If someone is choking, acting quickly could be the difference between life and death. Since dogs don’t communicate the way we do, it might be difficult to tell right away if your dog may be choking. In this article we will be learning what to do if your dog is choking.
How To Tell If Your Dog Is Choking
First, determine if your dog is actually choking. Here are some signs of distress your dog may be displaying if they are choking:
- Retching
- Drooling
- Pacing
- Pawing at their mouth
What To Do If Your Dog Is Choking
Once you have determined that your dog is choking, here’s what to do.
1. Open Your Dog’s Mouth
Carefully open your dog’s mouth using your fingers and check if you can see the object that is lodged in their throat. If you think there is any chance your dog will bite you in this process, skip this step.
2. Try Dislodging The Object
If possible, carefully try removing the object with your fingers. You can also use tweezers or tongs if you cannot reach it with your fingers.
3. Use Gravity If You Need Help
If you can’t dislodge the object with the previous step, try using gravity.
For Small Dogs
Pick your dog up and hold them upside down so that its head is facing the ground. Check if this dislodges the object.
For Larger Dogs
Hold your dog’s hind legs up, as if you are helping them do a handstand. Check if this dislodges the object.
4. Perform The Heimlich Maneuver
If the object is still stuck after steps 2 and 3, you will have to perform the Heimlich maneuver on your dog.
For Small Dogs
- Place your dog on your lap and gently roll them onto their back. You can also hold your dog with his back to your front.
- Feel for the soft spot just under their ribs
- Make a fist with one hand, place your other hand on top of it, and push firmly IN and UP five times in a thrusting motion. This will create bursts of pressure in the lungs, hopefully dislodging the object in the process.
For Larger Dogs
- Lift your dog so that they are standing on their hind legs with their back to you.
- Put your arms around your dog’s belly.
- Feel for the soft spot just under their ribs.
- Make a fist with one hand, place your other hand on top of it, and push firmly IN and UP five times in a thrusting motion. This is similar to performing the Heimlich on another human.
What to Do if Your Dog Doesn’t Resume Breathing
If your dog does not resume breathing and does not have a heartbeat you will have to perform CPR on the way to an emergency vet clinic.
How To Perform CPR On Your Dog
Rescue Breathing
- Place your dog on their side.
- Open your dog’s airway by tilting his head back slightly.
- Place your mouth over your dog’s nose.
- Exhale into your dog’s nose until you see their chest rise.
- Give a second rescue breath.
CPR For Small Dogs
Place your hands around the circumference of your dog’s chest. Squeeze their chest at the rate of 120 times per minute with two rescue breaths every 30 compressions.
CPR For Larger Dogs
If your dog is on his side, place your hands on the widest area of the chest wall. If he is on his back (the best position for barrel-chested dogs), place your hands on the breastbone. Depress the rib cage 1.5 to 4 inches (depending on the dog’s size) at the rate of 120 times per minute with two rescue breaths every 30 compressions.
Written by Vincent M.
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