Quick-Thinking French Bulldog Owner Saves Pup’s Life with Dog Heimlich—Watch the Incredible Moment!
Let’s talk about a not-so-fun subject: choking. Witnessing your furry friend choking — whether they were wolfing down their food, shredding their not-so-durable toy, or playing with a small tennis ball — is downright terrifying.
But you know what’s even worse? Not knowing how to help your dog during a choking incident. If this sounds like you, don’t fret: one French Bulldog owner on TikTok has shared a life-saving tip on how to handle a choking dog.
A recent video shared by the Frenchie dog mom, @itsmelyssk, captures her Frenchie — named Benson — suddenly choking while eating. The dog owner shared, “Thank you to whoever made a video about the doggy Heimlich because it helped us this morning! I only give Benson small amounts of food at a time/he only eats when I am home, and he has never choked on his food. But this morning, he started choking and reverse sneezing at the same time.”
As seen in the video, the dog owner calmly approaches her distressed pup before performing a Heimlich maneuver. She’s captured lifting her Frenchie’s hind legs in the air and tilting him forward, which she refers to as the “wheelbarrow position.” This wheelbarrow pose allows gravity to push the object logged in their airway forward.
Thankfully, the technique worked, as sweet Benson immediately stopped choking.
Now, if thoughts such as “What to do if dog is choking,” “How to do the Heimlich on a dog,” and “How to do the Heimlich maneuver on a dog,” have taken a ton of space in your mind, stick around to learn more!
Dog Chocking 101: How to Give a Dog the Heimlich Maneuver
As dog owners, we can’t ignore the fact that our homes have various items that pose a choking hazard to our canine friends. For this reason, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the Heimlich maneuver instructions so you can prepare for any choking incident.
Luckily, it’s not hard to tell whether your pup is choking on something. Some of the common signs of a choking dog include:
- Repeated coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Gagging/heavy retching
- Pawing at their mouth or head
- Making unusual high-pitched noises
- Eyes bulging out
- Excessive salivation
In severe cases, a choking dog’s tongue or gums can change color, and they may lose consciousness.
With choking, it’s crucial to act immediately and not wait to rush them to the vet. This is where the dog Heimlich maneuver technique comes in. So, if you’ve had thoughts such as: “What to do if your dog is choking” or “What to do if you find your pet choking,” remember that you should take action immediately.
“In a choking emergency, quick action can save your dog’s life. Recognize the signs: difficulty breathing, gasping, a blue or purple tongue, and visible distress. Perform the Heimlich maneuver if conscious or clear the airway if unconscious. Always seek immediate vet care after stabilizing,” the veterinary team at Zabeel Veterinary Hospital advises.
If tilting your choking pup forward in a wheelbarrow pose doesn’t work, proceed with the Heimlich maneuver for dogs. Some of the steps in this technique may vary depending on the size of your pup.
Heimlich for Dogs: Performing the Heimlich Maneuver on a Small Dog
Dr. Andrew Jones of Veterinary Secrets recommends first trying to remove the lodged object with your fingers. If this fails, then quickly start the doggy Heimlich.
“First, open their mouth, sweep with your index finger to the back of their throat, and see if you can feel anything. If you find it, pull it out. If you can’t remove it, you need to do the Heimlich,” Dr Andrew explains.
Here’s how to give a small dog the Heimlich maneuver, according to Dr Andrew:
- Carefully lift your pup and turn them upside down, with their back pressed against your stomach and head facing downwards.
- Ensure your arms are wrapped around their abdomen in a fist (slightly below their rib cage)
- Firmly and swiftly, press their abdominal area inwards and upwards in a thrusting motion (just as you would while performing the Heimlich on a human)
- Repeat the thrusts until the item causing the choking is expelled.
- Check their mouth to confirm there are no remnants of the choking hazard.
Once your canine pal is back to normal, take them to the vet soon after for further examination. That way, you’ll be sure they didn’t sustain any hidden harm from the choking.
“It’s important to seek veterinary care for a choking dog as soon as possible, even if you are able to remove the object. The dog may have suffered airway damage or damage to the other internal organs,” advise the veterinary team at The Vets.
There are many successful stories of this Heimlich maneuver technique on small dogs. Here’s just one of them:
“My 25 lb Beagle managed to bite off a 1 sq chunk of beef rib bone and tried to swallow. She made these very soft wheezing sounds, and I knew she wasn’t alright. I tried to pull it out of her throat, and I could not even feel anything. Tried slapping her on the back, nothing. So I picked her up with her back to me, and one quick thwack on her ribcage got her breathing again. But after she was breathing, I still had to get the bone out of her mouth,” narrated user @hlhaper in a Reddit discussion post on choking in dogs.
@veterinarysecrets How to do HEIMLICH in a Dog for Choking #dog #firstaid #choking #dogemergency911 ♬ original sound – Andrew Jones, DVM
Heimlich Maneuver on Dogs: Performing the Heimlich Maneuver on a Large Dog
If you’re unable to remove the object lodged in your large dog’s throat using your fingers, perform the Heimlich immediately. As Dr. Andrew Jones advises in a TikTok video: “If your large dog is choking and can’t breathe, open their mouth, see if you can feel the obstruction. If you can, pull it out. If you can’t pull it out, you need to do the dog Heimlich.”
Since lifting a large dog can be difficult, here’s how to give a large, chocking dog the Heimlich maneuver:
- If your dog is in a standing position, lean close behind them
- Wrap your arms slightly below their rib cage in a fist
- Firmly and swiftly, press your fist up and down in a thrusting motion
- Continue with the thrusts until the object is dislodged.
- Once the object is out, check their mouth to ensure there are no remnants of this choking hazard.
@veterinarysecrets Large Dog Choking? Big Dog Heimlich! #dogcpr #dogemergency #dogemergency911 #homeremedies ♬ Send Me on My Way – Guy Meets Girl
Heimlich Maneuver If Your Dog Is Lying Down
- If your dog is lying on a surface such as the floor, place one hand on his back to keep him steady, and place your other hand slightly below their rib cage.
- With your other hand curled into a fist, thrust your dog’s abdomen up and down (toward the direction of their head) until the object lodged in their throat comes out.
Remember to bring your dog to the vet after the crisis has passed so they can be examined.
