Frightening, yes. But this something we all need to learn. Educate yourself here how to perform the Heimlich maneuver on your dog! That way if it ever comes to it you will be ready to save his life!
How to perform the Heimlich maneuver:
If your large dog is standing, place your arms around its belly and make a fist with your hands. Push up and forward just behind the rib cage. If the dog is lying down, place one hand on its back and use the other hand to squeeze the abdomen upward. Be sure to check and remove any loose objects in or around the dog’s mouth that have become dislodged. To ensure the object did not damage the animal’s throat or cause any other injury, take your pet to the veterinarian after the incident.
Sometimes serious choking and lack of oxygen requires your pet to receive CPR, which is a combination of chest compressions and artificial respiration. CPR should be used when you cannot feel or hear the animal’s heartbeat and when the animal is unconscious.
It is easy to read the above but, we know, that the application for such an act is not always as easy as it seems. For one thing, you will no doubt be dealing with a panicking dog. In this case, you simply need to take charge!
Yet, another problem can be your own concern. What if you do it wrong? What if you make the animal suffer even more than it already is? Do not panic. Keep calm. Honestly, if the poor pup is choking anything you do can only help even if, at the time, you find yourself worried otherwise!
To learn more go to Modern Dog Magazine.
