Choking & Airway Obstruction
Critical
Choking occurs when an object becomes lodged in the throat, blocking the airway. This is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate intervention.
Signs of Choking:
- Pawing frantically at the mouth
- Gagging, retching, or coughing forcefully
- Difficulty breathing, gasping for air
- Blue or pale gums
- Collapse
First Aid for Choking:
- Check the Mouth: Carefully open your pet's mouth and look for a foreign object. If you can see it and can easily grasp it with tweezers or pliers, remove it. Be careful not to push it further down.
- Heimlich-like Manoeuvre:
- Small Pets: Hold your pet with their back against your chest, and perform firm, quick thrusts with a fist just below the rib cage.
- Large Pets: Stand behind your dog and wrap your arms around them. Make a fist and place it just behind the ribs. Perform firm, quick thrusts inward and upward.
- Back Blows: Give several sharp blows with the palm of your hand between the shoulder blades.
- If Unconscious: Begin Pet CPR (see CPR section).
CRITICAL - SEEK VET CARE
Even if you dislodge the object, a veterinary visit is essential to check for internal damage. If you cannot dislodge the object, transport to the vet immediately.