How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver on Dog

 How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver on Dog

 What Is The Heimlich Maneuver?

The Heimlich maneuver is a first aid method for choking in people, dogs, and other animals.It involves thrusting into the abdominal area and can save your dog’s life.

How to perform the Heimlich maneuver on Dog

 Performing the Heimlich Maneuver on Small Dogs

Firmly but gently pull your dog into your lap and roll them onto their back, then using the palm of your hand apply pressure right beneath the rib cage and push firmly inwards and upwards 5 times in a thrusting motion. Roll your dog back onto their side and check their mouth for the food or object that was causing the issue.

Performing the Heimlich Maneuver on Medium and Large Dogs

While your dog is standing, wrap your arms around them and join your hand at the base of their abdomen. Then make a fist with your hands and firmly and swiftly push up and forward five times in a thrusting motion – much like you would perform the maneuver on a human.

By using this maneuver the blockage should clear. There may be some remains of food from the blockage in your dog’s mouth and so you should ensure that you check their mouth for any remains.

If your dog is laying on the floor, place one hand on the dog’s back and use the other hand to push or squeeze their abdomen upwards and forwards towards the spine, then check your dog’s mouth for the offending object.

After Your Dog’s Throat is Clear:

Regardless of whether you have managed to remove the object from your dog’s mouth, If your dog went without oxygen for any length of time hospitalization may be recommended.

Your dog may have suffered an injury to their throat and mouth during the process of choking and coughing. Your vet may recommend a bronchoscopy to check your dog’s throat for damage.

How to Prevent Future Choking

To prevent chances of your dog choking in the future, make sure to keep an eye on your dog when they are playing with anything that could be a potential choking hazard such as toys or bones.

Feeding your dog a food that is formulated specifically for your dog’s size can help to prevent choking, particularly for small breeds. Nonetheless, it is always a good idea to monitor your dog when they are eating.

If there are children in the household, be sure that toys are kept out of your dog’s reach. Children’s toys can pose a potential choking risk.

When choosing toys for your dog, be sure to choose a toy that is sturdy enough to withstand your dog’s level of chewing. If your dog is a more aggressive chewer be sure to look for extra-tough chew toys designed to withstand the pressure without breaking into pieces that could get lodged in your dog’s throat.

 Heimlich Maneuver for Dogs

If the object is not able to be physically removed with your fingers, perform the Heimlich maneuver:

1. Stand behind your dog or lift your dog so that their spine is against your chest.
2. Wrap your arms around the animal under the ribs.
3. Make a fist with one hand and cup your other hand around your fist.
4. Perform five rapid thrusts into the belly, just under the ribs, by thrusting your fist into the belly and up toward the ribs.
5. If this does not dislodge the object, give five sharp blows to your dog’s back between the shoulder blades.
6. Repeat this process until the object is dislodged. Remember to periodically check to see if the object has dislodged enough to be removed with your fingers.

Heimlich Maneuver for Large Dogs

For large dogs that are standing, perform the Heimlich maneuver as described above. You can also try lifting their hind legs in the air like a wheelbarrow to encourage the object to slide forward.

For large dogs that are lying down on their side or that cannot be lifted up against your chest, place a hand on the dog’s back while using the other hand to squeeze the abdomen in and upward. Check the mouth to see if the object is dislodged enough to grab with your fingers.

Heimlich Maneuver for Small Dogs

For smaller dogs, in addition to the Heimlich maneuver described above, you can suspend your dog by the hips/thighs and carefully swing your dog from side to side. Check the mouth to see if the object is dislodged enough to grab with your fingers.

How to Prevent Future Choking in Dogs

Not all accidents can be prevented, but consider these causes of choking in dogs and ways you can prevent them from occurring:

• Pay attention to the size of kibble. Some dry foods designed for large dogs or for treating dental tartar are too large for a small dog.
• Baby or child toys should not be accessible to dogs, especially when they are unattended.
• Dog toys can be choking hazards if they are too small for the size of dog or have pieces that can break off. Choose toys that are size-appropriate, sturdy, and do not easily break into pieces..
• Dog treats like rawhide can become a choking hazard once your dog has chewed it to a smaller size. They may need to be taken from your dog when they become too small. Never give edible chew treats unsupervised.

Paying attention to what your dog eats and the types of treats they have is important to avoid a choking situation. However, accidents happen so it’s critical to know how to perform the Heimlich maneuver as it can be life-saving in an emergency event.

Signs of Dog Choking

How can you tell if a dog is choking? Sometimes it’s more obvious than others. If your dog’s collar has gotten caught in the Venetian blinds, for example, release them immediately or cut away the object binding them. If the dog is awake and aware but still in distress, head to the vet at once. The windpipe could have gotten damaged, the dog could have bitten their tongue or have abrasions, or have some other injuries from trying to free itself. If your dog is unconscious, call the vet and begin CPR.

If an object is in your dog’s windpipe, they might make choking sounds or paw at their muzzle and drool. They might rub their face on the floor, cough, and gag.

However, dogs often cough and retch due to tracheitis or heart disease. If you come upon your dog coughing and don’t know if it’s because of illness or choking, check the skin and mucous membranes. If they’re blue, your dog likely has something lodged in their airway.

When dogs are choking, they display many of the same signs as when humans choke, including:

• Coughing: If your dog is dry coughing, it could mean there’s something in their throat.
• Retching: Dogs may try to make themselves vomit when there’s something stuck in their throat.
• Drooling: A choking dog may drool because they can’t swallow.
• Whining: Dogs become fearful when there’s something stuck in their throat, which could cause whining. If the obstruction is causing pain, your dog may become more vocal.
• Difficulty breathing: Dog wheezing may indicate trouble breathing because something is stuck in their windpipe.
• Panicking: Dogs naturally panic when they can’t breathe, so your dog might pace around or beg for attention when they’re choking.
• Rubbing their face on the ground: Dogs may try to rub their face on the ground to remove the obstruction.
• Excessive pawing at the mouth: In an attempt to remove the obstruction on their own, dogs may paw at their mouth or throat.
• Blue lips and tongue: If your dog’s airway is completely blocked, they may not be able to make any sounds,¹ so you may notice a change in their appearance. For example, their lips and tongue may turn blue.

Symptoms of Choking:

• Bulging eyes
• Running around in circles
• Acting frantic, disoriented or wild
• Pawing at his mouth
• Constantly coughing forcefully
• Gagging
• Drooling
• Gasping for air or wheezing
• Attempting to vomit
• Whimpering
• In obvious discomfort
• Blue or white lips or gums

If your dog is choking, they’ll show some signs of distress even if they’re not making sounds. For example, they may rub their faces on the floor if there’s something caught in their windpipe.³ If your dog is unresponsive or unconscious, it could mean they’re having difficulty breathing.

Emergency Response

Don’t panic. If your dog is awake and aware, they’re likely panicking and might bite or hurt you if thrashing around. Here’s what to do:

• Restrain the dog—do not muzzle them.
• Carefully pry open the jaws, using both hands (one on the upper and one on the lower mandible), and fold the dog’s lips over their teeth so that there’s a layer between them and your fingers.
• Peer inside, using a small flashlight (like the one on your phone) if one is readily available. Do a mouth sweep—with your index finger, hook or pull out small objects that are easily removed, such as bones or sticks.
• If you see a small object that is impossible to remove with a mouth sweep, such as food or rawhide, take or break it apart with large tweezers or small tongs. Do not push at it, as it could become more firmly lodged in the throat.
• If you see a large object, such as a ball or toy, press your thumbs underneath both sides of the dog’s jaw near the base of the throat and press upwards. This might dislodge it.
• Don’t forget to check the roof of the mouth, as often sticks or bones can become lodged across that area
• If you don’t see an object, do not insert anything down your dog’s throat, (including your hand), as that could hurt your dog.
• If none of these options work and your dog is still in distress or unconscious, take your pet to the vet ASAP!
• Only move on to the Heimlich maneuver if you can’t get to the vet in time and your pet appears to be gasping for last breaths.

Heimlich Maneuver for Small Canines

There are two methods:

• Pick up the dog and hold them with their back to your front. Find the soft spot on their abdomen under their ribs. Using the thumb side of your fist, gently thrust inwards and upwards.
• Lay the dog on their back. Find the soft spot on the abdomen under the ribs. Using the heel of your hand, gently press inwards and upwards.

Heimlich Maneuver for Large Canines

Note: Only attempt the Heimlich maneuver if you do not have enough time to make it to the vet. Ideally, have a vet on the phone to help walk you through.

There are two methods:

• Stand the dog on their hind legs and hold them like a person with their back to your front. Find the soft spot on the abdomen under the ribs. Using your fist, thrust inwards and upwards.
• Lay the dog on their side. Find the soft spot on their abdomen under the ribs. Supporting them from the back, press a fist upwards and inwards towards their spine.

After the Heimlich:

For any size or breed of dog, after using the Heimlich, place your dog on their side. Do a mouth sweep (see instructions and precautions above) to remove dislodged objects.

If your dog is not breathing, perform CPR.

Take any dog that has experienced a Heimlich maneuver or any form of choking to the vet for assessment, especially for chest and throat injuries.

Susceptible Dogs

Some dogs are more prone to choking than others. Those who wolf down their food without chewing it—especially rescue dogs—might choke on their meals or treats. Dogs who have obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders and chew their toys and balls into pieces could easily swallow them. Lastly, dogs who retrieve and gnaw on rubber balls over and over often inadvertently wedge them in their throats.

A choking dog is far more common than owners believe. Knowing basic signs and techniques will save canine lives.

Steps to take to perform the Heimlich maneuver:

1. Open your dog’s mouth and look for the object and remove it if you can easily get hold of it.
2. Place your thumb on one side of the upper jaw and the rest of your hand on the opposite side of the upper jaw to hold it in place.
3. Push down on the lower jaw with your other hand keeping your index finger free to sweep the back of the mouth.
4. Remove the object if you can see it.
5. If you cannot remove the object and your dog is small enough to hold upside down, turn him upside down with his face away from your body and placing your arms around his lower abdomen and gently sway him for 30 seconds.
6. If that maneuver didn’t work, place him on a hard surface on his side with his head down and hindquarters up. A rolled towel or small pillow placed under his hindquarters will help to keep his hindquarters in the elevated position if you have time to get one or have someone with you that can get it for you.
7. Small dogs: Placing one hand on the dogs back and the other under the center of his rib cage press in, thrusting upward, four or five times in a row. Repeat this thrusting maneuver 2-5 times or until the dog stops choking.
8. Large dogs: If you cannot place your dog on his side then kneel or stand behind him, and place both hands at the bottom of the dog’s ribcage and press in firmly, thrusting upwards four or five times.
9. Repeat this thrusting maneuver 2-5 times or until the dog stops choking. If your dog is still choking or lost consciousness while choking, immediately seek emergency veterinary help.

How To Perform The Heimlich Maneuver On Your Dog

The Heimlich maneuver on dogs is slightly different from what it is for humans because dogs are much smaller. Therefore, the Heimlich maneuver should only be used if you don’t have time to make it to an emergency vet and your dog is struggling to breathe. If possible, you can have a vet on the phone to help walk you through the process. Here’s how to give the Heimlich to a dog, depending on their size.

The Heimlich Maneuver For Small Dogs

There are two methods for how to give a small dog the Heimlich maneuver:

• Method 1: Holding your dog with their back to your front like you would when giving a human the Heimlich maneuver, find the soft spot on your dog’s abdomen, just under the ribs. Then, using your fist, thrust in and up on their abdomen.
• Method 2: Lay your dog on their back and apply pressure to the abdomen under the ribs using the heel of your hand. Again, press inwards and up on their body.

Repeat the steps if necessary. If your dog coughs up the obstruction, you can remove it from their mouth.

The Heimlich Maneuver For Large Dogs

The two methods for giving large dogs the Heimlich is similar to giving it to small dogs. However, you should never pick a large dog up.

Method 1: Stand your dog on their hind legs with their back against your front. Then, find the soft spot on the abdomen under the ribs and thrust inwards and upwards.³

Method 2: Lay your dog on their side and press inwards and upwards on their abdomen. You can also hold them from behind.

You can repeat the steps and remove the obstruction once it comes out. However, never try to pick a large dog up, as this could injure both of you and cause more harm to the dog.

After The Heimlich Maneuver

If you remove the obstruction from your dog in time, they should be able to breathe normally again. However, if they’re not breathing or responsive, administer CPR as soon as possible.³ You should take your dog to the vet no matter what, even if they’re acting completely normal again, because objects stuck in the throat could have caused injuries.

Additionally, dogs that have not gotten a proper amount of oxygen to their brain may require hospitalization.⁴ Your dog could also have bitten their tongue, or they still might have a small piece of the obstruction stuck in their throat.

How To Prevent Choking

While knowing how to perform the Heimlich on dogs is a great first aid method to have available in emergencies, it’s not something you should rely on. Instead, you should try to prevent your dog from choking in the first place. Here are a few tips to help:

• Puppy-proof your home: Before bringing home a new dog, you should puppy-proof your home by keeping garbage off the floor and hiding choking hazards. Dogs, especially puppies, will eat just about anything, so try to keep your home as clean and tidy as possible to help keep them safe.
• Supervise playtime: Your dog should never be left alone during playtime because a destructive chewer can destroy even the most durable toys. No dog toy is indestructible, so your dog could break them into smaller pieces and accidentally eat them. Additionally, you should choose toys that are the proper size for them. Giving a big dog a small toy can result in choking.
• Choose the right food for their size and cut up big chunks of food for them: Dog food comes in many different sizes, and even your dog’s food can be a choking hazard. Small dogs should eat small kibble to prevent choking, while large dogs can eat larger kibble. Additionally, if you share pet-safe food with them, chop it up into smaller pieces in case your dog tries to swallow it whole.

 

How To Give A Dog The Heimlich Maneuver: FAQs

Can the Heimlich hurt dogs?

If done improperly, the Heimlich could hurt dogs. For example, if you press on their ribs, you could cause bruising or broken bones. The Heimlich can also cause internal injuries because of the level of force needed to expel the obstruction. Therefore, this life-saving method should only be used when you don’t have time to make it to the vet and are worried about your dog’s life.

Does water help a choking dog?

Yes, water can help a choking dog, but it depends on what’s stuck in their mouths. For example, small pieces of food or kibble may be dissolved faster when your dog drinks water. Additionally, water may give the obstruction the extra gentle push it needs to go down your dog’s throat. Unfortunately, water doesn’t always work.

Why does my dog keep choking on nothing?

If your dog is displaying signs of choking, but there’s nothing stuck in their throat, they may not be choking. Instead, you might hear coughing or wheezing from allergies, reverse sneezing, or an underlying medical illness.

Compiled  & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)

 

Image-Courtesy-Google

 

Reference-On Request.