Free Pet CPR Timer and Metronome for Dogs and Cats
Use audible and visual cues to pace 100–120 chest compressions/min. Choose 30:2, intubated or compression-only mode, follow breath and 2-minute cycle prompts, and export a timestamped event log.
Call for help and contact an emergency vet now. Do not delay compressions while searching for a pulse. This tool is for adult dogs and cats, not newborn resuscitation.
Choose a CPR mode
You can safely change mode if the patient is intubated during the event.
Run the timer
Compression cues, cycle timing and the controls you use during the event.
- Cycle
- 0
- Event time
- 0:00
- Rate
- 110/min
What to do right now
This panel follows the timer: it changes with the phase and the mode you selected.
Before you press start
- Call for help and contact an emergency veterinary clinic.
- Confirm the patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
- Single rescuer: briefly check and clear an obvious airway obstruction.
- Start compressions without delaying to search for a pulse.
30:2: Use a tight mask and manual resuscitator when available. Mouth-to-snout is only for situations with minimal risk to the rescuer.
Record what happened, when
For veterinary team documentation. Buttons record time only.
Enter the patient weight
Unlocks the RECOVER emergency drug list and defibrillation energies.
Target values, sound and timing
Two optional panels: species reference ranges, and the sound, timing and screen settings.
Target values during CPR
Reference ranges for the selected species — analyser intervals vary, so use your own lab’s. Potassium above ~7 mmol/L, and severe acid–base, glucose or calcium derangements, are reversible causes — find and treat them.
Sound, timing and screen settings
CPR event summary
- Outcome
- —
- Duration
- 0:00
- Cycles started
- 0
- Final mode
- —
Immediate post-ROSC priorities
- Continue ECG and frequent or continuous blood pressure monitoring.
- Assess oxygenation, ventilation and ETCO₂; support breathing as needed.
- Check temperature, glucose, blood gas/electrolytes and serial lactate.
- Perform neurological assessment and treat the cause of the arrest.
What the timer logged
Elapsed time from timer start.
No CPR event started.
Clinical scope and source: This independent timing aid is based on the 2024 RECOVER guidelines for CPR in adult dogs and cats. It is not an official RECOVER product, does not replace hands-on CPR training, and does not diagnose cardiopulmonary arrest. See the RECOVER 2024 guideline hub and the consolidated treatment recommendations. Learn about ASK A VET’s editorial and clinical review process.
Pet CPR quick answer
Adult dogs and cats · 2024 RECOVER-aligned timing
- Compression rate
- 100–120/min
- Not intubated
- 30:2
- Intubated
- 10 breaths/min
- Compressor cycle
- 2 minutes
Use 30 compressions to 2 breaths for a non-intubated dog or cat when rescue breaths are feasible and safe. Once intubated, continue compressions while giving one breath every 6 seconds. During intubated team CPR, keep any rhythm-and-femoral-pulse check under 10 seconds. This timing aid supports trained responders; it does not replace hands-on training or emergency veterinary care.
How to use the pet CPR timer
- Choose the mode that matches the airway and rescuer situation.
- Place most dogs and cats in lateral recumbency. Wide-chested dogs that naturally lie on their back may be compressed in dorsal recumbency.
- Press Start CPR and compress with the metronome.
- Allow complete recoil after every compression and avoid leaning on the chest.
- In intubated/team mode, use the brief rhythm-and-femoral-pulse check to identify shockable rhythm, non-shockable rhythm or ROSC.
Dog and cat CPR compression depth and ventilation
- Lateral recumbency: compress one-third to one-half of the chest width at the compression point.
- Dorsal recumbency: compress about one-quarter of the front-to-back chest depth.
- Intubated: give 10 breaths/min with roughly 1-second inspiration and visible but not excessive chest rise.
- Not intubated: keep the head and neck aligned, use 30 compressions to 2 breaths, and keep the ventilation pause brief.
Dog CPR hand placement
- Keel-chested dog: over the heart in lateral recumbency.
- Round-chested dog: over the widest part of the chest in lateral recumbency.
- Wide-chested dog: initially lateral; once intubated, dorsal recumbency with hands over the mid-sternum may be used if positionally stable.
Cat and small-dog CPR hand placement
- Cat or small dog: use a circumferential two-thumb, one-handed, or one-handed heel technique over the heart.
Professional monitoring
Use continuous ECG and waveform capnography when available. Optimise compression quality toward ETCO₂ ≥18 mmHg. Without capnography, do not interrupt a 2-minute cycle merely because ROSC is suspected.
Which pet CPR mode should I choose?
| Mode | Compressions | Ventilation | Cycle cue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not intubated / single rescuer | 30 compressions at 100–120/min | Pause briefly for 2 breaths when feasible and safe | Two-minute compressor cue; keep every ventilation pause brief |
| Intubated / team | Continuous at 100–120/min | 10 breaths/min, or 1 every 6 seconds | Two-minute cycle, then rhythm and femoral pulse check under 10 seconds |
| Compression-only | Continuous at 100–120/min | No breath cue | Two-minute compressor cue; minimise interruptions |
Pet CPR timer FAQs
What compression rate should I use for dog or cat CPR?
Use 100–120 chest compressions per minute. This timer starts at 110/min and only permits settings inside the guideline range.
What does a 30:2 CPR ratio mean for dogs and cats?
For a non-intubated adult dog or cat, give 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths when rescue breaths are feasible and safe, then return to compressions immediately. The 30:2 mode counts each compression and marks the brief breathing pause.
How often should an intubated dog or cat be ventilated?
Give 10 breaths per minute, which is one breath every 6 seconds. Intubated/team mode plays a breathing sound — a rising whoosh to give the breath in, then a falling whoosh as the chest falls — while compressions continue.
How long is one veterinary CPR cycle?
Use 2-minute compressor cycles. In intubated/team mode, the timer then opens a brief rhythm-and-femoral-pulse check before starting the next cycle automatically.
How long should a rhythm-and-pulse check take?
Keep it as short as possible and under 10 seconds. This tool defaults to 8 seconds, caps the setting at 9 seconds and resumes automatically.
Is this pet CPR timer free?
Yes. The timer, metronome, breathing cues, event log and export tools are free to use with no account or login.
Does the pet CPR timer work offline on a phone?
Once this page has loaded, the running timer itself does not need an internet connection. Keep the loaded page open if you may lose reception; reloading or reopening it while offline depends on your browser’s cache. Audio, speech and screen-wake support also vary by device.
Can I use this timer for a puppy or kitten?
This timer is designed and clinically reviewed for adult dogs and cats. Newborn or neonatal resuscitation uses a different protocol, so do not use this tool for newborn puppies or kittens. For an older puppy or kitten, follow your emergency veterinarian’s instructions and your hands-on CPR training.
