Choking Dog - What to Do
18th January 2023 | Author Coquet Vets
Although extremely uncommon, choking is not unheard of in dogs, especially larger breeds. Complete obstruction of the airway is very rare, but it can be catastrophic when it occurs and is deemed as an emergency. The most usual cause of a complete obstruction is a ball that has been thrown by an owner and caught by a dog, and subsequently got wedged in the back of the dog’s throat, obstructing the dog’s airway.
Signs of choking:
Frothing at mouth
Panic
Shaking of head or pawing at mouth
Collapse
It is essential that the obstruction is removed as soon as possible, and unfortunately, time is of the essence. If the dog is able to get some air in (if there isn't a complete obstruction) you can attempt removal, but if unsuccessful, then rush to the nearest vets. If, however, the obstruction is complete and the dog can't breathe, even a short trip to the vets could be too late.
What to do:
Try to stay calm
Shout for help
Whilst doing 1 and 2, if at all possible, turn the dog onto its back - ask anyone around to help keep them in this position. Try to massage from behind the throat towards the dog nose - 'milking ' out the ball. (See our demo video below).
If you try to remove the obstruction via the mouth, there is a high chance you will be bitten, and unfortunately, a chance you could push the obstruction further down
If step 3 fails, try some short hard blows on the dog's chest.
This short demonstration video below shows you how to massage a dog from behind the throat towards the dog nose - 'milking ' out the ball.
Things to consider:
Use balls with a hole through the middle
Size of ball - is it a choking hazard?
Use something other than a ball
Below is some additional advice from First Aid for Life to show you what you can do to help a choking dog.
We hope that this never happens to any of our patients, but please pass this article on as it could save a dog’s life.
If you are a client at Coquet Vets, and you have an emergency situation, please call us without delay on 01665 252250. For further contact information and our out of ours emergency service, please visit our ‘Contact Us’ page.