Module 3: CPR Procedure for Dogs and Cats
Dog vs. Cat Differences
The core CPR technique is the same for dogs and cats, with a few key adjustments.
✓Medium and Large Dogs
- Use two hands over the widest part of the chest, roughly where the elbow touches the chest when the front leg is folded back
- Compress one-third to one-half the chest width
- Compression rate: 100 to 120 per minute
✓Small Dogs and Cats
- Use one or two hands cupped around the sternum, compressing directly over the heart
- Barrel-chested breeds, such as Bulldogs, also need compressions directly over the heart rather than the widest part of the chest
- Use gentler force given the smaller size, at the same rate of 100 to 120 per minute
Regardless of size, the compression-to-breath ratio stays the same: 30 compressions to 2 breaths.