Choking

[Lynlovesdogs]

Just out of curiosity, I know that everyone says we should watch our babies when they're scarfing down bones.. but what is the correct protocol if they suddenly swallowed one whole.

touch wood it never happens to me but.. just in case

[Lynlovesdogs]

hmm.. no one can offer me advice in case it happens?

anyone?

or has anyone had such an experience?

[Sandra777]

Well if they SWALLOW it there's nothing you need to do.

If it gets STUCK then you can try retrieving it with your fingers if the dog is fairly calm (don't try it if the dog is nearly unconcious or freaking out - you will get bitten & it won't be the dog's fault).

Try sticking your finger in the side of their mouth, all the way to the back on the outside of the gum then flick the obstruction loose with the end of your finger inserted into the mouth behind the back teeth. You might still get bitten but if you stick your hand right between all their incisors and canines then you will likely get bitten much more severely.

You can try picking the dog up under the stomach, directly behind the ribs, holding it head-lowered and sort of shaking, building up to a jerk somewhat like the human heimlich manoevre. For a small dog you could try holding it completely upside down (not by the back legs, hold around the pelvis) and shake firmly but only up and down - side to side shaking could damage the neck/spine. Generally picking them up (or half up if a large dog) and tipping them dislodges most things.

You can try dropping them on their side on the ground from 4-6 inches (or less for a tiny dog) if the tipping doesn't work - basically forcing the air out of their lungs by 'dropping' them on their ribcage.

You can try removing the obstruction with a pair of needle-nose pliers or similar. This is likely to end up with the dog breaking some teeth if it bites the pliers, but that's better than a dead dog.

If your dog starts choking it's a really really scary thing if you're not mentally prepared - but panicing only freaks the dog out more and makes it even more difficult to manage, so do your best to stay calm. Remember you have 1-2 minutes to act which doesn't sound like much but is a lot more than you'd think when you're in an emergency situation.

[Staffyluv]

My stafford used to get pigs ears and raw hide chews until I had to retrieve them from his throat a couple of times because he woofs down his food.

Lucky for me, he just let me put my hand in and my fingers down his throat to get it out without any fuss at all.

Needless to say, he does not get those anymore.

I suppose you could do the same thing as I did or get to the vet ASAP...

[Lynlovesdogs]

thanks for that

[BC]

My dogs have never swallowed them whole but my cat Jet has a couple of times.

I just pull it out with my fingers, apart from that I'm not sure what I would do if my animals didn't let me do that

[Joypod]

Gus started swallowing chicken necks whole when he was only 3 months old..... needless to say he stopped getting them after that.