Dear Choked Up: Watching a choking dog can be very frightening. Once airways become blocked a dog can suffocate and die within minutes. Many times dogs will swallow bones, rawhides, toys or balls that become lodged in the esophagus. While some dogs can cough or vomit to remove the obstruction sometimes intervention is needed by using the same Heimlich maneuver performed on humans.

Proceed with Caution

Before you begin, make sure you know the dog is definitely choking. Did you see the dog swallow the item or does he display symptoms such as pawing at the face, frantic behavior, coughing or difficulty breathing?

First, try and dislodge any items out of the dog’s mouth with your fingers. Be aware that a panicking dog may try and bite you. Unfortunately, you cannot muzzle a dog if you need to give him the Heimlich maneuver so be careful not to get bit. 

Next, pull the tongue forward and remove any foreign matter or vomit in the mouth and see if you can still grab the obstruction with your fingers, a long set of slender thongs or needle nose pliers. If still unable to grasp the object proceed to the Heimlich.

The Heimlich Maneuver

For smaller dogs, lift the dog with his back against your stomach, head up and feet dangling. Place your cupped fists into the soft hollow at the base of the rib cage on his stomach and give a few strong thrusts upwards towards his head. This action will push the trapped air in the lungs upward toward the obstruction to dislodge it. After a few tries, check to see if the object has been cleared from the throat. If not, have someone drive you and the dog to the vet immediately while you continue to work on your dog. 

If you have a large breed that cannot be lifted, you can perform this with the dog standing or lying on his side. For the standing position, straddle the dog over his back facing his rear and place your hands in the rib cage from above and perform the action. While lying on his side, place your knees against his back and lean over to insert the fists below the rib cage. Visit http://www.vetref.net/articles/_articles/heimlich.html for photos on performing the Heimlich on large breeds in the standing position or lying on the floor.

After you have dislodged the item, the dog should start breathing on its own. If not, Canine CPR may be needed to jumpstart the dog’s breathing. To learn this procedure, order the video “Canine CPR, Know How to Respond Quickly” from Barkleigh Productions at 717-691-3388 or at info@barkleigh.com. After any choking incident always take your dog to the vet for a check up to treat any damage or swelling in the throat that may have occurred.

Lisa’s Pick of the Litter

A warning about antifreeze and dogs with a possible solution from the American Dog Owners Association: Each year in the U.S. as many as 10,000 of our best friends are poisoned, either accidentally or due to ignorance as a result of exposure to ethylene glycol (antifreeze).

 All it takes is a teaspoon for a dog to cause kidney failure by the time the symptoms of poisoning appear. Why do so many animals get into fatal trouble with antifreeze?  It has a sweet smell and taste they find irresistible. A bittering agent could be added during the manufacturing process that would make antifreeze and engine coolants unpalatable. This bittering agent, denatoninol benzoate, is the world’s bitterest substance and is safe, biodegradable, and will not harm engines.

Call, write, email or fax your representative in Washington D.C. and request that he or she support the, “Antifreeze Safety Act” bill, HR 1563. The bill is now in the Sub-Committee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection. They can be reached at:   http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/subcommittees/Commerce_Trade_and_Consumer_Protection.htm

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Lisa can be reached at www.lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470