Call a vet if your dog is in immediate danger. Many vets provide an after-hours emergency hotline that you can call for help. Be prepared. Create a list of emergency vet numbers and keep it somewhere safe in case of an emergency. This way you won’t have to go searching online for a number. Alternatively, add an emergency vet number to your phone contacts, or, if your vet supplies it, pick up a fridge magnet with contact details on it.
Alternatively, add an emergency vet number to your phone contacts, or, if your vet supplies it, pick up a fridge magnet with contact details on it.
Gagging or drooling excessively — this is one of the most obvious ways to tell if your dog is choking. If they are drooling heavily and unable to swallow, choking is more likely. Unable to swallow Standing in the “air hunger position” with their head and neck held low and in a straight line Acting unusually agitated or frantic, pawing at their mouth, and whimpering Coughing forcefully, wheezing, or gasping for breath Having grey or blue gums Having a visible object in the back of their throat Displaying exaggerated chest movements Collapsing Losing consciousness
You can do so by offering your dog a treat, gently rubbing their throat, or by pinching their nostrils together. If your dog eats a treat, then they are not choking. Once the dog swallows, if the sound stops, they aren’t choking.
Gently open its mouth by squeezing its upper lip inwards over the big molars at the back of the mouth. At the same time, apply downward pressure on the point of its jaw to further open the mouth. Look as far back towards its throat as possible — it helps to have a flashlight and someone else to hold the dog for this. You are looking for any obstructions such as a piece of bone or a stick. Restrain a larger dog before opening its mouth wide. Do this by grabbing the scruff of hair between the ears and holding the dog’s head steady. [2] X Research source Dr Peter Roach, The AWW Pet Care Book, p. 61 (no date) If you can see something in the throat, try to grip it with pliers and remove it. Take extreme care not to accidentally force the object further back.
You may be talked through first aid procedures while waiting for emergency help and likely you will be asked to bring your pet in immediately. If you cannot reach your vet, look for emergency 24-hour veterinarians. Their number will usually be in the phone book, or you can call a local animal welfare or rescue agency for details. Emergency vets or animal hospitals are usually available in major towns and cities. If you’re in the US, your local emergency number will be able to give you the ASPCA or the Humane Society emergency number. They will have an emergency vet to give you help on the phone.
If you need to drive your pet to an emergency vet, it is best to have one person with the dog to help immediately if the situation worsens. If the vet has you try to dislodge the object yourself, it’s advisable to do so with someone else’s help.
A Long Soft Palate: A common anatomical quirk found in many dogs is having a tongue and a soft palate that are too big for their mouth. This is especially common in brachycephalic dogs (those with shortened noses and baby-like faces) such as the Pug, Pekingese, Lhasa Apso, and Shih Tzu, though it also occurs in small breeds such as the Poodle, West Highland White Terrier, Dachshund, Spitz, and Pomeranian. The result is that when the dog breathes in sharply, it physically sucks the end of the soft palate into the entrance of the windpipe. This temporarily narrows or blocks the windpipe, and the dog makes a series of dramatic snorting or gasping sounds, as if choking. This is only a temporary crisis because when the dog swallows, the soft palate flips away from the windpipe and the dog can breathe again. If you’re unsure, give the dog food or a treat. If it takes and swallows the food, it isn’t choking. Kennel Cough: Kennel cough is an infection that causes the airway to become sore, inflamed, and irritable. Even the simple act of breathing in cool air can tickle the throat and trigger coughing episodes. This cough can be dramatic and is commonly mistaken for the dog having something stuck in its throat. Again, check to see if the dog is able to swallow by offering it something to eat. If it can swallow, it is extremely unlikely the dog is choking. Do, however, contact your vet to see if he or she would recommend an examination for the kennel cough. Heart Disease: An enlarged heart pressing on the airways or a heart in failure can sometimes mimic choking. The dog may breathe in a distressed manner, cough, and may even have blue-tinged gums. This condition is harder to differentiate from choking, but in general the signs are slow to develop, with the dog becoming less energetic and more lethargic for a day or two beforehand. Choking, on the other hand, is far more common in active, inquisitive dogs and comes on suddenly.
Only attempt to remove the obstruction if you can clearly see and grasp it and your dog is not frantic. You risk lodging the object in even deeper if you accidentally push it without being able to see it. [3] X Research source Dr Peter Roach, The AWW Pet Care Book, p. 61 (no date) If the dog is frantic, you risk being bitten badly. Go immediately to an emergency vet or animal hospital instead.
Pick up a small or medium dog by its hind legs. Hold the dog upside down and try to shake the object out of its mouth with the benefit of gravity. [4] X Research source You won’t be able to hold a larger dog upside down, so instead keep the front paws on the ground and lift up its hind legs (in the same manner as holding a wheelbarrow) and tilt the dog forward.
Using the heel of your hand, deliver 4-5 sharp blows on the dog between the shoulder blades. Take care not to use excessive force with small dogs, as there is a risk of fracturing ribs, which itself can be life-threatening if a broken rib punctures a lung. [5] X Research source [6] X Research source Melanie Monteiro, Safe Dog Safety Tip: Choking If this does not work initially, try once more.
Only start the Heimlich maneuver if you can be sure your dog is choking on an object. [7] X Research source Place your arm around the dog’s waist. Ensure that your dog’s head points down, as gravity will help the object dislodge as you perform the procedure. Make sure your hold on the dog is firm, but not too tight. It is a good idea to have someone help you scruff the dog while you do this. It will help keep the dog steady and can restrain a frantic animal. [8] X Research source Dr Peter Roach, The AWW Pet Care Book, p. 61 (no date) Form a fist and bring your other hand around and cover your fist with it. Your two-handed fist should be placed on the soft spot just under the ribcage. The size of the dog will affect the exact positioning of your hands. If you have a small- to medium-sized dog, you will want to use 2 fingers rather than a fist (still using the same amount of force) so you do not damage your dog’s ribcage. [9] X Research source Quickly and firmly give 3-5 thrusts inwards and upwards. Repeat in sets of 3-5 thrusts up to 3-4 times. Take care not to use excessive force as you could crack ribs or rupture the spleen.
If your dog has no pulse, commence CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) on your dog. If your dog needs resuscitative measures, do what you can immediately and have someone else call the vet to get further instructions.
Keep your pet calm and get your dog to the vet as quickly and as safely as possible. Pay close attention to your dog to make sure it is able to maintain normal breathing.
