What Do You Do if Your Pitbull Is Choking?

Pit bulls are curious creatures. They are an energetic breed that can get into trouble if they get bored. They entertain themselves by chewing on things. This is also how they explore their world, as next to smell, taste is one of a dog's most important senses. There is little a pit bull won't try to eat or put in its mouth. This means that your pit bull is at risk of choking on items such as chunks of rawhide bone, small toys, rocks or any other object that fits inside its mouth. You can prevent choking by removing small objects from your pit bull's reach and supervising whenever it chews on bones. If choking does occur, however, you should know how to help your dog.

  1. Remove Restrictions

    • If your pit bull is having difficulty breathing, its throat will tighten and bulge, and it will make coughing or wheezing sounds. It may also pace and scratch at its face. Start by removing anything else that might be restricting the throat. Take your pit bull's collar off. If it starts breathing normally again, the collar might have tightened, cutting off your pit bull's airway and causing the choking.

    Check Your Pit Bull's Throat

    • Don't just assume that your pit bull has something lodged inside its throat. Unless you saw it put something in its mouth immediately before the choking began, you should always check to ensure that your pit bull is indeed choking on a foreign object. Don't reach blindly into your pit bull's mouth and pull out any object you feel. Dogs have small bones that support the bones, and if you mistake these for a foreign object, you can cause severe injury. Hold open your pit bull's jaws and look inside its throat to see if you can identify the object. If you can, remove it. You may need help with this, especially if you are worried that your panicked pit bull might bite you when you stick your hand in its mouth.

    Perform the Heimlich Maneuver

    • This life-saving technique is not just for humans. It can work for your pit bull as well. Stand behind your pit bull and wrap your arms around it, similar to a bear hug. Pit bulls are a medium to large breed, so if you have the strength, lift the dog so that its head is near your chest and its back is against your stomach. If your pit bull is too large for this you can perform the procedure while the dog is standing on all fours. Place your fists in your pit bull's abdomen, directly below the rib cage. Thrust your fists inward and upward to compress the abdomen. Check your pit bull's mouth to see if the object has been dislodged. Don't try the Heimlich maneuver more than twice.

    Call Your Vet

    • If the Heimlich maneuver is unsuccessful, call your veterinarian immediately and ask for further advice. If the maneuver was successful and you dislodged the object, you should still take your dog in to be examined by a veterinarian. This is because the Heimlich maneuver can cause internal injury to your pit bull. Let your vet know what happened and ask for an examination to ensure that everything is alright.