Dog Choking
Emergency Steps
POSITION
Lay on side.
Firm, flat surface.
Head and neck
in line with spine.
POSITION HANDS
Keep shoulders directly over your hands where possible.
Hand placement depends on your dog’s size and chest shape.
Most dogs: both hands, one over the other, on the widest part of the chest; dog on side.
Deep-chested: hands on widest part of chest; dog on side.
Broad / barrel-chested: dog may be on back; compress over breastbone.
Small dogs / puppies: one hand over heart area behind elbow, or cup chest with one hand above and one below; dog on side.
START CPR CYCLE
Begin: 30 compressions
→ 2 breaths → Repeat
2 MINUTE CHECK
Stop briefly every 2 minutes
and recheck.
Heartbeat
Heartbeat / pulse present?
If absent or you are not sure, return to CPR.
Breathing
Breathing on their own?
If heartbeat is present but breathing is absent, continue rescue breathing.
Responsive / Stable
If heartbeat and breathing have returned, stop active CPR.
Keep airway open, keep your dog calm and comfortably positioned, and monitor closely.
HEARTBEAT + BREATHING
STOP CPR
→ Go to Recovery (Step 5)
HEARTBEAT PRESENT
BUT NOT BREATHING
STOP CHEST COMPRESSIONS
→ Start Rescue Breathing
(Dog Rescue Breathing Step 3D)
NO HEARTBEAT
OR NOT SURE
CONTINUE CPR IMMEDIATELY
→ Return to 30 Compressions
(CPR Step 1)
Contact
Vet / tele-vet as soon as communication is available.
Monitor
Watch breathing, responsiveness and condition. If worse → return to emergency first aid.
Record
Note what happened, key times, changes and first aid given.
Plan
Plan the safest practical route to veterinary care and backup options.
CAT CPR – NO HEARTBEAT / PULSE
30 CHEST
COMPRESSIONS
100–120/min
Compress ⅓–½
chest width
Allow full recoil
2 RESCUE
BREATHS
Close mouth. Seal
over nose.
each breath
to see chest rise
REPEAT
30 COMPRESSIONS
→ 2 BREATHS
Keep interruptions
to a minimum
EVERY 2 MINUTES
STOP BRIEFLY &
RECHECK
Heart rate / pulse
Breathing
CHECK
Is your dog unresponsive
and not breathing?
normal breathing
or not sure → START CPR
CHECK AIRWAY
Open mouth.
Pull tongue forward.
Look for blockage.
→ Go to Dog Choking
Emergency Steps
POSITION
Lay on side.
Firm, flat surface.
Head and neck
in line with spine.
POSITION HANDS
Keep shoulders directly over your hands where possible.
Hand placement depends on your dog’s size and chest shape.
Most dogs: both hands, one over the other, on the widest part of the chest; dog on side.
Deep-chested: hands on widest part of chest; dog on side.
Broad / barrel-chested: dog may be on back; compress over breastbone.
Small dogs / puppies: one hand over heart area behind elbow, or cup chest with one hand above and one below; dog on side.
START CPR CYCLE
Begin: 30 compressions
→ 2 breaths → Repeat
2 MINUTE CHECK
Stop briefly every 2 minutes
and recheck.
Heartbeat
Heartbeat / pulse present?
If absent or you are not sure, return to CPR.
Breathing
Breathing on their own?
If heartbeat is present but breathing is absent, continue rescue breathing.
Responsive / Stable
If heartbeat and breathing have returned, stop active CPR.
Keep airway open, keep your dog calm and comfortably positioned, and monitor closely.
HEARTBEAT + BREATHING
STOP CPR
→ Go to Recovery (Step 5)
HEARTBEAT PRESENT
BUT NOT BREATHING
STOP CHEST COMPRESSIONS
→ Start Rescue Breathing
(Dog Rescue Breathing Step 3D)
NO HEARTBEAT
OR NOT SURE
CONTINUE CPR IMMEDIATELY
→ Return to 30 Compressions
(CPR Step 1)
Contact
Vet / tele-vet as soon as communication is available.
Monitor
Watch breathing, responsiveness and condition. If worse → return to emergency first aid.
Record
Note what happened, key times, changes and first aid given.
Plan
Plan the safest practical route to veterinary care and backup options.
