Artificial Respiration is a life saving technique that is performed when a dog has stopped breathing but its heart is still beating.

Methods for Artificial Respiration

1. Compression Method
2. Mouth-to-nose Resuscitation

Compression Method:

This Artificial Respiration technique applies force to the chest walls thereby moving the air out. The elastic recoil of the chest will draw air back in.

1. Check the heartbeat or pulse of the dog (feel the artery on the inner side of mid-thigh). Before beginning verify that there are no foreign particles in the mouth (perform the Heimlich Maneuver if needed), and clean any secretion from the mouth.
2. Lay the dog down on its right side and place your hands on the chest and press down hard. You should be able to hear the air moving out. Stop pressing and listen for the air to move in. Repeat until the dog starts to breath on its own.

Mouth-to-Nose Resuscitation:

Use this Artificial Respiration technique if the Compression method doesn’t work.

Artificial Respiration For dogs less than 14 kg or 30 pounds (puppies or small dogs):

1. Lay the dog on its right side and pull its tongue out to the front of the mouth, just in line with its canine teeth so that you can close its mouth without the tongue being in the way.
2. Put your mouth near the nose and slowly blow into the nostrils. Any excess air will be released through the dog's mouth. The chest should expand.
3. If the chest does not expand, blow with more force, closing your hand around the muzzle to seal the lips.
4. Continue doing this until the dog starts breathing by itself. One breath every two to three seconds will be required.

Artificial Respiration For dogs over 14 kg or 30 pounds (medium and large dogs):

Follow the same Artificial Respiration procedure as for a small dog, except that the dog’s lips will be kept closed from the beginning. Seal the mouth by closing your hand around the muzzle. One breath is required every three seconds.