Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Newborn puppy and kitten resuscitation steps and tips
By Boller, Manuel & Burkitt-Creedon, Jamie M·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·2025·VCA Canada Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital, Canada·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Update on Newborn Resuscitation in Dogs and Cats.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Newborn puppies and kittens often need help right after birth to start breathing and transition to life outside the womb. Key steps include warming them up, drying them off, and providing oxygen if they are struggling to breathe. If a newborn is not breathing or has a very slow heart rate, veterinarians will use positive pressure ventilation (PPV) to help them breathe, and if there’s no heartbeat, they may perform chest compressions. These interventions are crucial for giving newborn pets the best chance of survival.
People also search for: newborn puppy resuscitation · kitten not breathing after birth · how to help newborn kittens breathe
Abstract
Resuscitation of newborn puppies and kittens aims to support animals as they transition from intra- to extrauterine life immediately after birth and includes warming and drying, positive pressure ventilation (PPV), oxygen supplementation, reversal drugs and less commonly CPR. PPV is the most important intervention because it facilitates lung aeration, which is essential for successful cardiopulmonary transition at birth. PPV should be initiated as early as possible in apneic or gasping newborns or in those with severe bradycardia. If there is no heartbeat or the HR is < 50/minute, chest compressions are started at a compression:ventilation ratio of 4:1.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40973417/