What All Dog Owners Should Know About Canine CPR, According to Experts

In a viral TikTok post, a veterinary nurse shared CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) tips that she says all dog owners should know in case of emergency. Newsweek spoke to veterinarians to learn more about this potentially lifesaving procedure.

The video, shared in February under the username @jade.the.vet.nurs, shows how the nurse performs emergency CPR on dogs weighing over 7 kilograms [15.4 pounds], giving detailed instructions about specific dog types.

"If you found a dog that's collapsed, they're not breathing, you need to perform an initial assessment; you need to remember ABC," the nurse says in the clip, as she gets ready to perform her tips on a stuffed dog toy.

She says that A stands for airway, making sure that their airways are clear and removing any potential obstructions; B is for checking whether the dog is breathing; and C is for circulation, checking that they have a pulse, and a heartbeat.

Then the nurse moves on to showing how to actually perform CPR on them, which she says, varies by dog.

Newsweek spoke to Dr. Liza Cahn, veterinarian for Embrace Pet Insurance, who explained how this process differs from dog to dog, and when it is appropriate to perform this procedure on your pet.