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Step 1
Call your dog's name and if no response, make sure he is breathing by listening, watching to see if the chest rises and falls or feeling for breath on your fingers.
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Step 2
Start CPR immediately if you can't detect a heartbeat. Before beginning, open the dog's mouth and remove any obstructions like an object or clot of mucus.
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Step 3
Close a larger dog's mouth and blow 3 to 5 breaths into the nose. For small dogs, you'll want to cover the nose and mouth with your mouth as you blow in 2 or 3 breaths of air. No matter the size, the dog's chest should rise after doing this.
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Step 4
Position the dog for chest compressions if the heart isn't beating. Large dogs may be placed on their backs and chest compression performed much like it would be on a human. Small dogs will need to be laid on their side and you can then perform the compressions on the side of the rib cage. For dogs over 60 pounds, you'll need 60 compression per minute; dogs 11-60 pounds will need 80-100 compressions and a dog 10 pounds or less will require 120.
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Step 5
Alternate breaths with compressions until the dog starts to respond or breathe on its own. Keep the dog still at this stage to prevent falls.
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Step 6
Take your dog to your veterinarian immediately upon her response to your efforts. The vet will need to stabilize bodily functions and monitor your dog in case there are further complications.
