Putting anything in their mouths is a typical behavior of dog. Apart from being voracious eaters, dogs are very inquisitive animals. In the absence of hands, dogs would use the mouth to investigate anything that they find interesting. This habit is not only annoying as it becomes destructive but also dangerous as the dog can swallow large objects that can cause choking. Choking is a very serious condition that can result to the death of the dog if first aid measures are not administered as the swallowed object would block the airway and make breathing difficult.
As dogs have the inclination to ingest object that can block the airway, it would be necessary for dog owners to learn how to administer first aid for choking. Dog owners have to be prepared to deal with choking as this condition is a common consequence of the dog's inclination to chew. A pet parent would always try to maintain the health and the safety of the pet but like diseases, accidents cannot be totally prevented. To be able to save the pet from life threatening conditions, a pet owner has to be competent in administering first aid.
A dog owner has to recognize the symptoms that the pet is choking so that first aid can be administered. A choking dog would be frantic, gag and drool excessively. It would be easily apparent that something is blocking the dog's airway as it would continuously paw the mouth while trying to vomit. Blue gums indicates the seriousness of the dog's condition. If first aid is not administered, the dog's breathing will stop.
To help a choking dog, the object that is causing the airway blockage must be removed immediately. With the fingers, perform a finger sweep along the sides of the mouth to the base of the tongue for foreign object that is causing the dog to choke. If an object can be felt it has to be manually removed. Of course this is the easy kind of choking. Removing a foreign object that cannot be seen or felt would be difficult.
Applying first aid to a small dog is easier than helping large dogs . The blockage can be removed by holding the dog upside down and slapping the backside until the foreign object is dislodged. Heimlich maneuver is commonly performed on large dogs to remove the blockage. This first aid method is also known as the wheelbarrow style as the hind legs of the dog will be raised against the body of the person administering the first aid. With a fist positioned on the dog's last rib, the abdomen has to be pushed forward until the object that causes the choking is dislodged.
As dogs have the inclination to ingest object that can block the airway, it would be necessary for dog owners to learn how to administer first aid for choking. Dog owners have to be prepared to deal with choking as this condition is a common consequence of the dog's inclination to chew. A pet parent would always try to maintain the health and the safety of the pet but like diseases, accidents cannot be totally prevented. To be able to save the pet from life threatening conditions, a pet owner has to be competent in administering first aid.
A dog owner has to recognize the symptoms that the pet is choking so that first aid can be administered. A choking dog would be frantic, gag and drool excessively. It would be easily apparent that something is blocking the dog's airway as it would continuously paw the mouth while trying to vomit. Blue gums indicates the seriousness of the dog's condition. If first aid is not administered, the dog's breathing will stop.
To help a choking dog, the object that is causing the airway blockage must be removed immediately. With the fingers, perform a finger sweep along the sides of the mouth to the base of the tongue for foreign object that is causing the dog to choke. If an object can be felt it has to be manually removed. Of course this is the easy kind of choking. Removing a foreign object that cannot be seen or felt would be difficult.
Applying first aid to a small dog is easier than helping large dogs . The blockage can be removed by holding the dog upside down and slapping the backside until the foreign object is dislodged. Heimlich maneuver is commonly performed on large dogs to remove the blockage. This first aid method is also known as the wheelbarrow style as the hind legs of the dog will be raised against the body of the person administering the first aid. With a fist positioned on the dog's last rib, the abdomen has to be pushed forward until the object that causes the choking is dislodged.
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