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Do you have any idea what to do if dog is choking? You may think that it is not necessary but mind you, knowing it beforehand may actually save your pekignese’s life. Dogs are always getting things inside their mouths: balls, yarn, hair, sticks, bones, toys, etc… And one day you see him pawing his mouth, disoriented, frantic, drooling, whining, then for sure there is something stuck inside his mouth that is bothering him a lot. You may have to help him take it out so prevent further damage.

If he is already choking, examine his mouth thoroughly and remove any collar on his neck. Pull his tongue forward and remove the foreign object. If you are unable to see it, then you may have to use the Heimlich maneuver in order to remove it. Heimlich maneuver in dogs is just the same way how you do on humans. For a large dog, stand behind him and place your arms around his body. Make a firm fist with one hand and place your thumb (of the fisted arm) on his abdomen, just below his sternum. With your other hand, grab hold of your fist and push in a sudden upward-forward motion. Do this for about five times and check his mouth and remove any dislodged object. Repeat the maneuver if necessary. If he happens to be unconscious, clear his airway and do rescue breathing.

For a small dog like the pekignese, hold him with his head up so that his spine would be against your chest. Make a fist with one hand and place it on his abdomen. With your other hand, grasp the fist and make a sudden upward-forward thrusts. Do this several times until object is dislodged.

What to Do if Dog is Choking

Look inside your pet’s mouth. If you see the object, gently try to remove it. DO NOT just stick your fingers in there and pull on something you can’t see. Dogs & cats have small bones in the back of their throats that support their tongues and they can easily be mistaken for chicken bones. Only remove what you can see. If you can’t remove the object, don’t force it. If you have a small dog or cat, pick him up with his head facing down. For a larger dog, lift his rear legs up until his head facing down. This often removes any lodged object. Source: Pet Supplies 4 Less, http://petsupplies4less.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/pet-dog-cat-choking-first-aid/

Saving a Choking Dog

Seek for help. If you think you cannot do it on your own, call your vet immediately. If your vet in unavailable, go find 24 hours vet available in the area. You must have the emergency hotline of your nearest animal hospital in town.

If you think you cannot do it on your own, call your vet immediately. If your vet in unavailable, go find 24 hours vet available in the area. You must have the emergency hotline of your nearest animal hospital in town. Wait and see. If your dog is coughing up, wait and check if he is able to remove the object on his own. If it doesn’t work and he seems to be in distress already, then get help immediately.

If your dog is coughing up, wait and check if he is able to remove the object on his own. If it doesn’t work and he seems to be in distress already, then get help immediately. Do what you can. Before the emergency team gets in, you should also be able to help your dog any way you can. Look into his mouth and if you can see the object, get it. Use a flashlight to get a better view of what is inside.

Before the emergency team gets in, you should also be able to help your dog any way you can. Look into his mouth and if you can see the object, get it. Use a flashlight to get a better view of what is inside. Law of gravity. Gravity can help him dislodge the object. If your dog is small to medium size, pick him up on his hind legs and hold him upside down for a moment and try to shake him gently. For large dogs, hold him upside down by keeping his front paws planted on the ground and lift his hind legs, tilt him forward.

Gravity can help him dislodge the object. If your dog is small to medium size, pick him up on his hind legs and hold him upside down for a moment and try to shake him gently. For large dogs, hold him upside down by keeping his front paws planted on the ground and lift his hind legs, tilt him forward. Back blows. If gravity failed, you can also try giving him back blows. Using the heel of your hand, give him 4-5 sudden blows between his shoulder blades.

If gravity failed, you can also try giving him back blows. Using the heel of your hand, give him 4-5 sudden blows between his shoulder blades. Do the Heimlich maneuver. (See details above.)

(See details above.) Go to the clinic. If all else fails, bring him immediately to the nearest clinic or animal hospital in the area.

Those are the things that you should do during an emergency. Now, you don’t have to wonder on what to do if dog is choking since you are already equipped with the knowledge on how to intervene when such a scenario would happen. Dogs by nature are ever curious and they explore most of the time and use their mouths — next to their nose — to check that that thing is. So, you must also be vigilant on watching over your pooch and see from time to time what he is up to. After all, prevention is always better than having to go through the entire experience.

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