Dog Not Breathing or Breathing but Unresponsive: What to Do
By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD ·
If your dog is not breathing, or is breathing but will not respond to you, treat it as a cardiac or respiratory emergency and start CPR while someone else calls the nearest veterinary hospital. Seconds matter, and the steps below are designed to keep oxygen moving to the brain until you reach professional care. This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.
Quick Answer
- Check for breathing and a pulse, then begin chest compressions if there is no heartbeat or the dog is not breathing.
- For a newborn puppy, clear the airway first, then give tiny breaths and gentle compressions with one finger.
- Keep the pet flat, extend the neck, and pull the tongue forward so the airway stays open.
- Call the veterinary hospital while you start CPR so a team is ready when you arrive.
- Do not stop CPR to drive. Have someone else drive, or keep the pet on your lap and continue compressions.
What CPR Is and Why It Is Done
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a set of hands-on steps that push blood and air through the body when the heart and lungs have stopped working. In veterinary medicine this event is called cardiopulmonary arrest, which means breathing and circulation have stopped suddenly [1]. Without blood flow, the brain and organs lose oxygen within minutes.
CPR is done to buy time. It does not fix the underlying cause, but it can keep a small amount of circulation going until a veterinary team can provide oxygen, drugs, and monitoring. Advances in veterinary CPR have improved the rate at which animals get a heartbeat back, but many patients arrest again within the first 24 hours after resuscitation, which is called the post-cardiac arrest period [1]. That is why getting to a hospital matters even if your dog starts breathing again.
The same basic approach applies to cats, though cats are smaller and more fragile. Use lighter pressure and smaller breaths.
How to Prepare Before an Emergency
You do not need special equipment to start CPR. You do need a plan.
Know the normal baseline
Normal breathing in dogs is quiet and easy. Signs that breathing is failing include rapid breathing with an open mouth, the belly pulling in hard with each breath, and noisy breathing such as wheezing, snorting, or whistling [2]. A dog showing these signs needs a veterinarian right away, even if it is still conscious.
Keep a few items handy
A flat, firm surface helps. So does a towel or blanket to move a large dog, a flashlight, and your phone. Save the number of your regular veterinarian and the closest 24-hour emergency hospital in your phone.
Learn to check breathing and pulse
Watch the chest for rise and fall. Feel for a pulse on the inner thigh where the leg meets the body. If you cannot find a pulse and the dog is not breathing, begin CPR. If the dog is breathing but unresponsive, keep the airway open and get to a vet now. A dog that is breathing but not moving or not responding may have a heartbeat but a serious brain or metabolic problem.
Cool the car
If your dog is struggling to breathe but still has a heartbeat, keep the car cool with air conditioning on the way to the hospital. Heat can cause heavy panting, which makes breathing harder [2]. If your dog is weak or cannot stand, lay it on its stomach with a pillow under the chin and the neck extended, and speak softly to keep it calm [2].
What Happens During CPR
Step 1: Check for responsiveness
Call your dog's name and tap the body firmly. If there is no response, no breathing, and no pulse, start CPR.
Step 2: Open the airway
Lay the dog on its side on a firm surface. Straighten the neck gently and pull the tongue forward so it does not block the throat. Look inside the mouth for vomit, toys, or food and sweep them out with a finger if you can see them.
Step 3: Give rescue breaths
Close the dog's mouth with your hand. Place your mouth over the nose (for most dogs, the nose is the best seal) and give two breaths that just make the chest rise. Do not blow hard. For a very small dog or puppy, use smaller puffs. For a cat, cover both the nose and mouth with your mouth and give tiny breaths.
Step 4: Start chest compressions
For a medium or large dog, place the heel of one hand over the widest part of the chest where the elbow meets the ribcage. Put your other hand on top and press down about one third to one half the width of the chest. Aim for 100 to 120 compressions per minute. For a small dog or puppy, use one hand or your thumb and fingers around the chest. For a cat, use your thumb and one finger on the sides of the chest.
Step 5: Coordinate breaths and compressions
Give two breaths, then 30 compressions. Repeat. If you have a second person, one can give breaths while the other does compressions without pausing.
Step 6: Keep going and get help
Do not stop to check for a pulse more than every two minutes. If you are alone, put the dog in the car and continue compressions while someone else drives. Call the hospital so they know you are coming.
Special case: newborn puppy not breathing
A puppy not breathing after birth needs a slightly different approach. Clear the mouth and nose with a bulb syringe or a clean cloth. Rub the puppy vigorously with a towel to stimulate breathing. If there is still no breath, give tiny puffs over the nose and mouth and use one finger to press the chest gently. Keep the puppy warm, because cold puppies do not respond well to resuscitation. Puppies that are not moving but breathing need immediate warming and a veterinary exam.
Recovery Timeline and Home Care
If your dog survives a cardiac arrest, the first 24 to 72 hours are the highest risk period. Most patients arrest again within 24 hours, so veterinary monitoring is essential [1]. The table below shows a general timeline. Your veterinarian will adjust it based on your dog's condition.
| Time after CPR | What to expect | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours | Intensive monitoring, oxygen, IV fluids, possible repeat arrest [1] | Keep the pet hospitalized. Do not take it home against advice. |
| 1 to 3 days | Gradual waking, possible confusion, possible muscle twitching | Visit if allowed. Ask about neurologic signs. |
| 3 to 7 days | Eating and drinking may return slowly. Weakness is common. | Offer small meals. Keep the environment quiet. |
| 1 to 4 weeks | Strength improves. Some pets have lasting neurologic changes. | Follow recheck schedule. Report any breathing changes. |
| Long term | Depends on the cause of the arrest | Manage the underlying disease with your vet. |
Some pets develop twitching or jerking movements after resuscitation. A small case series described acute post-hypoxic myoclonus in a cat and a dog within 24 hours of getting a heartbeat back, and both were euthanized after not responding to antiseizure and sedative drugs [3]. This is a serious sign, but it does not happen in every patient. Report any new twitching to your veterinarian right away.
If your dog is recovering but will not eat, read Dog Not Eating: When to Worry and What to Do for guidance. If your dog is eating but drinking more than usual, see Dog Not Eating but Drinking Water: What to Do.
Possible Complications and Warning Signs
CPR itself can cause problems. Rib fractures and bruising are possible. A recent case report described a dog that developed gas in the abdomen after CPR during a dental procedure, along with gas in the liver and a major vein, and recovered with conservative care and monitoring [4]. This shows that complications can happen even when the cause is not obvious.
Watch for these warning signs after CPR:
- Breathing that is fast, noisy, or hard work [2]
- A belly that looks swollen or feels tight
- Twitching, jerking, or seizures [3]
- Not waking up or not responding to you
- Pale or blue gums
- Vomiting or trouble swallowing
Postoperative patients are also at risk. Respiratory complications after surgery are a major cause of death in dogs and cats, and about 47% of canine anesthetic-related deaths happen after surgery is finished [5]. If your dog had anesthesia recently and is breathing oddly or hard to wake, call the hospital.
Questions to Ask the Veterinarian
- What caused the arrest, and can it happen again?
- What is my dog's neurologic status right now?
- What monitoring will my dog need in the next 24 hours?
- What signs should make me bring my dog back immediately?
- What is the long-term outlook for my dog's quality of life?
Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian
CPR is a bridge, not a cure. It cannot reverse every cause of arrest, and some pets do not survive even with perfect technique. Individual cases need a veterinarian, because the right steps depend on your pet's size, age, and medical history.
Call your veterinarian the same day if your dog is breathing but not moving, breathing but not responding, or has a sudden change in breathing pattern. Go to an emergency hospital now if your dog is not breathing, has no pulse, is blue or pale, or has collapsed. For a newborn puppy not breathing, start warming and stimulation right away and call a vet. If your dog is recovering but refuses food, see My Dog Won't Eat: When to Worry. If your dog is eating normally but breathing fast at rest, read Dog Breathing Fast While Sleeping: Normal or a Problem?.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my dog is actually not breathing?
Watch the chest for rise and fall, and feel for air at the nose. If the chest is still and you feel no air, your dog is not breathing. Check for a pulse on the inner thigh. If there is no pulse, start CPR.
Can a puppy be revived if it is not breathing after birth?
Yes, sometimes. Clear the airway, rub the puppy dry and warm, and give tiny breaths over the nose and mouth. Use one finger for compressions. Get veterinary help as soon as you can.
What if my dog is breathing but not responding to me?
Keep the airway open, keep your dog calm and cool, and go to a veterinarian now. A dog that is breathing but unresponsive may have a heartbeat but a serious problem in the brain or body. Do not wait to see if it improves.
Should I give CPR if I am not sure my dog has a pulse?
If your dog is not breathing and you cannot find a pulse, start CPR. The risk of doing nothing is higher than the risk of starting compressions. If your dog is breathing on its own, do not do compressions.
Can CPR hurt my dog?
CPR can cause rib fractures, bruising, and other injuries. One report described gas in the abdomen after CPR in a dog that later recovered with supportive care [4]. These risks are accepted because CPR is used only when the heart and lungs have stopped.
Related Articles
- Dog Not Eating But Acting Normal: When to Wait and When to Call
- Dog Breathing Fast While Sleeping: Normal or a Problem?
- Dog Not Eating: When to Worry and What to Do
- Dog Not Eating but Drinking Water: What to Do
- My Dog Won't Eat: When to Worry
- Dog Ate a Sock and Is Having Trouble Breathing: What to Do
References
- Enhancing post-cardiac arrest care for dogs and cats: a veterinary technician's guide to the RECOVER Initiative. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2025.
- Recognizing and responding to canine respiratory distress. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Presumptive Acute Post-Hypoxic Myoclonus Following Return of Spontaneous Circulation in a Cat and a Dog. Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001), 2026.
- Pneumoperitoneum Following Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in a Dog. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2026.
- Postoperative Respiratory Depression and Other Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Veterinary Practice: A Narrative Review. Cureus, 2026.