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What is that you hear? It couldn't be your dog choking, could it? As you run over to him, scared that some of his dinner is lodged in his throat, you realize that you don't even know if there's a Heimlich maneuver for dogs. If there is, you certainly don't know how to do it. Luckily, your dog was just fine, and those choking sounds may have taken place because something went "down the wrong pipe", as humans say.
But what if you found your dog choking for real? Something might be lodged in his throat or mouth, and it's important to know how to save a dog that is choking on his food. Of course, you'd want to get your dog to the veterinarian's office or an emergency clinic, but you can't wait for their help. You need to be able to act immediately to save your dog's life. Here's how.
Identifying Dog Choking Signs Before It's Too Late
One of the first things you might notice if your dog is having trouble with a small amount of food being stuck is coughing, as your dog is trying to expel the item. He may also have difficulty inhaling, says BanfieldPet Hospital. Another sign of a dog choking will be pawing at the mouth or head. A dog that is unconscious is another very serious indicator that your dog may have choked (or something else is seriously wrong).
It's important to pay close attention to these signs, but realize they also might mean something different. For example, a cough could be a cold symptom and pawing at the face could mean something got into your dog's eyes.
What to Do If Your Dog Is Choking
When you notice any of the above signs, check your dog's mouth, if possible, to see if any food is trapped or lodged inside. Remember that your dog is scared, and a scared dog may be anxious and unpredictable. Be careful with your approach, but remember you are your dog's lifeline. If you can safely check his mouth and there is food inside, see if you can swipe it away safely with your finger so that your dog will be able to breathe again.
What Happens If You Can't Dislodge Stuck Food?
There's a chance that you won't be able to remove what your dog is choking on. In this case, you'll have to do the Heimlich maneuver for dogs. PetMD suggests carefully turning over little dogs and putting pressure on their upper abdomen, right beneath the rib cage. For large breeds, PetMD recommends not picking them up, but putting your arms around the dog so they join at his abdomen. Then, make a fist with your hands and push up and forward, just like you would for humans.
PetGuide provides a diagram on its website showing how to hold your dog, and suggests the following pattern:
- Hold your dog by the back paws and tip him up in a "wheelbarrow pose."
- Wrap your arms around his abdomen and use both hands to press hard five times below his ribs.
- Quickly sweep his mouth with a finger.
- Place him in a standing position and give him five sharp taps between the shoulder blades.
Doing this should dislodge food, but be sure to check the mouth and help remove any food that may be loose in the back of your dog's mouth so he doesn't choke or swallow what was previously bothering him. If your dog stops breathing and falls unconscious, PetCoach also offers instructions for performing rescue breaths.
Taking Care of Your Dog After Choking
When a dog chokes, contact his vet immediately, especially if he was unconscious at any point. It's likely the vet will want to see your pet right away to make sure the choking didn't do any additional harm to your dog's body that you can't see. You love your pet like a member of your human pack, so you'd do anything to make sure he's happy and healthy.
To prevent chances of your dog choking in the future, make sure to keep an eye on anything that could be a potential choking hazard. Dog food is typically formulated with dog's size in mind, but if you have a big and a small dog, there is a chance your smaller dog could choke on a large breed food if he has access to it. If this is the case, it might be a good idea to separate their feeding stations until you know your little dog will leave the other dog's food alone. However, choking on food can still happen — just think of the last time you accidentally got food lodged in your windpipe. So, it's a good idea to monitor your dog when he is eating. Additionally, make sure to clean up anything your dog could potentially choke on beyond food. Baby and child toys can often pose a potential choking threat to your pup, so make sure they are put away. When choosing dog toys, make sure they are sturdy and that pieces won't break off of them and get lodged in your dogs throat.
A choking dog is surely a scary thing, but by recognizing the signs and being prepared with the knowledge of what to do if your dog is choking, you can help keep your dog safe and healthy.
Erin Ollila
Erin Ollila believes in the power of words and how a message can inform—and even transform—its intended audience. Her writing can be found all over the internet and in print, and includes interviews, ghostwriting, blog posts, and creative nonfiction. Erin is a geek for SEO and all things social media. She graduated from Fairfield University with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. Reach out to her on Twitter @ReinventingErin or learn more about her at //erinollila.com.
Some dogs—especially puppies—will chew on nearly anything in sight. Dog and cat owners may find their curious pet chewing on shoes, furniture, and even clothing. Although it can be hard to stop young pups and playful cats from chewing on objects other than toys, it is still possible for pets to choke on their toys, other objects, and even food. In addition to learning how to perform the Heimlich maneuver on a choking pet, it is equally important to learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a dog in case of an emergency.
“Pet owners should perform the Heimlich maneuver on their pet if they believe the pet is choking on something,” said James Barr, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “Usually this means that the owner has seen the pet swallow something and that the pet has been having trouble breathing since. This can be an object that was swallowed unintended, but it can also be something like a toy or a rawhide.
If a dog or cat is suffocating, it may start to panic. In this case, pet owners should approach their pet and carefully restrain it. Do not muzzle the dogs. First, check to see if the object can be removed with your fingers. Open the animal’s mouth using two hands and use your fingers to remove the object. It may also be helpful to use the flat side of a spoon to push the object closer if it is out of reach.
If the object cannot be removed with fingers, objects may be removed from small dogs’ and cats’ throats by the owner gently picking up the dog by their thighs and swinging them from side to side. Apply forward pressure to the abdomen just behind the ribcage, if the condition does not improve. Larger dogs require the Heimlich maneuver if the object cannot be removed with fingers.
How to perform the Heimlich maneuver:
- If your large dog is standing, place your arms around its belly and make a fist with your hands. Push up and forward just behind the rib cage.
- If the dog is lying down, place one hand on its back and use the other hand to squeeze the abdomen upward.
- Be sure to check and remove any loose objects in or around the dog’s mouth that have become dislodged.
To ensure the object did not damage the animal’s throat or cause any other injury, take your pet to the veterinarian after the incident.
Sometimes serious choking and lack of oxygen requires your pet to receive CPR, which is a combination of chest compressions and artificial respiration. CPR should be used when you cannot feel or hear the animal’s heartbeat and when the animal is unconscious.
For step-by-step pictures on how to perform CPR on your pet, Barr recommends trainings published by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical care. To visit their website, click here.
In addition, Barr recommends keeping a first aid kit in case of any pet emergency. “A human first aid kit is quite helpful when taking care of pet injuries,” Barr said. “The only addition I would add would be a small leash and a muzzle. These can be helpful in helping the owner to manage the animal during the post injury phase.”
Although we try our best to prevent pets from chewing on foreign objects, accidents still happen. It is important to be prepared for any choking episode to prevent your pet from serious injury or death.
Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to .