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Any dog of any age or size can choke on almost anything. It can be a pet parent’s worst nightmare. An object can get stuck in a dog’s throat, block an airway, and render the dog unconscious.
And it can happen quickly and unexpectedly. Just ask Ryan Shaw, a certified professional dog trainer at What A Great Dog training center in Frisco, Texas. She was conducting an agility class when one of her students was holding her small terrier named Calli in one hand while encouraging Calli to nibble on the end of a hotdog held in her other hand.
“Suddenly, Calli ate the whole hot dog, started gagging and two seconds later, she was not breathing,” recalls Ryan. “I learned how to do the Heimlich maneuver in a pet first aid class. I grabbed the dog, cradled her in my arm and performed abdominal thrusts. I then turned her upside down, hit her sharply on her back about four times and the hot dog popped out and landed on the floor. The dog recovered very quickly and resumed normal breathing, but it all happened so quickly.”
Tragically, more than 200,000 choking incidents among dogs and cats occur each year in the United States with veterinary care to treat these pets topping $500,000 annually, according to veterinary experts.
“A dog in respiratory distress will be a scared dog,” says Dr. Judy Morgan, who practiced veterinary medicine for 36 years and now runs Dr. Judy Morgan’s Naturally Healthy Pets to educate and empower pet parents to bring out the healthy best in their pets. “I saw many choking cases during my career and some of these cases did not have good outcomes, which is very sad as this is something that is preventable.”
Sharing her need to prevent choking in pets is Johnna Devereaux, a clinical pet nutritionist and chief nutrition officer at Bow Wow Labs. This company creates the Bow Wow Buddy, a line of Safe Fit Bully Sticks life-protecting safety devices. This device securely holds a chew in place to allow a dog to chew without choking on the last bit.
“No matter the size of the chew or treat, always supervise your dog when they are consuming something,” says Johnna. “Dogs don’t have the tactile ability to hold small pieces in their paws, so they take them whole into their mouths. This can be a recipe for disaster.”
Dr. Morgan and Johnna are teaming up to launch the first National Pet Choking Prevention Day on June 22. Sponsored by Bow Wow Labs, the mission is to educate pet parents and pet professionals on solutions that can help eliminate pet choking incidents on long-term chews and other objects. Learn more at https://nationalpetchokingpreventionday.com.
“Through education and national awareness, we hope to bring that staggering number of pet choking incidents down to zero because the best and worst part of choking is that it is preventable,” says Johnna.
Dr. Morgan urges pet parents to know their dogs’ eating and playing styles.
“It is important to understand how each individual dog handles treats, food and long-lasting chews,” she says. “Some will try to gulp them while others will chew off small bits at a time. Supervision is critical.”
Recognize that dogs love to chew, adds Johnna.
“The natural act of chewing supports so many different bodily systems,” says Johnna. “Benefits include supporting oral health by massaging the gums, engaging the jaw muscles and providing friction against teeth to act like a natural brush to help boost oral care. The act of chewing releases serotonin, which supports a healthy and calm state of mind.”
Dr. Morgan and Johnna recommend pet parents enroll in pet first aid classes offered in person and online that address ways to prevent and to provide on-the-scene first aid for dogs choking.
“Every pet parent should watch a video on performing the Heimlich maneuver or take a course in pet first aid,” says Dr. Judy. “Having knowledge prior to an incident will save valuable time and potentially, save the life of a dog.”
Johnna and Dr. Morgan also recommend these preventive tips to reduce the risk of your dog choking on an object:
- No toy should be able to fit inside a pet’s mouth as it can easily cause choking and block the airway.
- Choose tennis balls that are wider than the wide of a dog’s jaw so it won’t get stuck inside the mouth during a game of fetch.
- Routinely do a pet safety check in each room of your house to make sure that small objects, such as a plastic container of dental floss or a toddler’s small doll is not within reach of a curious dog.
- Carefully scrutinize when selecting chews and treats. Safer examples include dehydrated meats, pizzle sticks and soft chews, says Dr. Morgan.
Step-by-Step Guide to Performing Heimlich on Dogs
Dogs of any size will attempt to dislodge any object in their mouths by coughing and lurching forward. Step in to assist when this coughing turns into a gasping sound called a stridor. Your dog needs you to perform the Heimlich maneuver designed for pets in a calm manner.
As a master certified pet first aid/CPR instructor for 12 years and founder of Pet First Aid 4U, I train pet parents and pet professionals in the veterinarian-approved way to perform abdominal thrusts safely and effectively on dogs and puppies.
For small dogs with airways partially or completely blocked by an object, follow these steps:
- Stand and hold your dog with his back against your stomach.
- Hold him up with one arm around his upper abdomen.
- With your other hand, make a fist (tuck in your thumb).
- Position your closed fist at the end of ribcage in the soft spot.
- Thrust your fist in and upward five times in a row on the dog’s exhale to try to dislodge the object.
- Every five thrusts, open and inspect the mouth to see if you can dislodge any object.
- Be ready to perform rescue breaths if the dog becomes unconscious. Use your speaker function on your cell phone to alert the nearest veterinary clinic of your arrival as you continue the abdominal thrusts.
For medium to large dogs whose airways are partially or completely blocked by an object, follow these steps:
- Stand behind your dog if he is standing.
- With one hand, make a fish and tuck in your thumb.
- Position this closed fist at the soft spot just past the ribcage.
- Use your other open-palm hand to hold this fist in place.
- Thrust your hands up and forward (toward the dog’s mouth) five times in a row on the dog’s exhale to try to dislodge the object.
- Every five thrusts, open and inspect the mouth to see if you can dislodge any object.
- Be ready to perform rescue breaths if your dog becomes unconscious.
- Use your speaker function on your cell phone to alert the nearest veterinary clinic of your arrival as you continue the abdominal thrusts.
Dr. Judy Morgan offers additional option if the object is wedged in the back of the throat and cannot be safely removed:
“If the dog is lying down, stabilize the pet by placing one hand on the spine and thrust upward under the ribcage with the (closed) fist of your second hand,” she instructs. “Repeat the thrust four or five times, checking the mouth after each attempt to see if the object has dislodged.”
Choking Hazards
Here is a rundown of some everyday items that a dog can swallow and cause choking and even trigger unconsciousness:
- Avocado pits
- Baby bottle nipples
- Baby carrots
- Balls (tennis, rubber)
- Bully sticks
- Buttons
- Cell phone
- Corn cobs
- Dental floss
- Diapers
- Fishhooks
- Food wrappers
- Game pieces
- Hair ties
- Hot dogs
- Jewelry
- Kibble pieces
- Rawhide chews
- Refrigerator magnets
- Rocks
- Rubber bands
- Sticks
- Sewing supplies
- Shoelaces
- Socks
- Squeakers from plush toys
- Sponges
- Tampons
- Tinsel
- Underwear
- Window blind cords
- Yarn
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