Dog choking: what to do, step by step

How to tell your dog is choking

The Merck Veterinary Manual for pet owners lists the typical signs:

• coughing, often forceful and repeated;
• drooling;
• gagging or retching;
• pawing at the mouth;
• holding the mouth open and looking agitated.

Blue or gray gums, loud noisy breathing or collapse mean every second counts.

What to do, step by step

1. Get help. One person calls the vet or emergency clinic; the other deals with the dog.
2. Protect yourself. A dog that cannot breathe panics. Hold it firmly but keep your fingers out of its mouth — Merck warns about the risk of being bitten.
3. Look in the mouth. If the object is visible and within reach, the AVMA advises removing it carefully, ideally with tweezers or pliers, without pushing it deeper.
4. Try to dislodge it. If you cannot reach it, Merck describes thumping firmly between the shoulder blades or giving quick compressions on both sides of the chest.
5. Adapt to size. For large dogs, the AVMA describes a Heimlich-style maneuver with thrusts just below the rib cage. For small dogs, it describes holding the dog by the hind legs, head down, and applying compressions.
6. Go to the clinic. Whether or not the object comes out, the dog needs an exam.

If your dog collapses

When a dog loses consciousness its muscles relax, and the object may become easier to see:

1. Open the mouth carefully and gently pull the tongue forward.
2. Look at the back of the throat, using a flashlight if you have one.
3. Remove the object only if you can see it and it is loose. Do not sweep blindly.
4. Leave for the clinic at once, with one person driving and another watching the dog.

If the dog is not breathing and has no heartbeat, Merck notes that pet CPR starts with chest compressions at about 100–120 per minute; call the clinic for instructions on the way.

What about cats?

Signs are similar: coughing, gagging, drooling, pawing at the mouth and agitation. Treat a cat like a small dog, holding it head down for compressions. Wrapping the body in a towel and leaving the head free protects both of you. String, yarn, thread and hair ties are common hazards for cats: never pull on something hanging from a cat’s mouth, because it may be anchored further down and cut the intestine.

What not to do

Don’t	Why
Sweep fingers blindly in the throat	Risk of bites and pushing the object deeper
Give water, bread or food	Can worsen the obstruction
Wait to see if it passes	Choking can get worse quickly
Pull string or thread from the mouth	It may be caught further in and cause cuts

When it is not choking

Not every cough is choking. A dog that coughs but breathes, moves normally and is fine a moment later may have just inhaled water or dust. A cough that keeps coming back still deserves a visit: it can be a sign of respiratory or heart disease. When in doubt, call your vet.

Getting to the clinic

The drive is part of first aid:

• Call ahead and say it is a choking case so the team can prepare.
• Keep the dog contained in someone’s arms or a carrier, without pressure on the neck or chest.
• No water or food on the way.
• Watch breathing and gum color, and tell the vet what you saw, how long it lasted and what you did.
• Bring the object if it came out, or one like it.

After the scare

Even after the vet gives the all clear, watch your dog for a few days. Persistent coughing, trouble swallowing, drooling, refusing food, vomiting, lethargy or blood in the saliva mean you should go back: they can indicate an injury to the throat or a piece left behind.

Prevention

• Toys larger than the dog’s mouth; throw away toys that are breaking apart.
• No cooked bones, bottle caps, socks or string within reach.
• Supervise when your dog chews something new.
• Keep trash in a bin with a lid.

See also dog poisoning: what to do and the pet first aid guide.