2 July 2021

Choking

Some dogs just can’t help themselves; they just have to pick up sticks or even stones. Other can endlessly chase after balls. However, all carry a certain risk of an object getting stuck in the mouth or throat. A half-swallowed ball can lead to a very serious situation where your dog’s air passage is blocked. This requires immediate action; first aid is in this case a two-person job and you may even get bitten.

When your dog is choking you need to open and look into their mouth with care. Find a small block of wood to keep your dog’s mouth open while you take a good look inside, while the other person holds the head still. If a ball is stuck in your dog’s throat, don’t try to take it out with your hands, it’s much better to lever it out with a fine rod.

A frequent occurrence is a piece of wood getting wedged across or between the back teeth. Again, use extreme caution, avoid putting your hand in your dog’s mouth. An injury to both of you doesn’t benefit anyone. This is also best removed by levering with a fine rod. In these situations, it’s often the case that you will need to visit the vet and have sedation to remove the object.

Choking