| Dogs very rarely think about what they consume, | | | | remove the object blocking your dog's breathing. Start |
| unless it's a hidden pill wrapped in a piece of bread or | | | | by forcing your dog's mouth open and trying to pull the |
| cheese (my dog carefully eats the tasty wrapper and | | | | object out of the mouth or throat immediately. Ideally, |
| spits out the pill). Most of the time, a dog will simply | | | | you should be able to see the object obstructing your |
| swallow its food whole, and dogs can choke just like | | | | dog's breathing, but if you can't see it, try raising your |
| humans. Saving a dog with a blocked airway uses the | | | | dog's butt and back legs off the ground slightly before |
| same treatment as a human as well. If you know | | | | using a modified Heimlich maneuver. |
| CPR, you can help your choking dog. | | | | The canine Heimlich maneuver begins with you |
| Dogs are like children: You have to keep an eye on | | | | pressing your flattened hand against the bottom of the |
| them all the time. Before you start giving your dog | | | | dog's rib cage. Push into the dog's chest, pressing the |
| CPR, you should try to determine what your pet is | | | | dog's lungs against its spine and back, and with any |
| choking on to begin with. Most likely, the culprit will be a | | | | luck, this should cause the dog to cough up whatever |
| bone or a small toy. Balls, if they're small enough, are | | | | was blocking its breathing. If the dog falls unconscious, |
| another possibility. A dog's mouth is the equivalent of | | | | try to perform the chest pressing maneuver twice |
| our fingers. Young dogs and pups will pick things up | | | | again before giving two artificial respirations (breathing |
| and taste them just to see what they are. | | | | into the dog's mouth; most first aid texts cover this in |
| As with toddlers, always be certain that dog toys are | | | | more detail), and then checking the dog's mouth again. |
| large enough that they won't accidentally be | | | | Repeat the process of two compressions and two |
| swallowed. When a dog gets something stuck in their | | | | artificial respirations until normal breathing returns. |
| throat, it will paw at their muzzle and try to retch up | | | | Practice makes perfect. Just as you would practice a |
| the blockage. A dog won't be very cooperative with | | | | home fire drill with your children, it is good to have a |
| any human that's trying to remove an object from its | | | | few practice sessions with your dog for various first |
| throat or mouth either, but a blocked throat is a | | | | aid techniques. This way, should the time come that |
| medical emergency. If the dog stops breathing, it will | | | | your dog needs help, the process will be more familiar |
| pass out and could die. | | | | to your pet and he'll be less likely to struggle. Finally, |
| If your dog remains conscious, you should try to | | | | don't be afraid to ask for professional advise or help. |