How To Save a Choking Dog's Life - Page 1

Every year, many dogs choke to death. The most common cause is swallowing a toy, such as a ball. Here's what to do if this happens.

1) NEVER let your dog play with a ball that's small enough to swallow. The most common cause of choking in the GSD and other similar sized breeds is the tennis ball, or balls of a similar size. If the dog can get the ball to the back of its mouth, it's too small to be safe. This is exactly the size of ball used by the popular throwing sticks, such as Chuk-It.

You can increase the safety factor with the balls you use by putting a rope on them. This will give you something to hang onto to pull the ball out if your dog DOES try to swallow it.

2) The brain can only survive without oxygen for about 3 or 4 minutes before it begins to die. Do not bother taking the dog to the vet. It will be TOO LATE by the time you get there, unless the vet is just around the corner.

3) Going after the ball with your fingers is a waste of time. A dog's saliva is very slippery, and you will only push it further down the throat.  Go at the ball from the OUTSIDE. Put your fingers underneath the dog's jaw. Find the bulge that indicates where the ball is and push it forward until it's far enough into the mouth that you can remove it.

4) If this doesn't work, because the object is too small, or has gone down too far, try the Heimlich maneuver, just like they use for humans. Here's how to do it on a dog:


http://www.seefido.com/html/what_to_do_if_your_dog_is_chok.htm

There is a video I originally posted above that shows a person putting a roll of tape in the dog's mouth, to prevent it from biting, then working a soda straw in behind the obstruction, so it can be pulled free. I removed that link, because a dog is most likely to choke when you're over at the local dog park, and by the time you find a roll of tape and a straw, it will be dead.

However, the video makes a good point about why trying to remove the ball with your fingers doesn't work. The ball forms an airtight seal in the airway. If you try to pry it loose with your fingers, you're working against suction as well as trying to get a grip on something that is round and slippery. If you slip a straw in behind the ball, it breaks the suction and makes the ball easier to remove. It might be worth a try, if you can find a straw, and are having trouble getting the ball out of the mouth after trying the other methods I mentioned above.

Also, if the dog is choking to the point of passing out, it is probably too late, but if you CAN safely lift the dog up by its back legs/pelvis & invert it. OR-- Sitting down & draping the dog over your legs so the head, neck, & chest are pointing down, & give a couple blows (with the heel of your hand) on the back. Better to try to prevent it from happening in the first place...........jackie harris