Yes, it can happen to your dog just like it can happen to any of us. And, of course, we all know that dogs tend to be far more adventurous and indiscriminant about what they decide is edible. Anything that seems interesting or in their immediate path is fair game.
As the warm months approach, the likelihood that your dog may suffer a choking incident are a bit more especially since they tend to venture outdoors a bit more. If you are able to remain calm and follow a few simple steps, you may be able to save your furry friend’s life in an emergency situation.
Read on here:
1. It is ESSENTIAL that you determine if your dog is choking. DO NOT reach into the dog’s mouth and blindly poke into his throat since you may end up lodging the item farther into his throat and cause airway constriction or a cut or scratch. Don’t remove anything unless you are able to see the object that is causing the problem.
2. Remove anything that is around the dog’s neck. Then, position him in a bear hug position, with his back end closest to your chest.
3. Make a fist with one of your hands, placing it just behind the dog’s ribs.
4. Compression of the abdominal area anywhere from 4-6 times is what is suggested, just as with the human Heimlich move.
5. Next, check your dog’s mouth to determine whether the object has been pushed into it. You may need to repeat the manipulation a couple of more times.
6. If the object has been expelled, you may wish to take your dog to his care team, to be sure that he has suffered no injuries as a result of the choking problem. It it does not remove itself with this process, GET IMMEDIATE VETERINARY attention.
We believe that it is always better to be safe than sorry. Remember that you are the voice of your dog!
