April is Pet First Aid Month and over the past several weeks we’ve written articles on pet first aid and what to do during a pet emergency. Now is a good time to educate yourself on what to do if you ever find your pet in distress. Today we’re going to share another tip with you about choking that we hope you pass along to everyone that you know.
We’ve all ate out at a restaurant or visited a school cafeteria and seen the signs that tell us what to do when someone chokes, but what about your dog? Would you know what to do when you notice your dog choking? Today we’re going to share some information with you that will further help you if you find your dog choking on something.
Dogs aren’t picky about what they put into their mouth, so consider them to be just like small children, who taste things as they explore their world.
If you find that your dog is choking on something, try to remain calm. You can make the situation worse if you’re upset because your dog will already be in a panic.
Dogs that are choking might start to paw at their mouth as if they are trying to remove the object that is suffocating them. If this is the case with your dog, then you’ll need to do the following:
For a small dog that is choking you’ll need to carefully turn your dog upside down while applying pressure to his abdomen, just below his ribcage.
If you have a larger dog that is choking it’s best not to lift him because you may end doing more harm than good. Instead of lifting him, try the following:
If the object was stuck in your dogs’ throat for any length of time your dog might need to spend a few days under observation at the veterinarian. He or she will check for damage to your dogs’ throat as well as any brain damage that may have occurred due to lack of oxygen.
As mentioned above, the best way to prevent your dog from choking is to keep an eye on him when he’s chewing on something. Avoid things that swell when they become wet, like sticks or water swollen toys. Be sure, as well, to cut up large chunks of food so your dog doesn’t choke while he’s eating.
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admin April 27, 2018 Blog - Tags: canine, choke, choking, choking hazard, dog, dog choking, pets, puppy