A Step-by-Step Emergency Guide Every Dog Owner Should Know

As a groomer and dog owner myself, I spend a lot of time around dogs. Most days are filled with wagging tails, baths, and haircuts — but working with dogs also reminds me how quickly something unexpected can happen.

One of the scariest situations a dog owner can face is a choking emergency.

Dogs explore the world with their mouths. Toys, treats, sticks, bones, even pieces of food can sometimes get stuck in their throat. When that happens, knowing what to do in those first moments can make a huge difference.

This isn’t something any of us want to think about — but learning the basics now means you’ll be much better prepared if it ever happens.

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Signs Your Dog May Be Choking

Dogs can’t tell us when something is wrong, so we have to watch for the signs.

Some common warning signals include:

• Panic or sudden distress
• Pawing at the mouth
• Gagging or retching
• Difficulty breathing
• Excessive drooling
• Pale or bluish gums
• Collapse in severe cases

Sometimes a dog may still be coughing or making noise. That usually means some air is still moving, which is good. But if they can’t breathe at all, that’s an emergency.

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Step 1: Check the Mouth First

The first thing to do is carefully check your dog’s mouth.

Gently open their mouth and pull the tongue forward if you can. If you can clearly see the object causing the blockage, you may be able to remove it with your fingers or tweezers.

A couple important things to remember:

• Be careful — a scared dog may bite unintentionally
• Only remove objects you can clearly see
• Never blindly sweep your fingers inside the throat

Pushing around without seeing the object can actually lodge it deeper.

If you can’t remove it, the next step is to help your dog force it out.

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Step 2: The Dog Heimlich Maneuver

Just like with people, dogs can sometimes need abdominal thrusts to push air out of their lungs and dislodge whatever is stuck.

The technique is slightly different depending on the size of the dog.

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For Medium and Large Dogs

If your dog is standing:

1. Stand behind your dog.
2. Wrap your arms around their belly just under the rib cage.
3. Make a fist with one hand and grab it with your other hand.
4. Place your fist in the soft area just behind the ribs.
5. Give five quick upward thrusts toward the chest.

After a few thrusts, check the mouth again to see if the object has moved forward enough to remove.

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For Small Dogs

For smaller dogs or puppies:

1. Hold your dog with their back against your chest.
2. Make a fist and place it just below the rib cage.
3. Give quick upward thrusts toward the chest.

Check the mouth again after a few thrusts to see if the object has come loose.

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If the Dog Is Lying Down

If your dog is unable to stand:

1. Lay them gently on their side.
2. Place one hand on their back for support.
3. Use your other hand to press inward and upward on the abdomen just behind the ribs.
4. Check the mouth again afterward.

Repeat the process until the obstruction comes out or you reach veterinary care.

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When the Object Comes Out

Even if your dog seems completely fine afterward, it’s still very important to have them examined by a veterinarian.

Choking can sometimes cause:

• throat injuries
• swelling in the airway
• lung irritation
• internal trauma from abdominal thrusts

A quick vet check helps make sure everything is okay.

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Learning the Technique the Right Way

Reading instructions is helpful, but actually seeing the technique demonstrated makes a big difference.

The American Red Cross Pet First Aid resources are one of the best places to learn proper emergency care for pets.

You can find clear demonstrations and step-by-step instructions here:

American Red Cross Pet First Aid
https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/resources/learn-pet-first-aid/dog/choking

Another helpful guide with visuals is available through PetMD:

https://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/common-emergencies/e_dg_choking

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Preventing Choking in the First Place

While we can’t prevent every accident, there are a few simple things that help reduce the risk.

• Choose toys that are appropriate for your dog’s size
• Avoid cooked bones
• Supervise dogs with chew toys
• Cut food into manageable pieces
• Be cautious with sticks and hard chews

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Final Thoughts

Having dogs around me every day has taught me that even the most careful owners can run into unexpected situations. (Especially if you have little kids leaving toys everywhere)

Learning a little pet first aid now can give you the confidence to act quickly if something ever goes wrong.

Hopefully you’ll never need to use this information — but if you do, you’ll be glad you took a few minutes to learn it.

Your dog’s life could depend on it.

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