What to do if your dog chokes
With your fingers or a pair of long nosed pliers, carefully pull the tongue out.
IF your dog is choking, one or more of the following signs may be evident:
- Retching;
- Mouth open (dog does not appear to be able to close it);
- Saliva dribbling from the mouth;
- Dog clawing at the mouth with its front paws
These signs often indicate that a foreign body in struck in the throat, or across the roof of the mouth and between the teeth.
If the dog is breathing reasonably freely, take the dog to your veterinarian immediately.
If the dog is on the verge of collapsing and its tongue is going blue, wedge something (such as a rubber handle of a screwdriver) between the molar teeth on one side of the mouth. Quickly inspect between the teeth, the roof of the mouth and in particular the back of the throat for a foreign body.
With your fingers or a pair of long nosed pliers, carefully pull the tongue out.
This may reveal a foreign body over the back of the tongue. Remove it with the pliers or, if the dog cannot close its mouth and bite your finger, get your finger behind it and lever it out. The same applies to a foreign body in the roof of the mouth.
If you are unable to remove the foreign body, and providing that you can lift the dog, take hold of its hindlegs to hold it upside down. Shake it vigorously to dislodge the foreign body and clear the airway. This action often stimulates the dog to breathe.
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