Cats and dogs are at risk of choking if they swallow a piece of food or a treat without chewing or if they are playing with a toy or household object that breaks apart and gets lodged in their throat or airway. As a pet owner, it’s crucial to be able to recognize the signs of a choking pet, know how to do the Heimlich maneuver, and get them the emergency services they need to save their life. Here is how you can help your pet if they are choking.
Protecting Your Pet from Common Choking Hazards
Your pet’s food, toys, treats, and even common household objects can be a choking hazard. The most common choking hazards for pets are:
- Animal bones
- Rawhide, nylon, rubber, or plastic toys
- Yarn, string, rope, tassels, rubber bands, hair ties, twist ties, bottle caps, paper clips, and small pieces of fabric
- Kids’ toys like small balls, dolls, and stuffed animals
- Food like carrots, hot dogs, bread, crackers, grapes, and chunks of meat
Recognizing Signs of Choking or Breathing Problems in Pets
Your cat or dog will display some combination of these symptoms if they are choking or can’t breathe:
- Gagging, retching, or wheezing
- Trying unsuccessfully to breathe in or inhale
- Acting like they are coughing or wheezing but without any sound
- Coughing excessively
- Drooling or salivating excessively
- Rubbing their head or mouth on the floor or objects
- Acting frantic or distressed
- Asking you for help
- Pawing at their mouth
- Losing consciousness and/or having a seizure
Knowing How to Help a Choking Pet
If your pet is choking, you must act quickly to prevent injury or death. Even a few minutes without oxygen can cause major damage. If your cat or dog is choking, you should try to open their mouth to see if you can find the cause of the blockage. If you can reach it, use a wide sweeping motion with your finger to move it out of your pet’s mouth. Do not push it or pull it, as you may cause it to get lodged further in their throat. If you can’t dislodge it, try performing the Heimlich maneuver.
Lay your pet on their back and use the palm of your hand to press firmly on the soft spot underneath your pet’s ribcage. Use a firm, upward, and inward thrusting motion to try to force air into their chest. Do this at least five times and then roll your pet on their side and check their mouth to determine if the object has been dislodged.
Visiting a Pet Urgent Care Facility if Your Pet is Choking
If you have cleared your pet’s airway and they are breathing normally again, you still need to take them to their normal veterinarian or an emergency pet hospital. If the Heimlich maneuver was unsuccessful or you couldn’t locate the cause of the blockage, you should take your pet to the closest emergency pet clinic right away.
At Tucson Veterinary Urgent Care, we offer pet urgent care services in Tucson, AZ. We are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week and 365 days a year. Please call ahead for triage and to let us know that you are on your way. We also offer online check-in services, and accept walk-in patients.
