Choking dog

[Laurie]

This happened yesterday..we were outside with Cookie and she was sniffing around in the grass and was eating something. I thought it was guinea pig poop because that's where I shake the towels. Anyway, after a few minutes she came running to me and started to cough and gag and was choking.

Only she kept this up for about two minutes. I had no idea what to do for her. I was rubbing her back and around her throat and talking a mile a minute. Whatever it was it passed.

My question is, if this was ever to happen again, what can I do? I was scared to death!

Here is Cookie. Don't mind the mess..lots of construction going on here lately.

[Pinny Gig]

I love your tile floor, by the way!

Let me see if I still have the link to a web site that tells how to do the doggy Heimlich maneuver.

[Pinny Gig]

Here's the link:
http://members.aol.com/henryhbk/acpr.html
It has information about other emergeny/first aid issues as well.

[Laurie]

Thank You!

[Perrigirl]

Hello I dont post here very much, but I noticed your dog is a Shih Tzu. I own a Shih also and wanted to let you know that I believe what you witnessed was a reverse sneeze.
It is very common in Shih. They breath in with a snorting sound like they are chocking. It is very scary for them and you. But it will not hurt them.
Sometimes placing you finger over the nose for a second will stop the spasms and calm down the dog.
I hope this helps you for the future.

[Laurie]

I do think she was choking on something because she was trying to cough something out. I am happy to know there is something to do for her if it would happen again.

The reverse sneeze you are talking about is something else she does. I think any way. I've never heard of it before.

She will snort and gasp for breath. Her previous owners told us she did it on occasion and thought perhaps it was a touch of asthma. It is scarey and I notice it when she is overly excited. Thank goodness it does not happen very often.

Thanks for letting me know.

[Jodi]

As far as the reverse sneeze thing....many small breed dogs have this problem. Their tracheas collapse and the snorting, sneezing, wheezing thing is what their first instinct is to do.

Just as Perrigirl said, the best thing to do is hold them, try to calm them down and plug their noses. This will force them to swallow & breath through their mouths.

Both my small dogs have these attacks. It sounds really scary when they do it but this helps and calms them down.

[Laurie]

I do hold her and calm her(and myself. Next time I'll try plugging her nose. I had no idea! Thanks!