If your dog is choking, every second counts — and staying calm is the first step. Check the mouth immediately: if you can clearly see and safely grasp the obstruction, remove it. If not, use chest thrusts or the modified Heimlich maneuver. Even if the object comes out and your dog recovers, go to an emergency vet right away. Internal injuries from choking are not always visible.
How to Tell If Your Dog Is Choking
Dogs can't tell you something is lodged in their throat, but they show clear signs. According to the American Kennel Club¹, a dog that is actively choking will typically show:
Tripod stance — front legs spread wide in an effort to draw more air
Pawing at the mouth or rubbing the face against the ground
Excessive drooling beyond normal excitement-level salivation
Repeated coughing or gagging without producing anything
High-pitched or labored breathing sounds
Blue-tinged gums — a sign of oxygen deprivation
Lethargy or collapse in severe cases
Choking vs. reverse sneezing: Many pet parents confuse the two. Reverse sneezing produces a rapid, honking sound and looks alarming — but it resolves on its own within seconds to a minute without any intervention. A choking dog cannot breathe normally, is clearly distressed, will not self-resolve, and may show blue gums. When in doubt, treat it as choking and act.
What to Do If Your Dog Is Choking: Step-by-Step
1. Stay calm and approach carefully.
A panicking dog may bite even without meaning to. Move calmly. If needed, use a towel or blanket to help hold your dog safely while you work.
2. Check the mouth.
Open the mouth and look inside. If you can clearly see the obstruction and safely reach it, remove it with your fingers. Do not perform a blind finger sweep — if you cannot see the object, sweeping blindly can push it further into the airway.¹
3. If the object is not reachable, apply chest thrusts.
Stand or kneel behind your dog and apply firm inward pressure at the "armpits" — just behind the front legs. This forces air upward through the airway and is the technique most vets recommend as the first hands-on approach.¹
4. If chest thrusts don't work, try the modified Heimlich maneuver.
See the next section for size-specific instructions.
5. If your dog loses consciousness, begin rescue breathing.
Close your dog's mouth, form a seal around the nose, and breathe in — one breath every 5 seconds. If there is no heartbeat, begin CPR: 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths.¹
6. Go to an emergency vet immediately.
Even if you successfully remove the object and your dog seems fine, seek veterinary care right away. Airway damage may not be immediately apparent.
How to Do the Heimlich Maneuver on a Dog
The Heimlich maneuver for dogs is not the same as the technique used on humans — dog anatomy requires a modified approach. The method also varies by size.
For medium to large dogs (standing):
Position yourself behind your standing dog
Wrap your arms around the belly, just below the ribcage
Make a fist with one hand, place it against the soft abdomen, and cover it with the other hand
Give quick, firm thrusts inward and upward toward the spine²
After each thrust, check the mouth for the dislodged object
For small dogs:
Hold your dog with their back against your chest, head upright
Use two or three fingers to find the soft area just below the ribcage
Apply quick inward and upward thrusts²
Alternatively, VCA Animal Hospitals² notes that small dogs can be gently held by the thighs — facing downward — and swung side to side to help dislodge the object
For an unconscious dog:
Lay your dog on their back
Kneel and use both thumbs to apply firm downward pressure along the trachea toward the nose in a J-stroke motion, milking the obstruction forward²
After each technique, check the mouth and remove any object that has moved into reach. Never perform multiple thrusts without pausing to check.
What Causes Dogs to Choke?
Common choking hazards include:
Bones — especially cooked bones, which splinter easily
Balls or toys sized too small for the dog
Rawhide chews — can break into large pieces that swell in the throat
Food eaten too fast — large chunks swallowed whole
Small foreign objects — coins, bottle caps, toys, stones
Sticks — can splinter and lodge at an angle across the airway
If your dog swallowed a toxin rather than choking on a solid object, the response is different. See how to make a dog throw up for guidance on when inducing vomiting is and isn't appropriate for ingested hazards.
After the Emergency: Always See a Vet
Even when you successfully dislodge the object, a vet visit is essential. Choking can cause:
Cuts or lacerations to the throat or esophagus
Swelling that could narrow the airway further
Damage to the trachea from pressure
Aspiration of material into the lungs
Your vet will examine the airway, check for internal injuries, and confirm your dog is breathing safely. For a sense of what an emergency exam and diagnostics typically cost, see how much does a vet checkup cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tell if my dog is choking or reverse sneezing?
A choking dog cannot breathe normally, is visibly distressed, may paw at their mouth, and will not self-resolve. Reverse sneezing produces a distinctive rapid honking sound, lasts seconds to a minute, and stops on its own with no intervention needed. If your dog has blue gums, collapses, or is clearly unable to draw breath, treat it as choking immediately. When unsure, call your vet.
Can dogs choke on water?
Not typically. Dogs can cough and sputter if water goes down the wrong way, but this is self-resolving and not true choking. True choking involves a solid object blocking the airway. If your dog regularly appears to choke on liquids, that warrants a vet evaluation for an underlying swallowing disorder.
What if my dog swallows the object instead of expelling it?
If the object passes to the stomach, the immediate choking emergency usually resolves — but the object may still cause digestive tract problems like perforation or obstruction. Call your vet right away. Do not attempt to induce vomiting for solid hard objects; see how to make a dog throw up for guidance on when that approach is and isn't appropriate.
Does pet insurance cover emergency choking treatment?
Most accident and illness pet insurance plans help cover emergency vet visits, diagnostics, and treatment for acute injuries like choking and airway damage. Choking may be covered once the waiting period has passed. See pre-existing conditions and pet insurance to understand how enrollment timing affects coverage.
Unexpected vet bills can happen when you least expect them, but pet insurance may help make those costs more manageable. Having coverage in place can help pet parents feel more prepared for emergency care, surgery, diagnostics, and treatment for covered conditions.
Spot Pet Insurance offers dog insurance plans starting at $15/month^ and cat insurance plans starting at $9/month,^^ helping to make it easier to find coverage that fits your budget. Spot also makes filing claims simple with a digital claims process that lets pet parents submit a claim in 60 seconds or less. Get a free quote.
^ Advertised premium is based on an accident and illness plan with an 80% reimbursement rate, $500 annual deductible, and a $2,500 annual limit for a 2-year-old small mixed dog (11-25lbs) in 32009. Plan costs vary.
^^ Advertised premium is based on an accident and illness plan with an 80% reimbursement rate, $750 annual deductible, and a $2,500 annual limit for a 2-year-old mixed cat in 33801. Plan costs vary.
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American Kennel Club. What to Do If Your Dog Is Choking. AKC.
VCA Animal Hospitals. First Aid for Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals.
