Airway Aid

A choking dog usually breathes noisily and paws anxiously at its mouth. Its tongue and gums may also turn blue. If your dog shows these signs (not to be confused with the hacking sound of "kennel cough," which is not accompanied by distress):

• Check your dog's mouth and throat as you elevate its head. If you see an obstruction, remove it with your fingers or kitchen tongs.
• If you can't see or reach the obstruction, give the dog a few open-handed blows to the neck or back of the head to dislodge the blockage or move it forward.
• If that's unsuccessful and you can lift your dog, hold it upside down by its hind legs and slap it on the back a few times. If an assistant is available to hold the dog, try the "bellows" approach: push inward firmly on both sides of the rib cage.
• If you can't lift your dog, lay it on its side and raise its rear so its head is below its hips. Give the diaphragm (located just behind the rib cage) some quick shoves down and forward.
• Warning: these first-aid methods may not succeed and entail some risk (such as throat abrasions or bruised ribs). While veterinary care is always advisable, you have only 5 to 10 minutes to clear a completely blocked airway before significant heart and brain damage set in.
• To prevent airway obstruction, always supervise your dog when it has something in its mouth, and keep it away from objects small enough to lodge in its windpipe.