Common Pet Choking Hazards
Friends and Neighbors,
As pet parents, we hope that an emergency like choking never occurs, but life happens! We encourage you to attend one of our Pet CPR Demonstrations where one of our veterinarians shows you how to administer CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver on your pets. They also talk about what to do in an emergency and answer any questions you may have about the “what if’s”. We will notify you via email for the next one. In the meantime, we’ve compiled a list of the most common choking hazards for cats and dogs.
Cats:
Thread
String
Rubber bands
Paper clips
Staples
Bottle caps
Wine corks
Aluminum foil
Window blind cords
Toys
Fishing poles and wands
Dogs:
Rubber balls
Clothing (socks, scrunchies, underwear)
Cooked bones
Rocks and sticks
Children’s toys
Plastic bags and wrappers
Hazardous toys and treats
Toys small enough to fit entirely in their mouth
Toys with loose pieces that fall off
Treats that can splinter and break
Antlers and raw hide
If you are suspicious that your pet is choking: remain calm and act quickly.
If your pet is conscious, we recommend getting them to the nearest emergency veterinarian as soon as possible. In these moments of panic, attempting to remove the object manually can actually push it further down their throat.
If your pet is unconscious and you do not have time to transport them to the ER, you can administer the pet Heimlich Maneuver.
Carefully open their mouth to check for foreign objects.
Cats and small dogs- gently pick them up by their thighs and swing the animal in the air. If that doesn’t help to dislodge the object, apply forward pressure to the pet’s abdomen just behind the rib cage.
Large dogs- if standing, place your arms around their belly, and make a fist with your hands. Place your fist on the soft spot under their ribcage, then push up and forward. If the dog is lying down, place one hand on their back and use the other hand to squeeze the abdomen upward.
We hope you find these tips useful and that they help keep your pets happy and healthy. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or to schedule a visit. We’re always here for you and your pets!
Sincerely,
The BLVD Team