Choking dog: back blows, the Heimlich manoeuvre and what to do first

A dog that is choking can lose consciousness within minutes, so it pays to know the steps before you ever need them. The good news: most choking incidents can be cleared by an owner who stays calm and works through a simple sequence.

Is it really choking?

A dog that is coughing, gagging or retching but still moving air is usually trying to clear something itself. Stay close, keep it calm and let it cough.

A dog that is truly choking struggles to breathe in at all. Look for:

• Pawing at the mouth or face, panic, extended neck
• Noisy, high-pitched breathing — or no breathing sounds at all
• Blue or grey lips, gums or tongue
• Collapse

Call your nearest emergency vet now if your dog is struggling to breathe, and ask someone else to drive while you give first aid.

Step 1 — Look, but don't put your fingers in

Open the mouth carefully and look. If you can see the object and grip it easily, use tweezers or pliers to remove it. Never push your fingers into a conscious dog's mouth: a panicking dog bites without meaning to, and fingers can push the object deeper.

Step 2 — Back blows first

New veterinary first-aid guidelines published in 2026 by the RECOVER Initiative recommend up to five firm back blows as the first technique for a conscious choking dog. In the only head-to-head study, back blows were roughly twice as likely to work as abdominal thrusts, and they carry less risk of internal injury.

• Small dogs: hold the dog with its head lower than its chest — across your knee or with the back legs lifted.
• Large dogs: keep the dog standing or lying on its side, and lift the back legs if you safely can.
• Strike firmly with the heel of your hand between the shoulder blades, up to five times. Check the mouth after each blow.

Step 3 — Abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich manoeuvre)

If back blows haven't worked, try abdominal thrusts — but only when you can do so without being badly bitten.

• Stand behind the dog and put your arms around its belly, just below the ribcage.
• Make a fist with one hand, cover it with the other, and give up to five quick, firm thrusts upwards and forwards.
• For a small dog lying on its side, place one hand on the back and use the other to push sharply up and forward just below the ribs.

Alternate five back blows and five thrusts, checking the mouth in between.

If your dog collapses: start CPR

Once a dog is unconscious and not breathing, start CPR straight away — chest compressions can dislodge the object. Give 30 compressions at 100–120 per minute, then quickly look in the mouth (no more than ten seconds) and remove anything you can see. Don't sweep a finger blindly round the throat; the 2026 guidelines advise against it because it can push objects further down. Give two breaths into the nose and continue. See our CPR for dogs guide.

Afterwards: always see a vet

Even if your dog seems completely fine, take it to a vet straight away. Back blows and thrusts can bruise the chest and abdomen, and fragments may remain in the airway.

Preventing choking

• Choose balls and toys too big to swallow — ideally ones with an air hole.
• Supervise chews and throw away pieces that become small enough to swallow.
• Don't throw food or toys for your dog to catch in mid-air.