How To Stop A Dog From Choking - Purely Pets Insurance

If your dog is choking, it’s an emergency, so contact your vet immediately.

But while you’re waiting for veterinary help, there are actions you can take yourself in order to help your animal.

Learning how to act in case of an emergency is one of the best things animal lovers can do to protect their pets, along with getting the right vaccinations and choosing suitable insurance for your dog.

Is my dog choking?

There are a few main causes of choking in dogs: swollen airways due to anaphylactic shock; airways blocked with mucus due to a severe respiratory infection; or a foreign object stuck in its windpipe. The last is the most likely, particularly in puppies.

You’ll see your dog instinctively try to cough or retch up the blockage. It will act distressed and panicked, and might rub its mouth against its paw or the ground.

Its chest will be heaving, but you might not be able to hear any breathing. If you can hear your dog wheezing, its windpipe is only partially blocked, but that can still lead to fainting and eventually death.

Alternatively, you might not come across your dog until it’s unconscious and its tongue is blue.

It’s vital that you act fast, getting expert veterinary help if at all possible. Remember that vets do operate out-of-hours services, and that dog cover could help you cover the fees.

It’s possible to mistake coughing for choking. If your dog is struggling to breathe, it is choking and needs urgent help.

How can I remove the blockage?

You’re aiming to dislodge any item stuck in your dog’s throat without getting bitten.

If it’s conscious, you’ll need to restrain it and hold its jaw open. Don’t stick your fingers into its mouth unless you’re totally confident you can hold it open, as even normally docile pets will panic and bite.

Get someone to help you if at all possible, and try to cover its teeth with its lips.

Then grab your dog’s tongue – use a cloth to help you grip – and move it to one side. This helps you see down its throat, and may even be enough to dislodge the item.

You might now be able to see what’s blocking your dog’s throat. Sweep your fingers from the side of its throat to the centre, taking care not to push any item further down. Tongs or pliers could help you pull it gently out.

Heimlich manoeuvre

If you can’t see or remove the item, you’ll need to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre. If you’ve learned how to do this on humans, the same principles apply.

If your dog can stand on its hind legs, or you can pick it up, hold its back against your body with its head up and its paws down. Otherwise, lie it down on its side and kneel behind its back.

Place your fist in the soft hollow beneath its ribs, and pull up and in two or three times towards your own body and your dog’s head.

If that dislodges the item, remove it carefully with your fingers.

If the item is firmly stuck, then contact your vet. It may need to be removed under sedation.