Dog Choking | Vets To Your Pets

Over the years as pet lovers we have had the joy of at least a dozen dogs in our lives. Their health and safety are so often taken for granted because, mostly, they seem healthy and happy. The reality is that our dogs can get themselves into dangerous situations simply because they are dogs.

Dogs are always using their mouths for something, eating of course, chasing a ball or stick, playing with children, even getting into the trash at times. Because of this constant mouth use dogs are?susceptible to choking. I can?t tell you how many times I have watched any one of my dogs hack up something they got caught in their throats. Fortunately every time they were successful in getting the dog chocking hazard out on their own.

When a dog is choking there are a number of things you should do. First, like I did, watch and allow the dog to work it up and out on its own. If that does not work you can have a look into the dogs mouth to see if you can identify the object and remove it with our fingers. Next would be to lift the dog upside down to allow gravity to help loose the throat obstruction, and finally perform the Heimlich maneuver for dogs.

I added this video by?Dog safety expert Melanie Monteiro in which she demonstrates what you should do if your dog is choking.