Common Causes of Choking in Pets
It is a scary situation when a pet chokes. Knowing the most common choking hazards in pets will get your pet the help they need and hopefully prevent choking altogether. Below are the most common causes of choking in pets. Share this article with your friends and family so that we can spread the word to prevent pets from choking. It may save a life.
Infectious Disease – Tracheobronchitis (most known as kennel cough) is a contagious infectious disease in dogs that mimic the signs of choking. Dogs catch kennel cough from other dogs or from snigging up sputum coughed up by other dogs. Another condition that can cause choking in dogs is puppy strangles. This is mainly seen in younger dogs, and the cause is unknown. Puppy strangles causes swelling of the throat and lymph nodes and flu-like symptoms.
Foreign Objects – Dogs are curious and love exploring everything around them. A dog can accidentally inhale something, which can cause choking. Think of rawhides, toys, balls, bones, and sticks. Only allow your dog to chew on things under supervision. If the item is a treat, take it away when your dog chews it down, small enough to swallow.
Collapsing Trachea – This is a common cause of choking in older small-breed dogs. The windpipe becomes floppy, and the harder a dog sucks air in the trachea, the more collapsed it becomes, causing the dog to cough, sputter, and choke.
Collars – Constricting collars is often overlooked when determining the causes of choking. Collars can become too tight, which can cause choking. If your dog pulls excessively on the leash and then chokes and coughs, they can benefit from being trained to stop pulling. Otherwise, a harness would be a great option.
Prevention is key to ensuring that your dog is less likely to choke. Supervise your dog when they are chewing on objects. Otherwise, keep small things out of reach. Ensure your dog is vaccinated to lessen the chance of them getting kennel cough. Also, check the collar on your dog to ensure they are not too tight.
