Choking - Heimlich Manoeuvre for Pets

It’s a very scary situation when your pet starts choking, it’s important that you know how to help your pet so that you can remain calm and act as quickly as possible.

Learning the pet Heimlich manoeuvre could save your pets life!

Choking is one of the many essential skills covered in our Pet First Aid Courses, view our course date or contact us for more information.

Types of Choking

Full Obstruction (Severe Choking) - In severe cases of choking the airway is completely blocked, your pet cannot breathe. Your pet will try to cough but be unable to take a breath afterwards, if the obstruction doesn't clear from the coughing then you must intervene immediately.

Partial Obstruction (Mild Obstruction) - When something is stuck in the dogs throat but they are still able to breathe, this is a partial obstruction. These are much easier for your pet to clear on their own. If you do have to intervene you have more time due to the air that is able to pass through.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

Dogs, especially when they’re puppies, like to explore the world with their mouths as well as their noses. This can lead to them accidentally swallowing something a little too big for them.

It is so important to take precautions to avoid these situations as much as possible.

Always supervise your pets and regularly check their chews and toys for any broken or damaged parts.

TOYS

• Always supervise your pets when playing with toys and regularly check the condition of the toy.

• Pick the right toy for your dog, a toy for a puppy/small dog may not be suitable for an adult/larger dog. Avoid toys with small or detachable parts.

• Consider a ball on a rope or a ball with holes in rather than a standard rubber ball. The rubber material can easily get slippery and are more likely to cause blockages. Balls with holes are more likely to allow air to pass through if it does get stuck, giving you more time to help your pet.

• Pet-proof your home by keeping it clutter free and keeping small objects out of reach.

CHEWS

• Supervise your pets when they have a chew/treat.

• Remove chews or use a bully stick holder when they get too small.

• Do not give your dog any bones, both cooked and uncooked bones can be a choking risk. Cooked bones also risk splintering as they are more brittle, they can damage the mouth and oesophagus. 

Initial Response to Choking

Dogs and cats are very good at clearing minor obstructions themselves.

Give them the chance to cough and move their body to try and clear the obstruction. 

If they have been unable to clear the obstruction, then you must intervene.

Firstly:

• Check for any visible obstructions in the mouth, try to remove them safely.

• Gently tilt the head downwards to encourage the object to fall out.

• If the object remains, start to perform abdominal thrusts - these will be slightly different based on the size of your pet.

Abdominal Thrusts for Cats and Smaller Dogs

• Hold your pet close to you, pick them up and hold them with their spine in line with yours and their paws away from you. 

• Use your thumb and the outside of your fist, and give a sharp inwards and upwards blow just below the rib cage. 

• Repeat the thrusts until the blockage has cleared.

Abdominal Thrusts for Larger Dogs

• Approach the dog from behind whilst they are standing.

• Put an arm around each side of the dog, using your fist under the dogs rib cage, pulling inwards and upwards.

• If the dog has collapsed, still use this technique.

Monitoring and Recognising Distress

• Continuously check if the obstruction has cleared.

• Check the colour of their tongue and lips.

  If they start to turn blue, they are becoming oxygen-deprived.

If the obstruction clears, check for signs of breathing. If your pet is not breathing, start CPR.

Seek Veterinary Advice

• After any choking incident, make sure to go to the vet immediately.

• An obstruction can cause damage to the oesophagus and abdominal thrusts can lead to internal damage and shock.

• Just because the obstruction has cleared and your pet is breathing normally, doesn’t mean that no other damage has been caused.

For more information on our first aid courses, browse our website or contact us at support@poochesandpaws-petfirstaid.co.uk.