What to do with a choking dog?
Discussion
Had a bit of a scare yesterday. We were all in the kitchen at lunchtime and eating. The dog was munching through her kibble as normal then stopped and started making some horrible noises. I jumped up but had no idea what to do. She managed to cough it up herself after about 5 seconds. i guess she just swallowed the wrong way.
What do you do with a choking dog though?
Do you give them a slap on the back, stick your finger down their throat, heimlich?
What do you do with a choking dog though?
Do you give them a slap on the back, stick your finger down their throat, heimlich?
BecksJust seen this.
Depends on nature of object lodged and size of dog
Ideally some type of grasping tool best to remove object (pliers/ tweezers) as fingers could push it further down but again depends if dog unconcious/ not breathing and what you have available too hand.
Firstly esp with food give dog a chance if coughing etc chances are it'll cough food up, if still breathing/ conscious get to vets (phone for help first)
If not the case and removing with fingers or a grasper not worked then hit firmly on back between shoulder blades preferably with dog tilted down (not so easy in big dogs, small med hold head down by hind limbs.
I know a ball was dislodged by a vet by firmly stroking from bottom of neck to under chin thus moving ball into mouth, but this is not often a successful way of doing it.
Heimlich can be done arms around waist of dog and dog pointing down but with care!
Finally with some medical knowledge an emergency tracheotomy could be performed, cut between rings of cartilage of windwipe (below blockage) horizontally and insert a straw, bic biro case etc. Only drawback is if dog comes around is maintaining this airway.
CPR may be needed if dog doesn't regain conscious once item removed.
Hope no one ever has to deal with a properly choking dog though!
Depends on nature of object lodged and size of dog
Ideally some type of grasping tool best to remove object (pliers/ tweezers) as fingers could push it further down but again depends if dog unconcious/ not breathing and what you have available too hand.
Firstly esp with food give dog a chance if coughing etc chances are it'll cough food up, if still breathing/ conscious get to vets (phone for help first)
If not the case and removing with fingers or a grasper not worked then hit firmly on back between shoulder blades preferably with dog tilted down (not so easy in big dogs, small med hold head down by hind limbs.
I know a ball was dislodged by a vet by firmly stroking from bottom of neck to under chin thus moving ball into mouth, but this is not often a successful way of doing it.
Heimlich can be done arms around waist of dog and dog pointing down but with care!
Finally with some medical knowledge an emergency tracheotomy could be performed, cut between rings of cartilage of windwipe (below blockage) horizontally and insert a straw, bic biro case etc. Only drawback is if dog comes around is maintaining this airway.
CPR may be needed if dog doesn't regain conscious once item removed.
Hope no one ever has to deal with a properly choking dog though!
Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 30th November 22:55
RB Will said:
She eats from the floor. First time this has happened in 6 months of owning her though.
My dog has done it a few times over the years, usually when he's been too greedy with his dry food, he's always coughed it up then gone back to his food like nothing happened whilst I'm there post adrenaline rush!Hopefully a one off but if you want to reduce chances of it again, raise food up off ground (esp if tallish dog) add water to dry food and allow it to soak a bit, poss feed 2 small portions per meal instead of all in one bowl at one go.
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