Dog Has Swallowed a Foreign Object – First Aid & Vet

Dogs often explore unknown objects with their mouths and sometimes swallow foreign bodies. Depending on their size, these can block the airways or the gastrointestinal tract. Here you will learn how to help your dog in an emergency.

Variant 1: You Saw Your Dog Swallow a Foreign Object

You know exactly what your dog has swallowed and can assess whether the size poses a risk to the airways or could lead to a bowel obstruction.

Option 1: Supporting the Dog in Gagging Up the Object

If your dog is already trying to dislodge the foreign body by gagging, you can help them: tap them with the flat of your hand on the point between the shoulder blades.

Option 2: The Shaking Method

Caution: Only perform this manoeuvre in an absolute emergency if your dog is at risk of suffocating. Lift small dogs by their hind legs so that the head points towards the ground. Hold large dogs by the torso so that at least the head is aligned downwards. Then try to shake the object out.

Option 3: The Heimlich Manoeuvre

This method is also an absolute emergency measure. It is used if the dog is already unconscious due to acute shortness of breath or if the choking episode is so severe that there is not enough time for the trip to the vet. The Heimlich manoeuvre creates overpressure in the lungs.

1. Embrace the dog from behind. For unconscious dogs, the stable side-lying position is recommended. Ensure that the upper body is slightly bent forward.
2. Place a fist at the lower edge of the breastbone. Place the other hand on top; it serves to apply pressure.
3. Apply a strong, jerking pressure.
4. Repeat this movement at most five times. If the foreign object has not dislodged, repeat the first two methods (blow between the shoulder blades & shaking) before performing the Heimlich manoeuvre again.

Variant 2: You Suspect That Your Dog Has Swallowed a Foreign Object

Often dogs swallow a foreign body unnoticed. Even if some objects are small enough to be excreted later, you do not know this beforehand. These symptoms indicate a swallowed foreign body:

• significantly increased saliva production (drooling)
• sudden atypical coughing
• the dog repeatedly paws at its mouth
• unusual posture, head hanging low
• loss of appetite, refusal to eat food and/or drink water
• no bowel movement
• abdominal pain/cramps

The first symptoms suggest that the foreign body is stuck in the throat and obstructing the trachea. The latter signs point to an impending bowel obstruction. Both are potentially life-threatening situations. Take your dog to the vet immediately if you notice such symptoms.