The Heimlich Maneuver is an emergency first aid technique designed to help dislodge an item stuck in your dog’s throat that is impairing breathing. The Heimlich Maneuver should only be used if you are sure that your dog is actually choking. Some signs that your dog is choking include breathing difficulty, attempting to cough or hack, eye bulging and pawing at the face or mouth. Before beginning the Heimlich Maneuver, try to remove any objects you see with your fingers. Be very careful and do not attempt to remove any object where there is a risk you will accidentally further trap any object in your dog’s throat. If you cannot remove the object safely with your fingers, perform the following steps:

• For small dogs, kneel behind your dog with your dog standing and facing away from you. For larger dogs, stand behind your dog with your dog standing and facing away from you.
• Place your arms around your dog’s waist so your hands are underneath your dog’s stomach. Use one hand to make a fist, and place the fist, thumb-side facing up, just below your dog’s ribs. Clasp your other hand around your fist.

• Jerk inward and upwards towards your dog’s back. Use a quick and strong motion. If this action does not dislodge the object from your dog’s throat, repeat the jerks several more times. If the object still does not dislodge, rush your dog to the veterinarian.

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