It may not be something you ever think about, but it probably should be. Do you know what to do if your dog swallows that chew bone and it gets stuck in his throat? What if he steals a chicken bone off the counter?
Knowing how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on your dog could save their life.
Here are the key things to do if you notice your dog is chocking or not breathing:
- Remain calm. Stress will just stress out your dog (if they are conscious) and will inhibit you from thinking and acting straight.
- Contact your emergency vet and/or 911 (in cases where you can’t move your pet yourself).
- If you can see the object, try to pull it out before performing the Heimlich.
- If you can’t see it, or it’s too far down to grasp, try performing the Heimlich.
The following video shows how to do the Heimlich on large dog:
On a small dog (or cat!):
Keep these videos saved on your computer and have your entire family watch them. Practice on stuffed animals. Have you ever had to perform the Heimlich on a dog before? Tell us your story in the comments.
