First Aid For Choking - PDSA

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• First aid for choking

Pet Health Hub Search A-Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z First aid for choking

Contents

• Overview
• What to do if your pet is choking
• How to prevent choking

Overview

• Choking is a serious life-threatening problem that needs immediate action.
• A choking pet will have difficulty breathing, will make choking sounds, might paw at their mouth and you might see their lips, gums and tongue turning blue.
• Common choke risks include: balls, raw hide chews and small toys.
• Be careful: a choking pet may panic and bite.

What to do if your pet is choking

Step one: Is your pet choking?

• Choking or coughing? Can they breathe? If your pet is coughing, they will still be able to breathe-in, if they are choking, your pet will struggle to breathe at all.
• Do you know what they could be choking on? Were they just playing with a toy or did they have a chew?
• Is there anything obvious you can remove from their mouth?

Step two: Try to remove what they are choking on

• Keep your pet calm.
• If you can see something in the mouth:
  • Use pliers or tweezers to get hold of it and remove it.
  • Do not stick your fingers in your pet’s mouth if they are conscious, this may make them panic more and could lead to you getting bitten
• If your pet is unconscious:
  • Open their mouth, gently sweep your fingers across the back of their throat and remove anything that is lodged there.
• If you can’t remove the object:
  • Lay your pet on their side.
  • Place both hands on the side of your pet's rib cage.
  • Push quickly and firmly or strike the rib cage with the flat of your hand three to four times.
  • The idea is to push air and the object out of their lungs. Keep repeating this until the object comes out.

Step three: Call your vets if you still can’t remove the object

• If you are unable to dislodge the object, call your vet straight away for an emergency appointment.

How to prevent choking

• Choose balls and toys that are the correct size for your pet, preferably with holes in. Ask your local veterinary practice for advice if you are unsure.
• Always supervise your pet when they are playing with toys or eating chew sticks.
• Do not throw toys and food to be caught in mid-air, always aim for them to be picked-up from the ground.

Published: March 2020

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Written by vets and vet nurses. This advice is for UK pets only. Illustrations by Samantha Elmhurst.

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