Dog Heimlich Maneuver: Know the Steps

Naturally curious, dogs chew and swallow anything they get their paws on. They gulp food, rip toys, and swallow clothing and random objects. However, not everything that goes in comes out easily. Sometimes, these items obstruct a dog’s airway or become stuck in the esophagus, causing panic in both the dog and its owner.

Choking can be a life-threatening emergency, so it's vital that pet parents are prepared to react. The dog Heimlich maneuver is effective in removing an obstruction from the airway, but it’s wise to also have a backup plan.

Prevention is the top priority, but accidents happen. Therefore, being able to recognize the signs of choking and knowing how to manage the situation when the worst happens is a critical component of being a dog mom or dad.

How to Tell If a Dog Is Choking 

Understanding the difference between a dog who is choking and one who is coughing for a different reason helps determine your course of action.  Dogs cough from various illnesses, including kennel cough, heartworm disease, collapsing trachea, and pneumonia. Other dogs reverse sneeze, which generally sounds scarier than it is. A dog may also cough in an attempt to vomit, so while many of these conditions require veterinary diagnosis and treatment, when a dog is coughing and unable to clear an obstruction, intervention must be immediate. Here are key signs to watch for:

• Pawing at the mouth: Pawing at the face is a common sign that something is stuck.
• Gagging or retching: Dogs who exhibit these behaviors without coughing something up are typically in distress.
• Excessive drooling: Increased saliva production may be the body’s reaction to help clear the blockage, so drooling may be excessive.
• Difficulty breathing or gasping for air: If a dog suddenly struggles to breathe, wheezes, or gasps for air, this could indicate his airway is blocked.
• Blue or pale gums: Dogs should have pink gums except for certain breeds where dark pigment prevails: Chow Chows, Sharpeis, Dobermans, and Newfoundlands, to name a few. If a dog’s gums turn blue or pale, this is typically due to a lack of oxygen and/or circulation and, therefore a life-threatening situation.
• Collapse or unconsciousness: In severe cases, a choking dog may lose consciousness and stop breathing, requiring Rescue Breathing and CPR to save his life before veterinary care is available.

Step-by-Step Guide: What to Do if a Dog is Choking

Performing the Heimlich Maneuver on a Small Dog (under 30 lbs.)

When using the dog Heimlich maneuver, you thrust on the diaphragm (a muscle that separates the chest from the abdominal cavity), creating a force to move an obstruction upward and hopefully out of the dog’s mouth.

1. Look in the Mouth:

• Carefully open the dog’s mouth to look for any visible obstruction. Place your hand over his muzzle, folding the gums over his canine teeth with your index finger and thumb. Never reach in until you see how and where the object is situated. If you can safely, use forceps, tweezers, or your fingers to remove the object, taking great care not to push it further down the dog’s throat or cause injury to his mouth.

2. Perform Abdominal Thrusts (aka dog Heimlich Maneuver):

• If the dog is light enough to pick up, lean forward with your body parallel to the floor. Pull the dog into your chest; do not do so if you are standing upright, as you will allow the obstruction to slide further down the throat.
• Locate the triangle formed by the dog’s ribcage. If the dog is a toy breed or a puppy, place your fingertips in the soft part of the chest at the bottom of the ribs. If the dog is large enough that your hand won’t cover his abdomen, use your dominant fist covered by your opposite hand in this location instead.
• Holding the dog firmly against you, apply 5 upward thrusts on the diaphragm to expel the object.
• If the obstruction is not expelled from the dog’s mouth, visually check to see if it has moved into the throat, allowing you to remove it. If you can’t do so safely or don’t see it, repeat thrusts.

If unsuccessful after 2 – 3 rounds, move on to Chest Thrusts.

Performing the Heimlich Maneuver on a Medium to Large Dog (over 30 lbs.)

Follow the steps for smaller dogs, but instead of lifting the dog, keep him in his normal four-on-the-floor position, head slightly downward if possible, and kneel or stand behind him. Use your fists to perform abdominal thrusts.

Conscious Dog: Chest Thrusts 

1. With the dog on the floor or tabletop, place 2 – 3 fingers on each side of his chest; you may use the heel of both hands if they are not too large relative to the side of the dog’s ribcage. Gently bend the elbow of one of the dog’s front legs and pull it back until it touches her chest. This marks the spot for chest thrusts.
2. Perform 5 chest thrusts, squeezing air out of the dog’s lungs to move the obstruction into, and potentially out of, the mouth.

Unconscious Dog: Chest Thrusts 

1. Place the unconscious dog on his side on the floor or other firm surface.
2. Mark the location of the thrust by gently bending his upper front leg back at the elbow until it touches the chest.
3. Thrust 5 times using several fingers or the heel of one hand, depending on the size of your hand vs. the dog. Only thrust at that small target zone over his ribcage; do not allow your hand to cover the dog’s abdomen.

NOTES: A dog’s ribcage is quite flexible, making fractures rare, and… Although this may look like CPR chest compressions, it is not. Your goal is to squeeze air out of the lungs, not to compress the heart.

1. Look in the dog’s mouth, gently pulling his tongue forward just past his canine teeth, to observe and potentially remove the obstruction. If you cannot, repeat chest thrusts.
2. If unsuccessful after 2 – 3 attempts, administer Rescue Breathing & CPR and head to immediate veterinary care, calling on the way to alert the clinic.

Your quick and appropriate actions may not only save a life but may make a difference in the dog’s recovery. Prolonged choking can require oxygen therapy or other intensive treatments.

Unconscious Dog:  eXternal eXtraction Technique (XXT)

This technique is only for choking situations in which there is a complete airway obstruction caused by a ball or other smooth round object; this relatively new technique may be a lifesaver.

1. Turn the dog on his back, straddling behind the front legs according to the animal’s size, and position the dog’s head in an “in-line position” with the airway parallel to the floor. In other words, keep the neck and head straight in line with the spine. Identify landmarks:
2. Make an open diamond shape with your hands, and place your thumbs on either side of the trachea below the ball. Grip the “V” of the jaw and....
3. Push down and up against the ball with your thumbs making a J-stroke until it ejects from the mouth.

Techniques like these are best learned in a Pet First Aid & CPR class where you can gain confidence to perform them properly.

What to Do After a Choking Incident 

Monitor the Dog: Even if your dog appears fine, closely observe for 24 hours or until you can schedule a vet visit. Watch for signs of distress, throat irritation, or difficulty breathing. Changes in behavior may indicate complications. 

Visit the Vet: Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to check for internal injuries or complications that may have occurred during the choking incident. 

Watch for Signs of Pneumonia: Aspiration Pneumonia can develop if fluids or foreign particles enter the lungs. Watch for coughing, difficulty breathing, fever, or unusual lethargy. By taking these steps, you can ensure your dog’s health and well-being after a choking incident.

Preventing Choking in Dogs 

Not having to perform the Heimlich for dogs to manage a choking incident is best, so follow these steps to prevent accidents from happening.

Select toys that are appropriate for your dog’s size. Balls that are too small can easily slip down the throat. Examine the toys regularly to make sure the wear and tear hasn’t caused pieces to come loose that could be swallowed.

Avoid giving bones, rawhide chews, or anything that easily breaks into chunks and could result in choking.

Provide slow-feeder bowls for dogs who gulp food or feed out of Kong-type toys to slow down the pace. A fun DIY feeder requires a muffin tin and tennis balls. Divide your dog’s meal into the cups and place a tennis ball on top. The dog then needs to remove the balls before consuming one small portion at a time.

Get down on all fours to look at life from your dog’s perspective. Anything on the floor is fair game: coins, rubberbands, bottle caps and socks for instance. Keeping your house tidy and free of dropped items may prevent accidents from happening.

Teach your dog commands and refresh them often. “Drop it” or “leave it” may save your dog and you the distress of going through a choking episode.

When to Seek Veterinary Care for a Choking Dog

Seek emergency veterinary care if: You are unable to remove the obstruction.

• If the dog is or was unconscious at any point during the choking episode.
• If there are signs of throat injury, such as bleeding, swelling, or excessive drooling.
• If the dog continues to have difficulty breathing, coughing, or wheezing even after the object has been removed.

Conclusion

When a dog is choking, know what to do is a pet parent’s priority. By learning the dog Heimlich and other choking management techniques, you can handle whatever life throws your way.  Additionally, knowing when to react by recognizing the signs of choking in dogs can save a life, and may also contribute to a quicker recovery for your canine patient.  Always seek veterinary care after a choking incident to ensure no complications arise. Practice pet safety by choosing toys and food wisely, slow down the pace when eating, keep a tidy house and teach the “leave it” command. By doing so, you can participate in your dog’s health and well-being.

Images by Yana Vakulina from Pixabay, Gentle Dog Trainers from Pixabay and Sunny-dog Ink