What to Do If Your Pet is Choking
Featured in Houston Pet Talk, April 2023 issue
By Dr. Noaker
A choking person can be quite frightening to witness, but what if it's your dog or cat? What do you do? First, don't panic because they are already panicked.
Dogs are the most common pets to choke because they'll eat anything. They especially like to gobble something up when you are trying to take it from them or when they eat too fast. It's a natural instinct. Cats can also choke, but it's far less common. They are more likely to get tangled and twisted up in pull chains from window blinds. Choking can also happen in dogs and cats over time if there is a growth in the oral cavity. An often overlooked cause in dogs is if their collar gets caught on something and then gets twisted around their neck as they struggle to get free.
Understanding Choking
Choking is simply defined as anything that is blocking the airway, whether in the oral cavity or a compression of the neck that prevents the movement of air. If the airway is partially blocked, the pet may start retching, drooling, gagging, pacing back and forth, and pawing at their mouth. They may be struggling and vocalizing, trying to get your attention. However, if their airway is totally blocked, they will not be able to make any sound and will be in great distress.
First Steps to Take
The first thing to do is to gently restrain your dog to protect yourself, but do not muzzle them as they are struggling to breathe. They may potentially cause harm to themselves and to you and even bite you in their panic.
Next, open their mouth and look inside, but do not put yourself at risk of being bitten. Be sure to look under the tongue as well, especially in cats. An object in the mouth such as a stick, bone, or rawhide may be lodged crosswise between the upper teeth and may be able to be removed with a large pair of tweezers or by reaching into your pet's mouth with the help of another person.
Sometimes, the object may penetrate the soft tissues to either side of the teeth, beneath the tongue, and that will require professional help. We advise that you do not blindly stick your fingers down the throat or finger sweep to try and locate an object, as this is likely to cause damage to the delicate tissues at the back of the throat.
Maneuvers to Try
Large objects, such as balls or pieces of rawhide, can sometimes be dislodged by placing firm pressure with both thumbs underneath the jaw at the base of the throat and pushing forwards. This is best accomplished with your pet on its back.
If your pet is still choking, you can try some maneuvers similar to the Heimlich maneuver in people.
For a small dog or cat: Pick them up by the thighs, with their head facing towards the ground, lift them, and gently shake 3 or 4 times in a downward motion.
For a large dog: Stand behind them, lift their hind legs off the ground, level to your knees and thighs so that their head is facing downwards, and abruptly lift them off the ground and shake a few times.
If this fails, perform the Heimlich maneuver. With your pet standing, put your arms around its belly, make a fist with one hand and with your other hand on top, push firmly up and forward, just behind the rib cage. Or, with your pet lying down, place one hand on the back for support and use the other hand to squeeze the abdomen upwards and forwards.
After the Emergency
Be sure to check the mouth and remove any objects that may have been dislodged. Your pet could become unconscious and stop breathing, and you will need to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Have your veterinarian's phone number and your emergency veterinarian's phone number handy, and proceed directly to them, even if you are successful in removing an object. Damage could still have been done to the airways or abdominal organs, and it's best to be safe.
