What to do if your dog is choking

By observing his pet, an attentive owner will immediately notice when something is wrong with him. If a dog is choking, first aid should be provided immediately. Typically, at such moments, your pet may experience coughing or difficulty breathing. And any owner should know what to do in such a situation and how to quickly help their four-legged friend, because seconds literally count and action should be taken immediately.

In addition to coughing and breathing problems, there may be other signs that your dog is choking. Symptoms of this may include refusal of food and water, panic and fussiness in the pet’s behavior, attempts to rub its face and neck with its paws, while its head is pointing down. There may be profuse salivation, sometimes even with blood, cramps and bloating, weakness, even loss of consciousness. In addition to rapid breathing, this condition is characterized by red eyes, a dry nose and a bluish tint to the tongue.

Main causes of difficulty breathing

Entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract

Dogs are naturally curious creatures, so they tend to put various objects in their mouths that can play a cruel joke on them. Stuck in the throat, various little things can lead to suffocation, as a result of which the dog begins to choke and wheeze. This often happens during play, when a pet is chasing a ball, stick or other toys.

But another common reason for a dog choking and coughing can be food if it was swallowed greedily or simply went “down the other throat.” A dog can choke on too large a piece of meat, as well as on a fish or meat bone that is stuck in the throat, or even on dry food.

Some dog breeds are distinguished by their special speed in eating food, regardless of the degree of their hunger - they always eat this way, trying to get enough as soon as possible. A very hungry animal or pet, which the owner leaves for a long time without food, greedily pounces on food as soon as it is given to him. And it is not surprising that it ends up in the windpipe or gets stuck.

A four-legged pet can even die from a bone stuck in the throat; in addition to a fish bone, this situation can also be caused by a piece of large meat muscle, large, albeit soft, cartilage, as well as tubular bones.

Both an adult and a puppy can choke on dry food. Particles of such food, being moistened with saliva, are compressed into too large a piece and simply get stuck in the throat. When coughing, the dog makes sounds as if it was choking, but cannot spit out the stuck lump. It is better to choose dry food in the form of large granules. The pet will be forced to chew them before swallowing them.

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Owners who keep several representatives of the dog family, as well as owners of shelters and kennels, know well what competition between animals is. Among the dogs there are many who try to quickly eat their own portion in order to have time to enjoy the contents of their neighbor’s bowl. This concept of behavior often represents a principle of survival, which manifests itself even when the dog is in favorable conditions and receives sufficient food. But with these smaller “eternally hungry” brothers, situations where they choke on food in a hurry happen quite often.

The cause of a cough can also be a cold or an inflammatory disease, as a result of which the dog does not choke on anything, but his throat is sore and severe dryness is felt, causing a cough, with the help of which the dog tries to relieve the irritation. In such cases, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease, and after recovery the cough will disappear.

Breed predisposition

Pets of dwarf breeds, as well as brachycephals, are characterized by a special structure of the pharynx and respiratory apparatus. This anomaly is considered congenital - due to the soft palate, a sharp sip or inhalation leads to contraction of the larynx. At this moment, the palatal tissues block the airways for a short moment, and the dog gasps and wheezes as if he was choking. Fortunately, the problem resolves itself after a few seconds.

Brachycephalic syndrome in four-legged animals is expressed in noisy breathing, up to wheezing or snoring in a calm state.

At night, the dog may snore quite loudly, he is forced to take special positions during sleep, and he may often experience shortness of breath and other symptoms.

Chest trauma

Most of the injuries that a four-legged friend receives in various negative situations - be it a bite from a larger individual, an accident involving a fall from a height or being hit by a car - are characterized by damage to the chest and the organs located in it. Such injuries can be accompanied by an accumulation of air in the animal’s chest, which also leads to breathing problems - the dog cannot breathe and in such a situation cannot be avoided without medical intervention. Sometimes it is enough to remove the air through a small puncture; in more complex cases, surgery is required.

Tracheal collapse

Breathing problems are not uncommon in small breeds such as Chihuahuas. Various developmental defects, congenital or acquired, lead to the fact that the soft tissues of the trachea become inflamed and softened. And then the dog coughs, as if choking, she experiences shortness of breath, and while eating, vomiting may occur. As a result, the dog may begin to refuse food and water.

The danger of tracheal collapse is that without timely help, the dog may even die from suffocation. In unadvanced cases of the disease, medications in the form of special nutritional supplements help, with the help of which the tracheal tissues are restored. If the situation is more complex, then surgery is performed.

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How to tell if your dog has a stuck bone

If you are concerned that your dog may have swallowed a splinter after being treated to a bone, monitor your dog closely as symptoms may vary.

If the fragment is stuck in the esophagus, the clinical picture will be as follows.

• vomiting with foam, food particles in the vomit;
• cough, signs of asphyxia;
• convulsive stretching of the neck;
• refusal of food and water, resulting in exhaustion and dehydration;
• swallowing dysfunction;
• obstruction of the esophagus (complete or partial);
• perforation of the esophagus.

When foreign objects get stuck in the mouth, the following symptoms can be observed:

• urge to vomit;
• labored breathing;
• salivation;
• lack of appetite;
• the animal rubs its muzzle with its paws.

If bone fragments are stuck in the larynx, then the signs will be:

• swelling and redness of the tissues of the larynx;
• hard breath;
• poor appetite or lack thereof;
• bleeding;
• body hyperthermia.

The fragments stuck in the small intestine or stomach can be judged by the following signs:

• extreme thirst;
• abdominal pain, flatulence;
• blood in stool;
• vomiting;
• constipation;
• complete refusal of food;
• bloating - in case of perforation of internal organs;
• deterioration of the condition.

If the dog does not receive timely assistance, there is a high probability of developing intestinal volvulus, necrosis, bleeding, peritonitis, sepsis and, as a result, death.

What to do if your dog is choking and coughing

Not only the condition, but sometimes the life of the pet depends on the owner’s reaction. Therefore, any owner should know what to do if the dog is choking and suffocating, since at this moment all hope is in the speed and clarity of his actions. The main thing is not to panic, it is better to imagine that there is a person in front of you and he needs to be saved. It’s good if there is someone else nearby who can dial the number of the veterinary clinic while you provide first aid to your pet.

Severe coughing and wheezing do not always indicate that something is stuck in the animal's mouth. This may be kennel cough, which is considered an infectious respiratory disease. A coughing attack can be caused by temperature changes, exercise or drinking, or it can also be spontaneous. With gastritis, gagging is not uncommon, which can easily be confused with a cough due to choking.

To establish why a dog cannot clear its throat, as if it is choking, it is better to offer it a treat - if everything is in order with the patency of the pharynx, then the dog will gladly swallow the treat.

You can manually open your pet's mouth and try to see if there is anything stuck in the throat. But even if there is nothing there, it is too early to rejoice - a piece of wood chips or bone could fall quite deeply into the throat and get stuck there.

If the cough is very severe, and this has never happened before, you should urgently call a doctor.

First aid for a dog if something is stuck in its throat

Before contacting a veterinarian if your dog has something stuck in its throat, you should immediately provide first aid:

• Open your mouth to examine the entire cavity. Much depends on what kind of foreign body was swallowed. Sometimes you can get the item out on your own, but in other cases veterinary help is required.
• You can use tweezers to remove an object stuck in your throat.
• A small dog needs to be picked up, placed upside down and tried to remove the object. In the case of large dogs, raising the hind legs can be very helpful.

If you manage to remove a foreign object, it is advisable to contact a veterinarian to evaluate the injury and possible treatment options. Ingestion of any object causes serious digestive problems in the animal. Some foods or plants cause nausea, which may include the following symptoms:

• apathy and lethargy;
• vomiting or diarrhea;
• increased salivation;
• lack of appetite and thirst.

First aid

If everything suggests that your pet has swallowed something and is trying to cough it up, then urgent action needs to be taken. First, make an effort to remove the stuck foreign body. If the pet is large, then you can reach into its mouth with your hand and try to pull out what is stuck.

But this is not so easy to do with a smaller animal - then you can try to detect the stuck body in the larynx by touch and, pushing it from below, try to push it upward so that the dog can spit it out.

It happens that a stuck object can be practically “knocked” out of the pet. If the dog is small, then he is lifted by the hind legs, at the same time squeezing the lower ribs and patted on the back. It is more difficult to perform such a manipulation with a large four-legged friend, but if you squeeze his ribs, you can provoke a reflex gag or an attempt to cough, which will remove the foreign body.

Another way is to clasp your hands (if the dog is large), or place your fist (if the pet is small) where the sternum ends, holding the animal with its back to you. From the sternum towards the mouth, several short pushes must be made so that the pressure on the diaphragm moves the object blocking the airways.

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In the most extreme cases, when it is not possible to get what is stuck, decisive action is required. An urgent tracheotomy will have to be done - the dog should be laid on its side and an incision made below the place where the object is stuck, the fascia is cut and the trachea is pierced. It is necessary to insert a tube into the throat and, having fixed it, immediately transport the animal to the clinic.

Main signs of suffocation

When keeping a dog, you need to be able to distinguish a cough from a choking attack. Difficulty breathing can be identified by the following symptoms:

• the dog actively coughs and chokes;
• breathing becomes hoarse, the animal coughs;
• frequent vomiting occurs, which does not end with the release of masses. She barks like she's choking;
• the animal cannot swallow food, water or its own saliva (spits it);
• the head and neck are in a lowered position, the pet groans and does not respond to sounds;
• the dog cannot stand on its feet, falls and does not get up on its own, constantly coughs and loses consciousness;
• blue mucous membrane;
• anxiety and panic attacks, the animal tries to expel the foreign body and strongly rubs its neck with its paws.

If the cough is not caused by a foreign object

It happens that the dog seems to be choking, although only the general symptoms are similar, and there are no objects stuck in its larynx. This can happen due to heart failure - when an enlarged heart causes swelling and hardening of the airways, causing the animal to have difficulty breathing or even suffocate. It is worth noting that the signs of suffocation in such situations are not expressed so clearly. But you shouldn’t neglect visiting a doctor.

The cause of an increasing cough can be pulmonary diseases, such as bronchitis. They differ in that initially the cough is whistling and hoarse. The cause of breathing problems can also be the specific structure of the pharynx, characteristic of some breeds, as well as the advanced age of the pet, for which hoarseness and coughing are the norm.

Causes of suffocation

More often than not, dogs begin to choke after eating quickly. It is not uncommon for a dog to eat grass and choke. A large piece of food, large dry food or a fish bone can cause choking. Common reasons why a foreign body gets stuck in the throat:

• Rush. Eating food quickly. This feature occurs in large and medium-sized breeds, with irregular and large meals, and the owner’s haste.
• Greed. The dog snorts and swallows the food without chewing it first. As a rule, this is observed in animals after prolonged hunger, in the presence of competition - when several pets eat from the same bowl.
• Ingestion of a foreign body. A similar feature is characteristic of representatives of large breeds. Due to the large size of their mouth, they can swallow socks, a ball or a large bone.
• Gluing dry food. If you are in a hurry or if there is excessive salivation, the pieces may stick together into a lump, and your pet may choke on them.

Dogs should absolutely not be fed tubular (bird) bones or fish without preliminary cutting. Sharp pieces of bone can get stuck in the gums, throat, or puncture the stomach. Against this background, an infection develops, which can be fatal. There is a risk of internal bleeding and painful death of the pet.

Precautionary measures

But every owner is recommended to leave their four-legged friend alone for long periods of time as little as possible. To eliminate the possibility of an accident at a moment when there is no one nearby who could provide assistance.

It is easier to prevent force majeure situations than to try to cope with negative consequences later. You should not feed your pet bones, especially tubular or fish bones. It is worth remembering that small objects pose a danger to the dog, as they can be swallowed by him. You should not give toys that he can chew or swallow parts of.

What can you do to prevent your dog from choking?

There are several methods of prevention. Useful tips:

• take short breaks between meals, make the daily norm for 3-4 servings;
• during feeding, provide the dog with silence and comfort;
• use special bowls with dividers for dogs that quickly swallow food and cough;
• do not give uncut fish or bird bones;
• choose toys depending on the size of the mouth and the dog itself;
• remove small objects from the animal’s access area;
• pay attention to an animal that is burping or grunting with its nose.

It is important to know the phone number of the nearest veterinary clinic in order to save time searching for contacts in an emergency.

When do you need to go to the vet urgently?

When no manipulations produce results, and the stuck foreign body cannot be removed, then it is necessary to go to the doctor without delay, if it is not possible to call him at home. It is also worth doing if the cause is not something swallowed, but the dog is wheezing and choking. And even if you managed to remove what your pet choked on, this does not guarantee that there is no other, smaller object inside or damage to the larynx. Therefore, the animal should definitely be taken to a veterinarian for examination and ultrasound.

Dog first aid technique

If you notice that your pet is wheezing, behavior has changed and vomiting is observed, you should take action as soon as possible. First of all, examine the oral cavity for the presence of a stuck foreign body. Start actively stroking your throat with your palm to relieve an attack of nausea (often a foreign object comes out with vomiting). If the dog choked and lost consciousness, perform resuscitation yourself.

Action algorithm:

1. Place the dog on its right side on a flat surface, the floor.
2. Inspect the oral cavity for the presence of foreign objects, lay your tongue along the jaw.
3. Place your hands on your sternum and press until you hear the sound of air escaping.
4. Repeat the manipulation until the animal’s natural breathing returns to normal.

For small dogs up to 16 kg, mouth-to-nose artificial respiration can be performed. To do this, place the dog on the right side, extend the tongue to the incisors. Close your mouth and begin to slowly inhale air into your nose until your chest rises slightly. Release the animal and let the air come out on its own. Repeat the manipulation at intervals of 3-5 seconds. The jaw must be closed during the process.

Help with swallowing sharp objects

If the cause of choking is swallowing a sharp object, it is important to induce the swallowing reflex. To do this, you can give a small piece of meat or bread crumb, or perform a manual throat massage. Emergency measures if there is no result:

1. Firmly fix the dog's body, grab it with your hands by the skin between the ears.
2. Pull back your lower jaw to expose your teeth.
3. Examine the oral cavity using a flashlight.
4. Remove the foreign object with your fingers or tweezers.

You cannot push the bone into the esophagus - this leads to mechanical damage to the tissue and death.

Help with swallowing round objects

If a dog is choking on a small ball, it should be pushed out of the larynx. To do this, feel for the object, press on it from the bottom, trying to push it up. Large pets can be helped in the following ways:

1. Stand behind the dog, clasp the body with your hands at the junction of the abdomen and sternum.
2. Press your body forward and upward.
3. Repeat until the ball or ball comes out.

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Usually 3-5 repetitions are enough. Small breeds should be held on your lap with their back pressed against their belly. Place your hand on your sternum and hold your head. Press firmly on the area, trying to move the object towards the larynx area.