Dogs aside from being exuberant are very curious as well so that they tend to investigate their world by putting objects in their mouths. Therefore it is common for dogs to choke on large chunks of food, on bones, plastic toys, stones and on pieces of wood. Choking is one of the most common reasons why dogs are rushed to veterinary clinics. The swallowed object can create a blockage that will obstruct the airways. Chocking is an extremely dangerous situation that would need first aid lest it results to the death of the dog.
One of the responsibilities of dog owners is to have firsthand knowledge on how to help a chocking pet. No doubt, veterinarians can administer the right procedures to help a choking pet but first aid would certainly save the life of the pet.
Choking and coughing have very similar symptoms. A pet owner must carefully ascertain if the dog is really choking and not simply coughing. Chocking first aid on a coughing dog would have disastrous results. The swallowed object that gets lodged in the throat can result to partial of total obstruction of the airways. Stuck swallowed object that is not removed can result to the death of the dog.
A swallowed object that blocked the airways would make the dog gag and vomit. A choking dog would continuously paw at the mouth and salivate excessively. It would be apparent that the dog finds it hard to breathe. Naturally, a panicking owner that wants to help the pet would do so by opening the mouth. Because of the stress, a normally gentle pet can turn into an aggressive dog. Be careful in opening the dog's mouth. To prevent the dog from biting your fingers, make sure that the lips of the pet is between the teeth and your fingers. Another person can help in restraining the dog. Carefully and gently sweep the opened mouth with your finger. Tweezers or long nosed pliers can be used to remove the foreign object that causes the chocking, however be very careful not to cause the dog further harm.
If choking is caused by an object that is not visible, dislodging the blockage can be done by using the Heimlich maneuver. Grasp the hind legs of a medium sized dog so that the rear end is towards you. Once the dog is positioned use a fist to push the abdomen until the object is dislodged.
One of the responsibilities of dog owners is to have firsthand knowledge on how to help a chocking pet. No doubt, veterinarians can administer the right procedures to help a choking pet but first aid would certainly save the life of the pet.
Choking and coughing have very similar symptoms. A pet owner must carefully ascertain if the dog is really choking and not simply coughing. Chocking first aid on a coughing dog would have disastrous results. The swallowed object that gets lodged in the throat can result to partial of total obstruction of the airways. Stuck swallowed object that is not removed can result to the death of the dog.
A swallowed object that blocked the airways would make the dog gag and vomit. A choking dog would continuously paw at the mouth and salivate excessively. It would be apparent that the dog finds it hard to breathe. Naturally, a panicking owner that wants to help the pet would do so by opening the mouth. Because of the stress, a normally gentle pet can turn into an aggressive dog. Be careful in opening the dog's mouth. To prevent the dog from biting your fingers, make sure that the lips of the pet is between the teeth and your fingers. Another person can help in restraining the dog. Carefully and gently sweep the opened mouth with your finger. Tweezers or long nosed pliers can be used to remove the foreign object that causes the chocking, however be very careful not to cause the dog further harm.
If choking is caused by an object that is not visible, dislodging the blockage can be done by using the Heimlich maneuver. Grasp the hind legs of a medium sized dog so that the rear end is towards you. Once the dog is positioned use a fist to push the abdomen until the object is dislodged.
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