Friday, February 26, 2010

HEALTH BEAT Heimlich Maneuver for dogs


  1. Verify that your dog is truly choking, and not having breathing difficulties. A choking dog will have bulging eyes paw at their face and try to cough.


  2. Grasp your dog's lower jaw with one hand and its upper jaw with the other, leaving your forefinger free to reach the obstruction. Open your dog's mouth and try to see the object and pull it out with your finger. Remember that dogs have small bones in their throats; don't try to grab something that you can't see.


  3. Lie your dog on its side with the hindquarters higher than his head. A blanket or rolled up towel can be placed under her rear to lower the head if you can't lie it on a slanted surface.


  4. Grasp your hands under the lowest ribs and press in three to five times in a thrusting motion. Be careful of the ribcage; you need to be below the ribs to expel any air that's in his lungs.


  5. Remove the object from the dog's mouth immediately after it is expelled from the Heimlich Maneuver procedure, so your pet doesn't inadvertently swallow it again.


  6. Contact your veterinarian as soon as the crisis is over, in case your dog has suffered internal injuries that are not immediately obvious.

  7. BEFORE YOU FORGET: print this and tape it inside your hall closet door and leave room for the dog CPR card. ALWAYS BE PREPARED
MAY YOU NEVER NEED IT
'VIE

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