How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver on a Dog

For many people, their dog is a dear and beloved member of their family. People love and care for their canine friends as if they were real people. However, dogs are also like people in that they can get hurt and stop breathing. Do you know what to do if your dog becomes lifeless, breathless or pulseless? Knowing the Heimlich maneuver for a dog could possibly save your best friend's life one day.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Check the dog's mouth and throat to see if you can see an object. If so, you should try to remove it with your finger.

2. Wrap your arm around the dog letting the head, shoulders and forearms hang forward.

3. Close your hand forming a fist and close your other hand around this fist. Both hands should be in a ball-like position. Position your fist between the dog's navel and rib cage.

4. Feel for the rib cage, then follow upward. Where the ribs come together is the diaphragm. Quickly and powerfully thrust inwards and upwards. Do this as many times as is necessary to dislodge the object. By pressing in and up just under the dog's diaphragm, you compress the air into the lungs and force the foreign object out through the mouth.

5. Review the dog for breathing. If the dog is still not breathing, then initiate CPR. (See related eHow article "How to Administer CPR to a Dog.")

6. Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if the dog begins to breath and the object is removed, it is still a good idea to make sure no damage was done by the object or by the Heimlich maneuver.

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