06/03/2026
National Heimlich Maneuver Day
This is long but very important for dog owners.
Giving a dog the Heimlich maneuver
Although the Heimlich maneuver can save a dog's life in the right circumstances, it is also a risky procedure which can cause trauma to the dog's chest. Before performing abdominal thrusts on a dog, we need to ensure other less aggressive methods are not more suitable. This can remove the foreign body from obstructing the dog's airways without risking trauma to the abdomen or chest.
If you see that your dog is choking and suspect a foreign object is obstructing their airway, you will need to follow this procedure:
Stay calm: even if we are in a very stressful situation, it is important we do not cause the dog to panic any more than they already are. This could increase their respiratory rate and raise the threat of your dog suffocating. Remaining calm will help you think clearly and act effectively.
Examine their throat: open the dog's mouth and shine a flashlight into their mouth so you can have a better picture of their airways to identify the object. If you can see the object and are sure there is no risk of damaging their soft tissue, you can remove it. To do so, you need to insert your index finger and thumb into the mouth and try to grab the entire object. If you cannot or if you feel the object has stuck into the throat tissue, do not try to pull it out. You may cause serious damage or even push the object further down and exacerbate the obstruction. In such cases, professional veterinary assistance is recommended.
Pat their back: if you cannot extract the foreign body with your fingers, try giving your pet several pats on the back on the area between their shoulder blades. This need to be firm and dry pats, but use appropriate force, especially with small or weakened dogs. This method can sometimes dislodge the object, allowing your dog to breathe more easily.
Try lifting them: if the previous step is not effective, we should try one last method before performing the Heimlich maneuver. If your dog is sufficiently small, you can hold them by the pelvis and invert their body so their mouth is facing the ground. Shake gently and see if the foreign body will come out with the help of gravity. You can do this with larger dogs, but you may not be able to lift them off the ground. In such a case, attempting to angle their upper body towards the ground might be helpful.
If none of these techniques is effective, you should proceed to perform the Heimlich maneuver on your dog. We explain how to do so with diagrams in the next sections. Remember, time is of the essence in such emergencies.
