Dogs use their mouths to explore the world and, thankfully, their anatomy offers guarantees that make choking rare. Despite this, it is not impossible for a dog to be in danger of choking, and it is important to learn to distinguish a dog that chokes from one that has a disease or other problem. In an emergency situation that can compromise the life of the animal, there may not be time to contact the veterinarian; in this case you need to be able to manage first aid yourself. However, if the dog is in pain but is not in immediate danger of life, the best thing to do is to remain calm and consult a veterinarian. This article tells you how to tell if your dog is choking and what to do if so.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Observe the Dog
Step 1. Check for a cough
At first, if he is able to cough, wait a few moments to see if he can eliminate by himself the object that is blocking his airways.
- Only wait for this eventuality if it seems to you that it is able to breathe well.
- If you experience wheezing, are in pain or try to catch your breath, call your vet immediately.
Step 2. Check for signs of choking
Dogs may exhibit different behaviors to signal that they cannot breathe. When trying to figure out if he is choking, first try to calm him down; the more you panic, the greater the demand for oxygen and the worse the situation gets. Among the signs of a dog choking you can note:
- Swallows with difficulty or drools excessively (see if they can swallow, in which case it is more difficult for there to be a blockage in the airways).
- Assume an "air hunger" position, keeping the head and neck low and in a straight line.
- He acts unusually agitated or frantic, tries to touch his mouth with his paw and whimpers.
- Coughs heavily, wheezes or wheezes.
- The gums turn gray or blue.
- He has a visible object in the back of his throat.
- He moves his chest in an exaggerated way.
- He faints.
- He loses consciousness.
Step 3. Encourage him to ingest something
This is a useful strategy to understand if he is truly choking.
- You can offer him a treat by gently rubbing his throat or pinching his nostrils together.
- When he ingests, if the sound of wheezing stops, it means he is not choking and is not in danger.
Step 4. Look inside his mouth
By visually checking their mouth you can check if there is actually an object blocking the airways and then act accordingly.
- Gently open his mouth by pressing his upper lip inward over the large molars at the back of his mouth. At the same time, apply some downward pressure on the jaw to further open his mouth.
- Look deep into his throat; it is even better if you have a flashlight and ask for the help of someone to hold the dog still. You have to look for any obstacles, such as a piece of bone or a stick.
- If the dog is large, you should try to block him before opening his mouth. To do this, grab him on the scruff between his ears and hold his head still.
- If you can notice something in your throat, try to grab it with pliers and remove it. Be absolutely cautious and gentle so as not to accidentally push the object deeper.
Step 5. Call the vet
If your dog is choking, showing signs of choking or even having difficulty breathing, be sure to always contact your doctor for advice. The exception to this rule only occurs if the dog has completely collapsed or lost consciousness. In that case, start your first aid maneuvers as best you can.
- You will probably be explained by telephone about the first aid procedures while awaiting medical intervention, and perhaps you will be asked to take the dog to the veterinary office immediately.
- If you can't reach the doctor, seek out the veterinarian's 24-hour emergency service. You can usually find the number in the phone book, or you can contact an animal care center in your area or a rescue agency for details. Emergency vets or animal hospitals are usually found in major cities and urban centers.
- The emergency number in your area will be able to provide you with the number of the National Animal Protection Agency. He will definitely have an emergency vet who can help you over the phone.
Step 6. Find someone who can help you
If you take your dog to the vet or try to give him first aid, it is advisable to have another person by your side who can help you in these delicate moments.
- If you have to take the animal by car to a veterinary clinic, it is better that there is another person who can help you with the dog if the situation worsens.
- If your vet asks you to remove the item yourself, try to do so with someone else's help.
Step 7. Rule out other possible causes
Since you could cause more harm than good if you perform some maneuvers on the dog when they are not necessary, you must be sure that the animal is really choking, that it is in danger of life and that it is not just an impression. Below are some diseases that can cause a dog to behave similar to a case of choking.
- Stretching of the soft palate (brachycephalic syndrome): a rather frequent anatomical oddity in many dogs is having the tongue and soft palate that are too big for the mouth. This trait is more common in brachycephalic dogs (those with shortened noses and a muzzle similar to the face of children) such as the Pug, the Pekingese, the Lhasa Apso and the Shih Tzu, but also occurs in small breeds such as the Poodle, the West Highland White Terrier, Dachshund, Spitz and Pomeranian. When the dog breathes sharply, it physically sucks the end of the soft palate towards the entrance to the trachea. This causes the windpipe to shrink or temporarily block, and the dog makes a series of dramatic grunts or panting noises, as if he is choking. This is only a temporary crisis, because when the dog ingests some food, the soft palate comes out of the trachea and the dog can breathe again. If you are unsure of the situation, give him food or a treat to ascertain his situation. If you see him eating it, it means he is not choking.
- Kennel cough: This is an infection that causes sore airways to become inflamed and irritated. Even the simple act of inhaling cold air can tickle the throat and trigger coughing. It can be a very violent cough which can lead you to think that there is some object stuck in your throat that is preventing you from breathing. Again, check to see if the dog is able to swallow by offering him something to eat. If he can swallow, it is extremely unlikely he is choking. Either way, contact your vet to have your dog tested for this infection.
- Heart disease: an enlarged heart that presses on the respiratory tract or heart failure can sometimes appear as a choking. The dog breathes heavily, coughs and may even have blue colored gums. This problem is more difficult to distinguish from choking, but symptoms usually develop slowly; the dog becomes less energetic and more lethargic at least 1-2 days before the clear manifestation of the disease. On the contrary, the risk of suffocation due to an obstruction of the airways is much more common in curious, active dogs and occurs suddenly.
Part 2 of 3: Remove the Obstruction
Step 1. Grab the obstacle with pliers or tweezers
If you are able to see the object blocking the airway and your vet advises you to do so, try to remove the obstruction gently.
- Try to remove the obstacle only if you can see it clearly, if you can grab it and if the dog is not too agitated. You would risk making the object go even deeper if you accidentally push it without seeing it.
- If the dog is very restless, you risk being bitten. Therefore, consult an emergency services veterinarian or animal hospital.
Step 2. Help your dog get rid of the obstruction
The force of gravity can help in this case. Try to hold the dog upside down and try to shake it to loosen the object and get it out.
- If the dog is small or medium-sized, grab him by the hind legs. Hold it upside down and try to shake the object out of your mouth with confidence in gravity.
- If the dog is large, you are unable to hold him in this position, so leave his front paws on the ground and lift his hind legs (as if holding a wheelbarrow) and lean him forward.
Step 3. Try hitting him on the back
If you cannot free him from the obstruction by tilting him forward, you can try to hit him hard on the shoulders to help him move the object that is suffocating him.
- Using the palm of your hand, give it 4-5 sharp blows between the shoulder blades. Be careful not to use too much force if the dog is small, because you could fracture his ribs and, if a broken rib punctures a lung, it could be life threatening.
- If this method doesn't work initially, try one more time.
Step 4. Consider doing the Heimlich maneuver
Since you could easily cause some damage to the dog with this maneuver, only do it when all other solutions have not worked.
- Only put it into practice if you are absolutely sure that the animal is choking due to an object blocking its throat.
- Put your arm around his waist. Position your dog so that his head is facing down, as gravity will help free the object during the procedure.
- Make sure you have a firm grip on the dog, but not too tight.
- It is a good idea to have someone help you hold him by the scruff of his neck while you do the operation. This way the dog stays still and avoids fidgeting too much.
- Close one hand and wrap it with the other forming a two-handed fist that you have to place in the soft area that is just below the rib cage. The size of the dog will affect the exact position of the hands.
- If you have a small or medium-sized dog, you need to use 2 fingers instead of your fist (but apply the same force), so as not to damage the rib cage.
- Quickly and firmly give 3-5 thrusts in and up. Repeat in groups of 3-5 thrusts up to 3-4 times.
- Be careful not to use excessive force, as you risk breaking his ribs or, even worse, his spleen.
Part 3 of 3: Managing the Consequences
Step 1. Check that you can breathe normally once the object is removed
If not, you need to give him artificial respiration right away.
- If the dog no longer has a pulse, start CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation).
- If the animal needs resuscitation procedures, do what you can immediately and instruct someone else to call the veterinarian for further instructions.
Step 2. Take your four-legged friend to the vet
Even if you are able to remove the object, it is a good idea to take it to the vet to check that there are no further problems or injuries.
- Try to keep the animal calm and take it to the doctor as quickly and as safely as possible.
- Monitor him closely to make sure he can maintain normal breathing.
Advice
- If you are alone when the dog starts choking, call a neighbor or someone who can help quickly.
- Before proceeding with first aid on the dog, make sure that he is really choking and that it is not another breathing problem or an illness. Watch for symptoms carefully.
- Fishing hooks can be removed from a dog's mouth or tongue by cutting off the hooked tip with forceps. However, this should only be done by a veterinarian after administering a tranquilizer.
Warnings
- Be careful in removing the bones. They can splinter easily and create even more serious problems, such as puncturing the airways or other.
- Keep calm and peaceful, otherwise you risk making the situation worse.
- The Heimlich maneuver can cause serious injury to the dog, especially if he is not really choking. Do not do it unless you are absolutely certain that you cannot breathe and that you have no other possible alternatives.
