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What To Do If Your Dog Is Choking? | Professional Guide
Have you ever experienced the horrifying moment when your beloved dog is choking and you don’t know what to do if your dog is choking? As pet owners, we want to make sure our furry friends are cared for in any situation. Choking is a very dangerous emergency that requires immediate action – but it can be hard to know where to start. To help ease your worries, here’s what you need to know about recognizing and responding if your dog is choking.
Contents
- 1 What Is Choking In Dogs?
- 2 Some Common Causes Of Choking In Dogs
- 3 Signs Your Dog Is Choking
- 4 How To Tell If Your Dog Is Choking?
- 5 What To Do If Your Dog Is Choking?
- 6 How To Do Heimlich Maneuver For Dogs?
- 7 How To Prevent Your Dog From Choking Again?
- 8 When To Seek Veterinary Care For A Choking Dog?
- 9 What You Should Do Once Your Dog Has Stopped Choking?
- 10 FAQ: Dog Is Choking
What Is Choking In Dogs?

Choking, or also known as an airway obstruction, occurs when something gets stuck in your dog’s throat and blocks their breathing. This can be food (such as bones), a toy, foreign objects, or anything that is not meant to be swallowed by your furry friend. As with humans, choking is very dangerous for dogs and can lead to serious consequences if left ignored. You must understand what to do if your dog is choking, so that you can respond quickly and potentially save their life.
Some Common Causes Of Choking In Dogs
Here are some common causes of choking in dogs:
- Eating too quickly
- Swallowing foreign objects
- Playing with small toys or objects that can get lodged in the throat
- Ingesting bones
- Breathing in irritants, such as dust or pollen.
Signs Your Dog Is Choking
Signs that your pet may be choking include:
- Distress: Your dog may exhibit signs of distress such as pacing or pawing at their mouth.
- Pawing at the mouth: Your pooch may try to paw at their mouth in an attempt to remove whatever is stuck.
- Salivation: If your dog is choking, they may also start to excessively salivate. This is because their body produces excess mucus in an attempt to dislodge the object.
- Coughing: If your dog is choking, they may also cough in an attempt to clear their airway.
- Gagging or retching: Your dog may appear to be gagging or attempting to vomit, as they try to clear their throat.
- Blue mucous membranes (cyanosis): If your dog is not getting enough oxygen, their gums and tongue may start to turn blue or purple. This is a serious sign that they are in distress and need immediate help.
- Rubbing their face against the ground: Your dog may rub their face against the ground in an attempt to dislodge whatever is stuck in their throat.
How To Tell If Your Dog Is Choking?
When your dog struggles to breathe, it may exhibit signs such as pawing at its mouth, rubbing its face on the ground, gagging, retching, or wheezing. In severe cases, the obstruction in its trachea can cause the dog to collapse or fall unconscious due to the inability to breathe. Some key signs to look for include coughing, distress, and blue or purple gums. If you suspect your dog is choking, it’s crucial to act quickly and carefully in order to help them.
What To Do If Your Dog Is Choking?
It can be a scary experience to see your dog choking. Dogs, just like humans, are susceptible to choking on objects or food items that may obstruct their airway. As a responsible dog owner, it is important to know what to do in such an emergency situation.
- Stay Calm: The first and most important thing to do if your dog is choking is to stay calm. Your dog can sense your emotions and staying calm will help them remain calm as well.
- Assess The Situation: Once you’ve calmed yourself down, assess the situation. Check to see how severe the choking is, where the obstruction might be and if there is any swelling or discoloration.
- Try To Remove The Object: If you can see the object, try to remove it with your fingers or tweezers. Be very gentle and careful not to push the object further down the throat.
- Perform Heimlich Maneuver: If you can’t remove the object by hand, carefully perform the Heimlich maneuver by placing your hands on either side of the chest and pressing inwards and upwards.
- Call For Help: If the object still cannot be dislodged, call for help immediately. This can be a family member, friend or veterinarian.
- Check For Breathing: While waiting for help to arrive, check if your dog is still breathing. If not, perform CPR.
- Take Preventative Measures: Once the choking incident is resolved, take preventative measures to avoid future incidents. Keep small objects out of reach and always supervise your dog during meal times.
How To Do Heimlich Maneuver For Dogs?
To perform the Heimlich maneuver on your standing dog, wrap your arms around their abdomen and clasp your hands together. Then, with a strong and swift motion, thrust your fists upward and forward five times, mimicking the technique used on humans. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Assess The Situation Quickly And Calmly
In case of any emergency, the first and most important thing to do is to stay calm. If your dog is still conscious but choking, quickly take a look inside their mouth and see if you can spot the object causing the obstruction. If you can see it and reach it, use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to gently remove it.
Perform Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver)
In order to dislodge the object, perform abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver). This involves standing behind your dog and wrapping your arms around their abdomen. With your fist just above their belly button, quickly pull in and up for five swift thrusts. This should help push the object out of their airway.
Perform Back Blows For Small Dogs And Puppies
In the case of small dogs and puppies, abdominal thrusts may not be suitable. Instead, you can try back blows by placing your dog on their side and striking their back gently between the shoulder blades until the object dislodges.
Clear The Airway
After performing the Heimlich maneuver or back blows, check your dog’s mouth again to see if you can remove any remaining objects. If the object is visible and easy to grab, you can use your fingers or tweezers to gently pull it out. However, if you cannot remove the object and your dog is still struggling to breathe, do not attempt to push it further down their throat as this could cause more harm.
How To Prevent Your Dog From Choking Again?
In order to prevent your dog from choking in the future, it’s important to take some precautions such as:
- Always supervise your dog when they are eating or playing with toys.
- Avoid giving them small objects that could easily get stuck in their throat.
- Cut food into smaller pieces for easier digestion.
- Train your dog to eat slowly and chew their food properly. You can use slow feeder bowls or food dispensing toys to help with this.
- Keep trash cans and other potential choking hazards out of your dog’s reach.
When To Seek Veterinary Care For A Choking Dog?

If your dog is unable to move an object or piece of food that is visible, it is crucial to bring them to an emergency vet immediately or perform the Heimlich maneuver as instructed here. However, if you notice a small bone lodged in your dog’s throat, do not attempt to remove it yourself. This may cause further harm or injury. Instead, seek veterinary care immediately. It’s also important to seek veterinary care if your dog is having trouble breathing, they become unconscious, or their gums and tongue start to turn blue. Even if you have successfully removed the object causing the obstruction, it’s still a good idea to bring them in for a check-up as there may be underlying damage or inflammation in their airway.
What You Should Do Once Your Dog Has Stopped Choking?
If you’ve successfully removed an object from your dog’s throat and they are no longer choking, it is crucial to contact your veterinarian immediately. Even if the immediate danger has passed, your vet may advise hospitalization if your dog experienced a lack of oxygen. Prompt medical attention is essential in such cases. Additionally, observe your dog for any signs of coughing or difficulty breathing in the following days as they may still be at risk for complications. In severe cases, your vet may prescribe antibiotics or other medications to prevent infection and promote healing. Remember to always stay calm and act quickly when dealing with a choking dog. Your quick actions could save their life.
FAQ: Dog Is Choking
Is it safe to give my dog choking bones to chew on?
Avoid feeding small bones that can be easily swallowed or present a choking hazard, as well as bones that have been cut, like leg bones. Cut bones have a higher chance of splintering. It is also important to refrain from feeding pork bones or rib bones, as they are more prone to splintering compared to other bone types.
Can a dog be choking but still breathing?
If your dog stops coughing and is breathing and swallowing normally, it is possible that they are no longer choking or have already removed the item. However, if your dog is still unable to breathe, it is important to take immediate action to remove the obstruction from their airway.
Should I give my dog water after choking?
After an emergency visit to the vet, you will receive important instructions regarding the aftercare for your dog. This may involve ensuring that your pet rests for a few days after a choking incident, or ensuring she has ample supply of fresh water and soft food for a certain period of time.
What does dog choking sound like?
Identifying a choking dog: Listen for high-pitched, squeaking, or whistling sounds. These may progress to coughing and gagging.
Can choking cause brain damage in dogs?
Brain damage, loss of consciousness, and even death can be caused by a temporary lack of oxygen to the brain. Suffocation in dogs is a serious medical emergency. If you notice any signs of suffocation or loss of consciousness in your dog, it is crucial to seek immediate veterinary assistance from your local emergency veterinarian.
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