Choking and CPR for Dogs: Emergency Life-Saving Techniques

As a dog owner, knowing how to respond in a choking emergency or cardiac arrest situation can save your pet’s life. Dogs, like humans, can choke on food, toys, or household objects, and they may also experience breathing difficulties or even heart failure due to accidents or medical conditions. In this guide, we’ll cover the essential steps for clearing a blocked airway and performing CPR on your dog.

How to Recognize Choking in Dogs

Choking occurs when a foreign object gets lodged in the throat, blocking airflow. Signs of choking include:

• Difficulty breathing or gasping for air
• Excessive pawing at the mouth
• Gagging or retching without producing vomit
• Blue-tinged gums or tongue (a sign of oxygen deprivation)
• Collapse or unconsciousness (in severe cases)

Step-by-Step Guide to Helping a Choking Dog

1. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

• Approach your dog gently but firmly—panicked movements can worsen the situation.
• If your dog is still able to breathe and is coughing, allow them to try and dislodge the object naturally.

2. Open Your Dog’s Mouth and Check for an Obstruction

• Carefully open the mouth and look inside.
• If you can see an object, try to remove it with tweezers or your fingers (only if it is easily reachable).
• Avoid pushing the object further down the throat.

3. Use the Heimlich Maneuver (For Different Sizes of Dogs)

For Small Dogs:

• Hold your dog with their back against your chest.
• Use one hand to support their back and the other to apply quick, firm thrusts just below the ribcage.

For Medium to Large Dogs:

• Stand behind your dog while they are on all fours.
• Wrap your arms around their abdomen and make a fist.
• Push in and up sharply just below the ribcage, repeating up to five times.
• If your dog is unconscious, skip to CPR steps below.

How to Perform CPR on a Dog

If your dog is not breathing and has no heartbeat, immediate CPR can be life-saving. Here’s how to do it:

1. Check for Breathing and a Pulse

• Lay your dog on their right side.
• Look, listen, and feel for breathing.
• Check for a heartbeat by placing your fingers on the left side of the chest, behind the elbow.

2. Begin Chest Compressions

For Small Dogs (<30 lbs):

• Use one hand to compress the chest at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
• Press about 1/3 to 1/2 of the chest width.

For Medium to Large Dogs (>30 lbs):

• Use both hands, placing them over the widest part of the ribcage.
• Apply firm, rhythmic compressions at the same rate.

3. Provide Rescue Breaths

• Close the dog’s mouth and extend their neck to open the airway.
• Blow air into the nose until you see the chest rise.
• Repeat once every 5-6 seconds.

4. Continue CPR Until Help Arrives

• Perform 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.
• Check for signs of life every 2 minutes.
• Continue until your dog starts breathing or veterinary help arrives.

When to Seek Veterinary Care

Even if your dog recovers from a choking episode, it’s important to visit the vet to check for airway damage or complications. Seek emergency care if:

• Your dog remains unconscious.
• They continue to struggle with breathing.
• There is persistent coughing or wheezing after the object is removed.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to perform the Heimlich maneuver and CPR on your dog could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency. Practice these techniques ahead of time so that you can act quickly and confidently if the need arises.