Choking Hazards for Dogs

We all know that dogs love to put things in their mouths! If your dog can wrap its teeth around any item, it will consider it fair game. Knowing what can cause our dogs to choke is essential as a pet owner. Honestly, any small object your dog can fit inside its mouth is a potential choking hazard. However, we created a list of some of our four-legged friends’ most common choking hazards. Please do us a favor and share the list with your friends and family. You may potentially save a life.

Rawhide Bones – Unfortunately, rawhide bones are linked to airway obstruction, choking, and intestinal blockages. You may have a dog who loves to chew aggressively. This puts them at risk because they are known to break off large chunks of rawhide and swallow it whole, resulting in choking.

Balls – Plastic, tennis, or rubber balls are all choking hazards. Pieces of the ball can break off and become lodged in their throat.

Bully Sticks – You may think that bully sticks are easily digestible. However, once your dog whittles down their bully stick to just a few inches wide, you must take it away from them to prevent choking.

Sticks – We refer to any stick you find in nature. Wooden sticks can be a hazard to your dog and have been known to splinter your dog’s mouth, causing cuts and intestinal perforations.

Stones – We do not understand why, but many dogs are obsessed with pebbles and small rocks. If your dog eats a stone, it can cause an intestinal blockage which may require surgery. Do not take a chance.

Kid’s Toys – Kid’s toys contain many small pieces that are sometimes hard to keep track of. Keep a close eye on your dog so they are not tempted by small toys that can cause choking.

Now that you know some common choking hazards for dogs, you need to understand what to do if your dog is choking. Anything stuck in your dog’s throat is considered a medical emergency which can escalate to death. If your dog is choking, the object must be removed immediately. As always, one of the best safeguards is being proactive. Prevent choking hazards by not allowing your dog access to the abovementioned items.