French Bulldog Dies from Dog Food Choking Incident

Preface

Let's cut to the chase: virtually anything solid can become lodged in a dog's throat.

Never let your guard down when it comes to anything that can end up in a dog's mouth, and that includes their food.

Symptoms

It's rare for anyone to immediately recognize the signs of a dog choking on a foreign object. Therefore, if your dog exhibits any of the following symptoms, act swiftly and check their mouth:

Vomiting

Swallowing saliva

Accelerated swallowing

Excessive drooling

Preparation

When it's time to inspect, having two people on hand is ideal, and a flashlight is the musthave tool. More hands mean more help, especially when dealing with larger breeds. When it comes to flashlights, a professional dental light is the gold standard, but if you don't have one, your phone's flashlight will do the trick.

Oral Foreign Objects Are No Joke

Don't be afraid to delve into the depths of the mouth.

If you're alone, cradle the dog in your arms, supporting its body with your upper arm. Grasp the upper jaw with one hand and the lower jaw with the other. When it's time to dislodge the object, use the hand on the upper jaw to manipulate it, ensuring the hand holding the lower jaw remains firm.

With assistance, one person can hold the dog in their arms, using one hand to gently pull the tongue outwards while the other hand supports the lower jaw. The helper can then examine the mouth from various angles.

Remember: if you can't see the foreign object, it's time to seek veterinary help immediately.

The Gravity Method

Some objects may be stuck in the throat but refuse to budge.

For small dogs, simply lift them by their hind legs, turn them upside down, and gently tap the middle of their shoulder blades to encourage them to cough up the object.

Large dogs can also be helped using gravity, but you'll need to lift their back legs, allowing them to support themselves with their front legs while you tap the same shoulder blade area.

If your dog is too large or heavy to use the gravity method, skip this step and proceed to the next section.

Is There a Magic Bullet?

Heimlich Maneuver

That's right; the same Heimlich maneuver used for humans can be effective for dogs too.

Place the dog across your chest with its head facing forward. With your left hand, make a fist and position it below the dog's rib cage. Your right hand should press down on the fist, rhythmically pushing into the abdomen. The Heimlich maneuver uses the remaining air in the chest to dislodge the foreign object. Don't underestimate the power of this simple technique; it has saved countless lives worldwide each year, and it's proven to be just as effective for dogs.