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ANIMAL & BIRD EMERGENCY CPR & HEIMLICH MANEUVER

Animal choking, not breathing or not responding

For Poisoning, go to Animal Poison Emergency

    Before going further, please read these 5 precautions:

  1. If doing a finger sweep of the mouth to remove any obstruction, always have a block of something between the teeth to prevent reflexive biting on finger, even if animal unconscious.
    Most important: animals and birds have a bone at the base of the tongue which is the Adam's apple (hyoid bone) and can be mistaken for obstruction or chicken bone. Does much harm to animal or bird if it is pulled.
  2. If possible neck or back injury, do not tilt or straighten neck of animal.
  3. Do not attempt to remove water from a drowning animal.
  4. Amount of air breathed in or pressure used should fit the size of the animal or bird.
  5. Do not practice CPR or the Heimlich Maneuver for real on an animal, only where to place hands, etc.

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External Links to CPR for DOGS
Click here for in-page CPR instruction Dog and Cat   return


External Links to CPR for CATS  return
Click here for in-page CPR instruction Dog and Cat


External Links to CPR for BIRDS  return

HOW TO HELP
BREATHING AND CPR PROCEDURE IN BRIEF (DOGS AND CATS)   return
If for any reason you can not get above sites, the instructions below may help you save the life of your dog or cat. It attempts to combine the information in the other sites covering areas which all sites do not cover. However, if you follow only these instructions, you do so at your own risk since this page has NOT been approved by a DVM.

CPR (in brief) for DOGS and CATS, and Precautions To Take
Also, see 'Detailed Points of Procedures and Precautions Revisited' below
  • [1] if animal drowning and is not conscious or breathing:
      a. do not attempt to remove water. See     details first.
      b. using the Heimlich Maneuver may be successful in      drowning cases when all else has failed.
  • [2] if animal obviously choking, do Heimlich Maneuver.
  • [3] otherwise, check if breathing. Even if unconscious, check for shallow breathing. If yes go no further.
  • [4] straighten neck if not possible trauma or break to neck.
  • [5] do not attempt to check for pulse. See details first.
  • [6] straighten tongue if doubled back, protecting self from reflexive bite (even if animal unconscious).
  • [7] Looking at what you are doing, clear out any mucus, phlegm or vomit. Remove any visible blockage carefully (so as not to push further in). Do not do a blind finger sweep. Animals have a bone at the deep in the throat at the base of the tongue which is the hyoid apparatus or Adam's apple which can be mistaken for obstruction or chicken bone. Great damage can be done by pulling on this.
  • [8] if breathing, do not go further.
  • [9] close animal's mouth and breathe gently but firmly into nose (directly with mouth over nose or using air tight cupped hand). Chest should rise and fall with each of your breaths. After each breath, release you mouth to allow lungs to deflate. Amount of air must fit the size of the animal - just enough for chest to rise and fall.
  • [10] if still your breath does not go through, hold nose shut with one finger and blow into the mouth holding sides of mouth air tight as possible.
  • [11] If breath still not going through, do Heimlich Maneuver
  • [12] otherwise, if breathing, do not continue. Further forced breathing or CPR could hurt animal.
  • [13] if not breathing, go to number 6 above and repeat process until a passage is clear. A passage must be clear in order for breathing/chest compression cycle to be successful.
  • [14] Procedure breathing/chest compression(CPR) cycle (CPR) - With animal lying on its right side, put heel (fingers for small animal) of one hand on the rib cage (where middle of foreleg touches chest when folded).
    Rate: Do 2 breaths (as above) and then 5 rib cage compressions. (each breath or compression approximately once every 2 seconds). Do smooth steady compressions. Always be aware of size of animal while doing the compressions - you are as if massaging the heart, not pushing it out of its place. See
    Timing of each breath or compression
  • [15] continue breathing and chest compression until signs of
    life or self breathing.

    After 20 minutes there is little possibility that animal can be saved. See Time before stopping CPR

    Click here for Detailed Points of Procedure CPR in Dogs and Cats

    Precautions revisited:
  • do not check for pulse.
  • place a soft block of something at beginning of mouth to avoid automatic biting down while attempting to straighten the tongue or remove blockage.
  • animals and birds have a bone at the base of the tongue which is the Adam's apple (hyoid bone) and can be mistaken for obstruction or chicken bone. Does much harm to animal or bird if it is pulled.
  • amount of air blown into the animals lungs must fit the size of the animal - just enough to cause its chest area to rise and than fall - and no more. Release your mouth each time to allow for exhale.
  • compression of chest must fit size of animal. Enough to help heart circulate blood, not to rearrange where heart sits.
  • constantly check for self breathing or movement.
  • CPR is usually done with the animal laying on its right side.
  • stop life saving efforts if animal is breathing or moving. Further breathing or CPR could hurt animal.
  • do not practice CPR or the Heimlich Maneuver for real on an animal, only where to place hands, etc.
    Heimlich Maneuver
       return to CPR procedure in brief
    References to check out:
  • The Heimlich Maneuver For Cats And Dogs Illustrated version of petcoach.co article below.
  • Choking: Using the Heimlich Maneuver in Cats
    If for any reason you can not get above sites, the instructions below may help you save the life of your dog or cat. It attempts to combine the information in the other sites covering areas which all sites do not cover. However, if you follow only these instructions, you do so at your own risk since this page has not been approved by a DVM.
    HEIMLICH MANEUVER FOR DOGS AND CATS IN BRIEF - for animal choking, having asthma attack, or when rescue breathing can not go through (conscious or unconscious). See details and explanations below.

  • [1] protecting self from reflexive bite (even if animal unconscious), straighten tongue if doubled back.
  • [2] remove any visible blockage carefully (not push further in). Do not do a blind finger sweep. Look at what you are doing. Animals have a bone at the deep in the throat at the base of the tongue which is the hyoid apparatus or Adam's apple which can be mistaken for obstruction or chicken bone. Great damage can be done by pulling on this.
  • [3] if breathing, do not go further.
  • [4] with animal on all fours, or held on hind legs, or rarely lying.
  • [5] place one fist below last rib and use other arm to steady (do not use arms to squeeze).
  • [6] jerk fist in an inward-up motion just enough to push air from lungs to expel object from windpipe. Always keep in mind the size of animal.
  • [7] if breathing, stop.
  • [8] else, do mouth check for possible manual extraction.
  • [9] if animal still choking, repeat procedure.
  • [10] if animal unconscious, check for clear air passage ways using breathing-CPR procedure above.

  • Do not do this procedure for practice. May cause damage to animal. Only hand placement may be practiced, but not actual pushing.


    Click here for Detailed Points of Procedure Heimlich Maneuver in Dogs and Cats


    How Long before Stopping   return
    Sites indicating amount of time (in minutes) to do CPR procedures before stopping.

  • Petplace 20
  • PetMD 10
  • Aspengrovevet.com 20


    How often to do breathing & how many compressions to one breath (historical data circa 2003)   return

  • henryhbk
    Breathing: 1 breath every 3 seconds
    CPR: 15 compressions - 2 breaths (3 compressions every 2 seconds)
  • Doggie CPR
    Breathing: 1 breath every 2 seconds
    CPR: 10 compressions - 2 breaths (1 compression every 2 seconds)
  • Pet Guardian Angels of America
    Breathing: 1 breath every 5 seconds
    CPR: 10 compressions - 1 breath
  • Cpr-certification from 'Pet First Aid' American Red Cross and Humane Society of the United States.
    Breathing: 1 breath every 2-3 seconds (depending on size)
    CPR: 3-5 compressions - 1 breath (depending on number of people)
  • 21cats.org
    Breathing: 1 breath every 2-4 seconds.
    CPR: about 60-80 times per minute.
  • PetPlace.com
    Breathing: For dogs over 30 pounds, give 20 breaths per minute (1 breath every 3 seconds).
    CPR: For dogs over 30 pounds, 5 compressions for each breath
    CPR: For dogs over 100 pounds, 10 compressions for each breath
    Breathing: For dogs less than 30 pounds, give 20 to 30 breaths per minute (1 breath every 2-3 seconds).
    CPR: For dogs less than 30 pounds, 5 compressions for each breath

    Classes, Online Courses, First Aid App   return
  • Pet Tech® CPR & First Aid CLASSES: interactive MAP U.S., Spain.
  • interactive MAP: Instructor Training, Pet CPR Classes, First Aid & Care
    PetSaver™ Pet CPR First Aid & Care
    Pet Tech® CPR & First Aid
    Pet Tech® Instructor Training
  • Become a Pet Tech® Instructor See for announcements.
  • American Red Cross: 35-minute online course
  • Pet First Aid App "The American Red Cross Pet First Aid app is the perfect on-the-go reference guide for pet owners to have on their smartphones."

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    ALL WARRANTIES DISCLAIMED
    There is no claim or warranty, either express or implied, that the information is correct, error free, complete, valid, or suitable to any particular situation or in general, or that it is the best or only way to solve the problem. The information provided must not be used as the sole basis for education, diagnosis, or for treatment. Other sources, including professional medical opinion, should be consulted before taking any action. Be prepared: Take a CPR or first aid class.
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