What to Do If Your Dog Is Choking: A Real-Life Guide Every Dog Owner Needs

What to Do If Your Dog Is Choking: A Real-Life Guide Every Dog Owner Needs

Hi there. I’m Joshua Van, the founder and editor in chief of Diggity Dog, your source for unbiased pet care tips to keep your dog a healthy companion. Let’s face it. You’re in the backyard tossing a ball or stick for your dog. All is well. Suddenly, they begin hacking or are just staring at you with those wide eyes, but no sound. This is dog choking and knowing how to react if your dog is choking can be life-saving. I’ve grown up around dogs my entire life, literally pulling them out of some bad spots, and even had puppies who had the urge to chew on absolutely everything. I’ve also literally built this blog from the ground up, so here I am to impart some wisdom on you, just like we are sitting and talking over a nice cup of coffee.

Take my old dog Rusty: he once got a bone shard jammed in his throat while I was right there watching TV. My pulse raced, but I remembered what to do, and it worked out. That’s why I’m laying this out for you straight from recent vet tips in 2025 and my own close calls.

Key Takeaways

• Don’t panic, but hurry dog choking hits fast, and keeping calm gets you through it.

• Look in their mouth first, but easy does it; pushing too hard can backfire.

• Vet trip every time, even if you fix it better to be sure.

• Stop it before it happens: right toys and keeping an eye out keep your healthy pet happy.

• Knowing first aid basics makes you feel like you’ve got this as a dog owner.

Figuring Out If Your Dog’s Really Choking

Not every minor cough is the apocalypse. Dogs cough for numerous reasons, like the cute sneeze thing or hacking up phlegm after eating too quickly. Dog choking, on the other hand, is when something is obstructing their airflow, and you need to identify it immediately.

Here’s what to watch for: are they scratching at their face like crazy? Drooling all over? Wheezing in a weird way? Blue gums or running around frantic that’s trouble. The worst is when they go quiet and drop; that’s no air at all. If it’s only partly stuck, they might still breathe a bit but look scared stiff.

Rusty did that with his bone I’d just given it to him, so I knew right away it wasn’t a regular cough. Little details like what they were doing help you tell the difference, and vets always say that’s key.

What to Do Step by Step

Your dog’s choking? Take a breath and get moving. This comes from what vets are saying now in 2025, plus times I’ve had to jump in myself.

Step 1: Keep It Together and Hold Them

Dogs in pain might bite without meaning to, so go slow. Small ones, pick up gently. For the big guys, ask someone to help pin them down easy. I’ve got a mark on my arm from not being careful once lesson learned in pet care.

Step 2: Look Inside

Open their mouth careful, tug the tongue out a bit, and use your phone light to see. Spot a bone or toy piece? If it’s close, grab it with your hand or something like tweezers. But if it’s way back, leave it; you’ll make it worse. Pulled a few things out like this over the years feels great when it works.

Step 3: Give the Heimlich a Go

Mouth didn’t help? Try the dog version of the Heimlich. Changes with how big they are.

For Little Dogs (Under 25 Pounds)

Grab their back legs and hold them head down, like upside down. Slap the back between their shoulders five times, firm but not too hard. Did this for a friend’s small dog once kibble shot right out. No luck? Put them on their back and push under the ribs five times, up and in.

For Bigger Dogs (Over 25 Pounds)

Get behind them, arms around the gut, fist under the ribs. Hold your fist and pull in and up sharp, five goes. If they’re huge or already down, flip them sidewise, kneel, and push the same place with both hands.

Check the mouth after each set, and keep at it till it’s out or you’re at the vet. Vets tell you not to go overboard or you’ll bruise them.

Step 4: If They Black Out

Scary as hell, but focus. Clear what you can, then breathe for them: shut their mouth, blow in the nose slow, every five seconds, till their chest moves. Mix in the pushes and run to the vet lots of places have lines open all night to help you out.

Always See the Vet After

You got it out? Good job! But head to the vet anyway. Could be hurt inside or stuff left that bites you later. Skipped it once thinking Rusty was okay, ended up with a mess a few days on. All the pros I talk to for Diggity Dog AKC, local vets say check it out to keep your healthy pet that way.

Still hacking or breathing odd? Go now, no waiting.

How to Avoid the Whole Mess

Easier to skip choking altogether. Here’s what works in day-to-day pet care:

• Toys That Make Sense: Big enough not to swallow, maybe with holes so no vacuum. No small stuff for large mouths.

• Treats the Right Way: Break small, specially if your dog’s a fast eater. Rawhides? Only if you watch, or skip if they chunk it.

• Watch Like a Hawk: Don’t leave alone chewing or eating. Rusty’s bone thing? My fault for looking away.

• Teach ‘: “Drop it” command saves headaches. Folks who read my blog say it’s gold.

• Clear the House: Socks, bits of plastic, tiny toys put up high.

Doing this stuff means you’re on top of it, keeping your dog safe and sound.

FAQs

Choking or Just a Cough?

Choking: scratching face, drool, quiet if bad. Cough: noisy, air coming through. Not sure? Look in mouth, call vet.

Heimlich Okay for Any Dog?

Pretty much, but careful with smooshed-face ones like bulldogs. Vet can tell you more.

Can’t Get It Out?

Quit after tries, get to vet fast. They can guide you on phone.

Puppies More at Risk?

Yeah, small necks and nosy natures. Keep extra eyes on in pet care.

First Aid Classes?

Red Cross does pet ones, or check local vets. Taken some myself super helpful.

References

• American Kennel Club. (2025). Dog Choking Prevention: Everything You Need to Know.

• Chewy. (2025). 6 Common Causes of Choking in Dogs—and What To Do.

• PetMD. (2025). How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver for Dogs if Your Dog Is Choking.

• Daily Paws. (2021, updated 2025). How to Help a Choking Dog Using the Heimlich Maneuver.

• American Kennel Club. (2025). Dog Choking: What to Do & Heimlich Maneuver For Dogs.

• First Aid for Pets. (2025). How to help your choking dog.

• PDSA. (2025). First aid for choking.