Veterinarian’s Easy ‘Heimlich Maneuver’ Tutorial Could Save Your Dog’s Life
If you're dog has over choked on something in front of you, you know how scary it can be. I felt so helpless when this happened to my dog because I realized I had absolutely no idea of what to do to help her. That's why I was glad to have stumbled across veterinarian Dr. Adam Christman's tutorial on how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on a dog. It literally could save their life!
Dr. Christman demonstrates step-by-step what to do if your dog is choking. He starts by explaining how to get their mouth open so you can reach back to try to remove whatever's stuck. If that doesn't work, he says it's time to go upside down. Watch on to see the different ways to perform the Heimlich based on your dog's size.
This is such great first aid information to know! Dr. Christman always shares such helpful advice and it's all free! I highly recommend you follow him if you have a fur baby or two in your life.
Commenters were just as appreciative as I was with the demonstration on what to do if your dog is choking. One person shared, "I am a 911 dispatcher. I’ve actually had numerous calls over 30 years of people’s dogs' choking, asking what to do." @Maura pointed out, "You probably just saved a lot of dogs’ lives. Thank you." @KEGZ asked, "Would the second option be better for a Dachshund too?" and the doctor replied, "Yes."
More First Aid Tips for Dogs
If you Google how to stop your dog from choking, you'll find hundreds of articles and videos full of advice. But be careful; another Pet Helpful article shared this choking safety reminder, "Do not follow the bad advice given on other websites and stick a pair of pliers or tweezers into your dog's mouth. If he jerks his head when you are shoving a foreign object down his throat, you may end up cutting his mouth or puncturing his larynx. Lacerations in the mouth bleed profusely and sometimes do not stop. If you damage his larynx, he may not be able to breathe." If you wouldn't do it to your child, never do it to your dog, either.
Do you have a first aid kit for your pets at home and in the car? If not, you can head to the Dollar Tree and make your own. In another one of Dr. Christman's videos, he shares everything you need to make a complete pet first aid kit. Other things to include, especially for one you keep in the car, include a bottle of water as well as a copy of their medical records. An information card explaining general first aid treatments could be helpful, too.
There's even an app you can put on your phone called the Pet First Aid app by the American Red Cross. It teaches you to do if an emergency affects your pet, and so much more. It's free, so make sure to download it today!
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