Dogs are curious creatures. In addition to exploring the world with their noses, they use their mouths to investigate new and interesting things. Because of this, dogs tend to choke easily on just about anything that is the size of the opening to the trachea, such as hard rubber balls, lumps of gristle, and chew toys or sticks that have become swollen due to moisture. These everyday household items could prove lethal to your dog.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR DOG IS CHOKING?
If a dog is suffocating, it will often panic.
If something is lodged in its mouth the dog may paw in an attempt to dislodge the item.
He/she may be heaving but without breathing sounds.
Your dog may be unresponsive and could even lose consciousness.
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 dog’s 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 lost consciousness, follow these guidelines as you may need to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre and Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). (It is always a good idea to learn the Heimlich manoeuvre for emergencies).The picture below may be helpful.
