By Samantha - March, 26th 2014

Almost all dogs will chew almost anything, including dangerous items that could cause them to choke. Would you know how to save your dogs life from choking? If your dog is choking,  you will notice your dog panic or pass out. You should always first check the throat for any objects obviously obscuring their airway.

Here is some important information on this topic that could save your dogs life.

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.

1. Use both hands to open the mouth, with one hand on the upper jaw and the other on the lower.
2. Grasping the jaws, press the lips over the dog’s teeth so that they are between the teeth and your fingers.
3. Look inside the mouth and remove the obstruction with your fingers.
4. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 your dog starts to pass out and you can’t help them rush them to the vet. Also after a choking experience it is good to get them checked out for the extent of the damage the foreign object may have caused. The best way to keep your dog safe is to keep choking hazards away from them like a small child.

How do you practice safety with your pets as animal lovers?

Article Source: Pet MD

Image Source: Atalou on Flickr

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