Some dogs can eat the strangest things and they will never have a problem swallowing. We’ve read where some large beast made a habit eating his mom’s underwear. It wasn’t until he went to the bathroom that she realized where her undies were going! However, if ever you find your pooch choking you will need to know the following:
Immediate Care
Be very careful when dealing with a choking dog, as even calm animals will panic when they cannot breathe. Protect yourself by restraining the dog, but do not muzzle it.Use both hands to open the mouth, with one hand on the upper jaw and the other on the lower.
Grasping the jaws, press the lips over the dog’s teeth so that they are between the teeth and your fingers.
Look inside the mouth and remove the obstruction with your fingers.
If you can’t move the object with your fingers, use a flat spoon handle to pry it away from the teeth or roof of the mouth.
If the dog is still choking and you can’t see anything in the mouth, or the dog has fallen unconscious, follow these guidelines.
For a SMALL Dog
Pick the dog up by its thighs and gently shake and swing it. If his condition does not improve, apply forward pressure to the abdomen just behind the ribcage.For a LARGE Dog
Do not try to pick up, shake, or swing a large dog; you're more likely to do further damage due to the animal's size. Instead, perform the equivalent of the Heimlich maneuver:If the dog is standing, put your arms around her belly, joining your hands. Make a fist and push firmly up and forward, just behind the rib cage. Place the dog on his side afterward.
If the dog is lying down, place one hand on the back for support and use the other hand to squeeze the abdomen upwards and forwards.
Check the dog's mouth and remove any objects that may have been dislodges with your fingers.
Note that the object might be quite a way back towards the throat, so you might have to hunt around and hook it out with your index finger. If the dog required artificial respiration or CPR, seek immediate veterinary attention.
While taking a dog to the vet may not be advisable when the pooch is choking because you really need to get in there immediately and take care of it, afterward it IS important to have him looked out. Especially if they have been suffering for a long period of time. Damage could be caused and just for peace of mind, perhaps to get a needed medication, have the pup examined.
For more information regarding prevention and other matters please go to Pet MD. We would like to believe our animals are indestructible but, sadly, it is not so. Study the above information and be ready if your pal one day needs a helpful Heimlich!
