🐾 Stayin’ Alive (and Woofin’) – Your Guide to Pet CPR
Because fur babies need saving too.
Let’s be real: your dog will eat anything, your cat thinks they’re immortal, and your ferret—well, you’re still not sure why you have a ferret. But when pet emergencies strike, you don’t have time to Google "Can cats perform the Heimlich on themselves?"
That’s where Pet CPR comes in. It might sound like something from an episode of Paw Patrol: ER, but it’s legit—and learning it could mean the difference between heartbreak and a happy tail wag.
🐶 The Basics: Dog and Cat CPR 101
If your pet collapses, is unresponsive, and not breathing, here’s what you do (after you stop panicking and hide the peanut butter):
1. Check for breathing and a pulse.
Use two fingers (not your thumbs!) on the inside of the back leg or near the chest.
2. Start compressions.
- Small dogs and cats: Use one hand to gently compress the chest 100–120 times per minute. (Yes, to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” works for pets too. Bee Gees for the win.)
- Medium to large dogs: Use two hands over the widest part of the chest.
3. Add rescue breaths.
Muzzle closed, mouth over the nose. Give
1 breath every 30 compressions. No judgment if this feels weird—your dog’s probably thinking, “This is not how I imagined bonding time.”
😺 Signs You’re Doing It Right
- Chest rises with each breath? ✅
- You’re staying calm while your pet makes weird noises? ✅
- You're humming “Eye of the Tiger” as background music? Optional, but recommended. 🎵
🚫 Common Mistakes
- Panic-mashing their chest like a Looney Tune. Nope. Controlled compressions, people.
- Blowing too hard. Your Chihuahua doesn’t need gale-force winds.
- Skipping vet care. CPR is a bridge to emergency treatment, not a replacement for it.
🦴 Bonus Round: Know Your ABCs
- A – Airway
- B – Breathing
- C – Circulation
(Just like humans, but with more tail wagging and fur.)
🐾 Want to Be Your Pet’s Superhero?
We teach Pet CPR and First Aid as part of our training courses—because emergencies don’t just happen to people. They happen to pets who think electrical cords are chew toys.
Whether you’re a pet parent, sitter, groomer, or just the person who always ends up watching your neighbor’s dog when they go to Cabo… this is for you.
👉 Sign up at
lifesquadrva.com
Because your pet deserves more than just belly rubs. They deserve a life-saver like you.
