What would you do if your dog were choking and couldn't clear his airway? This could certainly happen if your dog chews on bones with lose fragments such as rawhides or if he has a tendency to raid the garbage can and eat things that were meant for dog throats. If your dog's airway is completely obstructed, time is of the essence. The good news is the Heimlich maneuver can be just as effective on dogs as it is on humans and could potentially save his life.
Before attempting to perform the Heimlich maneuver on your dog, it's important to be sure your dog is actually choking. Sometimes respiratory problems can be confused with the harsh, rasping sounds of choking. You don't want to perform the Heimlich maneuver on a dog that doesn't have an airway obstruction since the firm, rapid movements can potentially cause injury. Prior to beginning the Heimlich maneuver, open your dog's mouth and clear out any foreign material that's blocking his airway. Once you know your dog is choking, perform the dog Heimlich maneuver as outlined below:
Position your dog
Lay your choking dog on his side on a firm surface.
Apply appropriate pressure.
Carefully place both hands on your dog's last ribs as he's lying on his side. Press down firmly and release quickly. Repeat this process several times.
Check your dog's mouth for any obstruction that may have been released.
Open your dog's mouth and remove any material that may have been dislodged during the Heimlich maneuver. If you dog still appears to have an airway obstruction, repeat the previous hand movements several more times.
Once the airway is clear, reassess.
Once the airway obstruction has been removed, check your dog's breathing. If your dog isn't moving air, perform mouth to mouth respiration.
Call you veterinarian.
Even if your dog is breathing normally at this point, call your veterinarian immediately and have your dog assessed for any damage to his delicate throat passages.
If you can't get your dog into position on his side, you can administer the Heimlich maneuver by grasping your dog around the waist, place your fists behind his ribs, and do several quick compressions. Again, check the airway for release of an obstruction. Once the obstruction has been cleared, seek medical attention for your dog immediately.
By knowing the mechanics of performing the dog Heimlich maneuver, you can release most potentially dangerous airway obstructions. Familiarize yourself with the proper movements of the Heimlich maneuver in case you should ever need to use them.
Thanks Pam