At least a few times a month, I Google, “Can dogs eat … ” followed by whichever of my snacks my Chihuahua mix is eyeing woefully (most recently it was mango, and the answer is yes, in moderation).
All loving pet parents want their animal companions to be happy and healthy, and a lot of that comes down to what goes into their mouths — so I was taken aback when I realized one day that I had no clue what I’d do if my pup started choking. Perform the Heimlich? Administer a few slaps to the back? Start running around in circles in complete and utter panic?
@20points4gryffindor 🤓 gotta make sure things check out #pets #funny#pittbull #funnypets
♬ original sound – 20points4gryffindor
To avoid the third option ever becoming reality, I reached out to veterinarian Jinni Sinnott-Stutzman, senior director of clinical affairs for VCA Animal Hospitals. She walked me through how to help prevent dogs and cats from choking, as well as what to do if it does happen. Most importantly, though, she reassured me about the rarity of the scenario.
“Choking is a scary thing to think about, but I want pet owners to know it’s rare. Pets, like people, are typically protective of their throats,” Sinnott-Stutzman said, adding that as long as we follow the preventative measures outlined below, “it’s very likely a person owning multiple pets in their lifetime will never encounter choking.”
How Can We Help Prevent Pets From Choking?
Avoid “Choking Size” Objects
One of the most effective ways to prevent your dog or cat from choking is to prevent their access to food and toys that are “choking size.” Exact measurements will vary based on the breed and individual, but Sinnott-Stutzman explained that choking size is generally the diameter of the pharynx (the back of the throat).
“For a cat or small dog, this is about the size of a plump cherry. For a medium dog, it’s the size of a golf ball, and for your larger dogs, it’s the size of a tennis ball,” she said. “Speaking of tennis balls, that is the most common choke I’ve seen. Typically, large dogs try to catch a ball and miss the timing and get it stuck in the back of their throat. There are great YouTube videos on the exact technique to use to get it out, but it’s a little technical. That said, it can save a life, so I always tell every ER vet to learn it.”
Thankfully, tennis balls made specifically for dogs come in various sizes, so if your big pup likes to play fetch, be sure to purchase balls on the larger side (rather than standard human tennis balls).
For small dogs, it’s best to opt for the biggest size ball they can actually carry — not the teeny-weeny ones, as cute as they may be.
Supervise Them
Be sure to never leave your dog unattended with bones, rawhides, balls, and toys that have smaller elements inside (like squeakers), or anything else they can gnaw down or tear apart into choking-size chunks. By supervising them during play, meal, and snack times, you can remove small bits as your pet makes progress on his treat or toy.
Sinnott-Stutzman said that cats don’t often choke — but “when they do, it’s usually on something linear that they are playing with and then start to swallow, so you can usually pull the string, plastic bag handle, or whatever is still sticking out of the mouth to save them.”
Give Food in Small Bites
That said, Sinnott-Stutzman has seen very hungry rescue kittens choke on wet food, so be sure to give them small bites for their first meals “as they may inhale an entire mouthful and try to swallow it,” she noted. “Once they have had a few good meals and are on a positive calorie balance, they can be fed normally.”
The same sentiment can be applied to any ravenous dog or cat (and let’s be honest, even the most well-fed pets often act as though they haven’t eaten in days). If you give your dog or cat fresh or canned food, ensure it’s broken up into bite-size pieces.
How Can You Tell if a Dog or Cat Is Choking?
Per Sinnott-Stutzman, there are two kinds of choking. “There’s discomfort from having something lodged in the back of [the] throat but air is moving through, and there’s complete obstruction of air movement,” she explained, noting that the first type “is scary to watch, because your pet is gagging, pawing at their mouth, and making really raspy breathing noises. The second kind is scary, period, end of sentence.”
The main difference between the two is whether or not the pet is making sounds. If your pet is crying, whimpering, or making rasping sounds while breathing, their airway likely isn’t completely obstructed, but they still need immediate attention. In this instance, you should get them to the nearest open veterinary clinic as soon as possible.
If they aren’t making any noise — other than maybe a soft gagging sound — the airway may indeed be completely obstructed. In that case, jump into action using the instructions below.
Steps to Take if Your Dog or Cat Is Choking
1. Look in your pet’s mouth and see if there’s a visible object. If there is, try to grasp it with your fingers and sweep it forward and out — but be extremely careful to avoid pushing it further down the airway. Sinnott-Stutzman recommends having another person hold open the animal’s jaws if possible, as even a loving pet may bite when panicked.
2. If you can see the object but can’t get it out with your hands, you can carefully attempt to pull it toward you using the flat side of a spoon with a long handle. Again, be sure not to chase the item further down the throat, and don’t let go of the spoon once it’s in the animal’s mouth.
3. If you can’t see or remove the object manually, lift your dog or cat up by their back legs, keeping their front legs on the ground to avoid straining the back, and gently shake them. You want to use gravity to move the object out of the mouth.
4. If the object doesn’t come out, try gently swinging your dog or cat back and forth (the key word here is gently) as you hold them from their hind legs. You can also administer five sharp blows to the animal’s back between their shoulder blades. Use less force for smaller dogs and cats to avoid hurting them.
5. If your dog is still choking, you can try the Heimlich maneuver. Stand behind or lift the dog with its spine against your chest, then wrap your arms around and under its ribs. Make a fist with one hand, place your other hand over your fist, and give five rapid abdominal thrusts in an inward and upward motion, varying the force based on the size of your pup.
Sinnott-Stutzman said she’s more comfortable recommending the Heimlich for dogs than for cats due to their delicate ribs, but if you do use the technique on felines, use gentler thrusts, and you probably don’t need to use your entire fist.
6. Lastly, if the item is a ball or other round object, Sinnott-Stutzman advocates “playing vet” by using the external extraction technique, or XXT.
“It’s not for the faint of heart, and again, if your pet is moving air (making noises beyond soft gagging sounds), go to the vet,” she said.
“But if they are not, you don’t have a lot of time, so it’s better to try than nothing. Just don’t spend long trying if you’re unsuccessful after one or two tries — use the time to get to the vet.”
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