Vet Issues Safety Warning About Dog Toys This Christmas
Animal Friends Pet Insurance and online veterinary provider Joii have issued a warning dog owners to be mindful of the quality and size of dog toys this Christmas.
The warning coincides with December’s Safer Toys and Gifts Month, urging dog owners to prioritise safety when choosing toys.
Catrin George, an animal wellbeing specialist at Animal Friends, emphasised the importance of considering factors such as size, material, and durability when selecting toys for dogs. Toys that are too small pose choking hazards, while poorly made items can break apart, creating risks of ingestion. Dr Samantha Webster from Joii highlighted the lack of specific safety regulations for pet products in the UK, advising owners to purchase toys from reputable retailers and look for labels indicating BPA-free and non-toxic materials.
Children’s toys can also be hazardous to dogs, particularly those with batteries or made from flimsy materials. Dr Webster noted that dogs often mistake these items for playthings, underscoring the need to keep such toys out of reach.
What to do if your dog is choking
There are a few key symptoms to look out for, that could mean your dog is choking, including wheezing, gagging, drooling, pawing at their mouth and being visually distressed. If your dog is displaying these symptoms, or you think they’re choking, you can help dislodge the foreign body by following four simple steps, outlined by Dani Hickman, Director at Dog First Aid Training Ltd.
After performing each of the following steps, always check in the dog’s mouth to see whether the object has become dislodged and can be removed.
- Milk the throat
Take your two thumbs and milk the throat upwards to attempt to dislodge the object. This can be effective for larger items, however you may not be able to feel a smaller obstruction.
- Lift up and down
Lift your dog by its hind legs and get a firm grip on their body, holding them upside down, move the dog up and down three times to allow gravity to expel the object. If you have a larger dog and you’re not able to lift them off the ground, lean them against your body and attempt the same process.
- Coupage
Whilst back slaps are not advised on dogs due to their close shoulder blades, coupage is where you cup your hand so air can get between your hand and the dog, and you firmly tap up the dog’s ribs - ideally with the hind legs raised.
- Abdominal thrust
Take your fist and place it in the dog’s abdominal area, cover the fist with your other hand and thrust firmly. This is similar to the Heimlich Maneuver. Again, ideally this would be performed with the hind legs raised.
If you’re unable to dislodge the blockage, you should take them to see a medical professional as soon as possible.
