How to do the heimlich on a dog?

Knowing how to help a choking dog is one of those practical, non-glamorous skills that can make the difference between a scary story and a saved life. Dogs explore the world with their mouths, and an otherwise normal walk or mealtime can turn into an emergency in seconds. This guide gives clear, usable steps you can apply immediately, explains what’s happening inside the throat, and covers prevention and gear that actually help in the moments that count.

A must-have skill for every dog owner

Choking can happen in a handful of predictable ways: a dog gulping a large piece of food, snagging a small toy during play, chewing through a bone fragment, or scavenging scraps on a walk. Even well-trained dogs can get into trouble when excitement or access to dangerous objects coincides with inattention.

If an airway remains blocked, the dog’s tissues are quickly deprived of oxygen. Visible signs may progress from coughing and pawing at the mouth to blue-tinged gums, collapse, and loss of consciousness within minutes. Rapid action can restore airflow and prevent permanent brain injury or death; delayed or inappropriate handling can make matters worse.

Puppies, older dogs with dental or neurological issues, and certain active or brachycephalic breeds are more likely to choke or to have trouble clearing an obstruction on their own. I typically see puppies and terriers with swallowed small toys, and seniors that struggle with large chews or poorly chewed food.

Immediate rescue essentials — what to do first

The immediate goal is simple: clear the airway so the dog can breathe, or get professional help as fast as possible. In a few sentences—check responsiveness, get help, inspect the mouth, remove a visible obstruction with a careful finger sweep, and if necessary perform abdominal thrusts for a conscious dog. If the dog becomes unconscious, begin the unconscious-dog protocol and head to an emergency clinic.

Attempt removal only when you can safely see and reach the object; blindly probing the throat risks pushing the item deeper. Call for help right away if the dog cannot breathe, is collapsing, or if the obstruction is not relieved within a few attempts. After any choking event, the dog should be examined by a veterinarian because partial obstructions, aspiration of particulates, or internal injury may not be obvious.

How and why dogs choke: anatomy and common causes

A dog’s airway runs from the mouth and nose through the pharynx into the larynx and trachea. The esophagus (food tube) sits just behind and below this pathway. Foreign objects can lodge in the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, or trachea, each location producing different clinical signs. An object high in the throat may allow partial airflow; if it passes into the trachea, it can cause an immediate and complete blockage.

Breed and size matter. Small dogs have relatively smaller airways and may become obstructed by items that would be harmless to a large breed. Brachycephalic breeds (short-nosed) often have reduced airway reserve—what might be a partial obstruction in another dog may quickly become critical for them. Strong jawed breeds may also mash items into odd shapes that then lodge.

Objects most commonly involved include parts of toys, rawhide or cooked bones that splinter, small household items like socks, and pieces of food that are swallowed whole. Sharp fragments can damage delicate tissues and increase the risk of bleeding or swelling that further narrows the airway.

High-risk moments: foods, toys and situations that lead to choking

Eating behaviors are a frequent trigger. Dogs that gulp without chewing, finish meals instantly, or compete for food are at higher risk. Scavenging on walks—scooping up food, carcasses, or rubbish—creates unpredictable hazards. Some dogs chew destructively and can break off fragments of toys or treats that become lodged.

Common obstructing items include small ball parts, squeakers, rawhide chews that soften irregularly, and cooked bones that splinter. Even seemingly safe items can become risky if they are small enough to pass into the throat or are brittle enough to fragment.

These incidents most often occur during unsupervised moments: when a dog is left with access to rubbish, when owners are distracted during play, or during grooming when a dog may try to swallow trimmings or accessories. Supervision and safe storage reduce chances dramatically.

Warning signs that require urgent veterinary care

Partial airway obstruction often looks like persistent coughing, gagging, drooling, pawing at the mouth, and anxious behavior. If the dog can still breathe, it will typically be noisy and labored. Complete obstruction is an emergency: the dog may panic, make frantic motions, gasp ineffectively, have collapsing weakness, and show a gray or blue tinge to gums and tongue (cyanosis).

Loss of consciousness, inability to move air, or collapse are immediate red flags. If a dog seems to be getting worse despite attempts to clear the airway, or if breathing is absent after interventions, treat the situation as life-threatening and transport to an emergency clinic while continuing resuscitative efforts.

Also watch for signs that you’ve made the situation worse: sudden increased bleeding from the mouth, coughing up blood, or violent gagging. These findings make urgent veterinary assessment even more important because they may suggest soft-tissue injury or deeper airway damage.

Performing the canine Heimlich: clear, stepwise rescue instructions

1. Initial assessment and safety: Quickly determine responsiveness. Speak and call the dog’s name; check for breathing and movement. Always keep your own safety in mind—an injured or panicked dog can bite. If necessary, use a towel or muzzle to protect yourself while keeping the airway accessible.
2. Visual inspection and finger sweep: If the dog is conscious and you can safely open the mouth, look for an obvious object. Only perform a finger sweep if you can clearly see and reach the item; otherwise, fingers can push the object deeper. If you remove something, confirm the dog can breathe before stopping further actions.
3. Abdominal thrusts (Heimlich) for conscious dogs: For medium-to-large dogs that are standing or sitting, position yourself behind the dog, place both hands just behind the ribcage where the abdomen begins, and give firm, quick inward and upward thrusts. For small dogs, hold them on their back in your lap or against your chest and give several quick abdominal thrusts using the heel of your hand. Repeat until the object is expelled or the dog becomes unconscious. These maneuvers are widely recommended by many emergency vets and may restore airflow, but they must be performed carefully to avoid internal injury.
4. Unconscious dog protocol: If the dog collapses or becomes unresponsive, open the mouth, tilt the head to align the airway, and look for an object to remove with a finger sweep only if visible. If the airway remains blocked, begin chest compressions—place the dog on a firm surface and compress the chest at a rate similar to that used in human CPR (many veterinary guidelines suggest roughly 100–120 compressions per minute) with depth at about one-third to one-half of chest width depending on size. If you can provide breaths, deliver gentle, seal-assisted breaths and continue cycles of compressions and ventilations while heading to an emergency clinic. Using the RECOVER veterinary CPR recommendations may help guide timing and technique, but the key is to maintain circulation and oxygenation until professional care is available.
5. Transport and continuing care: If the obstruction is relieved, seek veterinary evaluation immediately; aspiration and airway swelling can develop after the fact. If the object cannot be dislodged or the dog remains in respiratory distress, transport promptly to an emergency clinic. Keep the dog calm and supported during transport, and continue attempts to ventilate or perform compressions if breathing is absent.

Reduce the risk: feeding, management and training tips

Training is one of the most effective long-term strategies. Teach reliable cues like “drop it” and “leave it,” and reinforce taking food calmly from your hand. Supervise high-risk activities like chewing or playing with toys, and intervene early if a dog begins to gulp or play too roughly.

Choose toys and treats appropriate to your dog’s size and chewing style. A rule of thumb is a toy should be larger than the dog’s mouth opening and made of durable material that doesn’t easily fragment. Avoid cooked bones and be cautious with rawhide; consider alternatives designed to resist splintering.

Feeding practices also reduce risk. Use slow-feeder bowls or scatter feed to discourage gulping, break large chews into manageable pieces for older dogs, and control portions. For dogs known to scavenge outdoors, a short leash and focused walking work well to prevent accidental ingestion.

Emergency kit for dog owners: tools worth keeping on hand

• Pet first-aid kit: include a pair of nitrile gloves, clean towels, gauze, adhesive tape, and an emergency blanket. These items help with control and basic care without interfering with the airway.
• Long tweezers/forceps and a small flashlight: can help remove visible objects from the mouth; their use should be limited to situations where the object is clearly seen and reachable. Avoid blind probing with any tool.
• Emergency contact list: have your regular veterinarian, the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic, and a local animal poison control center programmed in your phone or printed. Speed matters, and knowing where to go or who to call reduces delay after the initial intervention.

References and further reading

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), “Choking in Pets” guidance page and pet first-aid resources.
• Merck Veterinary Manual, “Airway Obstruction” and “Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) — Small Animals” sections.
• American Red Cross, “Pet First Aid” reference material and training courses on managing choking.
• RECOVER Initiative, “Veterinary CPR Guidelines” (Reassessment Campaign On Veterinary Resuscitation) for small animal resuscitation recommendations.
• Silverstein, D.C. and Hopper, K. (eds.), Small Animal Critical Care Medicine, 2nd Edition — chapters on airway emergencies and emergency procedures.