Check to see if your animal is choking on a foreign object. If so, see "Choking." If the animal is not breathing and the airway and mouth are free of objects, lay it down on its right side. Check for a heartbeat by listening to the chest where the elbow touches the ribs. If there is no heartbeat, you can start chest compressions with the flat of your hand. If the animal is a medium-sized or large dog, kneel over the animal and place one hand over the top of the other on the center of the chest. Then compress downward, moving the chest in and out rapidly (approximately one compression per second). Alternatively, if the animal is a cat or a small dog, you can place one or both hands on either side of the chest and compress inwards. To breathe for the animal extend the neck so that there is a straight airway, close its mouth; place your mouth around its nose and mouth (or just its nose if it is a large dog) and blow air into the nose until the chest expands. Be sure to keep the neck out straight, not flexed. You should be able to see the chest expand with each breath... don't over-do forcing air into the lungs. This should be performed every 5 seconds. If chest compressions are required to stimulate heart contractions, alternate this with the breathing procedure after 10 heart compressions. Seek veterinary attention immediately. Unfortunately, this procedure, because the patient may already be dead, is extremely unsuccessful in animals.