What To Do If Your Cat Is Choking

Technically, choking is when something lodges in the larynx or trachea, preventing air flow. This can be nearly anything, even a small object such as a pen cap, bell, or thimble. Fortunately, choking is a rare occurrence in cats.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• Pawing at the mouth, drooling
• Coughing or gagging
• Anxiety or panic
• Labored breathing
• Fainting, unconsciousness, or, if air flow is completely blocked, an inability to breathe
• Bad breath, loss of appetite, listlessness (if something has been lodged in the mouth for a while)

PRIMARY CAUSE

Pieces of cat toys like small pompons or bells, splintered bits of bone, and other foreign objects can potentially get stuck in the larynx and cause choking.

IMMEDIATE CARE

If your cat is conscious and not too upset, you can try looking in his mouth for any foreign object. Remove it if you can, but in most cases you will probably not be able to do so safely. However, if your cat is too upset for safe handling, wrap him in a towel or put him in a carrier for transport to the veterinarian.

If your cat is unconscious and not breathing, or breathing with great difficulty, do the following:

• Open the mouth and pull the tongue forward. If you see a foreign object, try to grab it with your finger or tweezers.
• If that doesn’t work, try the Heimlich maneuver:
  
  
  1. Lay the cat on his side.
  2. Put one hand along his back.
  3. Put the other hand on his belly, just below the ribs.
  4. With the hand on the belly, give several sharp pushes in and up.
  5. Check the mouth for foreign objects and remove them, then close the mouth and give a couple of small breaths through the nose.
  6. Repeat these steps until you are confident there is no foreign object present in the airway.
  7. If the cat is still not breathing after the foreign object has been removed, check for a heartbeat or pulse. If none can be found, begin CPR and/or artificial respiration as needed and take your cat to the veterinarian immediately.

A note about strings: If you find a string (thread, tinsel, etc.) in your cat’s mouth, the temptation is to pull it out. Unless it slides out like a wet spaghetti noodle, DO NOT pull it. It is likely stuck somewhere inside and pulling will only make things a lot worse.

VETERINARY CARE

Diagnosis

Diagnosis will be based on examination of your cat and your description of what happened. X-rays of the head, neck, and chest may be necessary to locate the foreign object. Sedation may be required for the examination and X-rays.

Treatment

Your cat will most likely be sedated or anesthetized in order to remove the foreign object. The removal may be as simple as pulling it out of the mouth, or it may require a complicated surgery on the neck. The foreign object may cause damage that may require suturing or antibiotics, especially if the object has been lodged for a while.

LIVING AND MANAGEMENT

Once the foreign object has been removed, healing usually proceeds without a problem. If there was severe damage from the object, or if surgery was required, laryngeal paralysis is a possible complication. Scarring could cause strictures (narrowing of a passageway) to form, which could make breathing or swallowing difficult.

If your cat was without oxygen for an extended period of time, that could also cause problems, usually of a neurologic nature, such as blindness or mental dullness.

PREVENTION

Just as with small children, you need to be aware of potential choking hazards in your cat’s environment. In addition, something labeled as a cat toy is not necessarily safe for your cat, especially after your cat has chewed on it extensively.

Source: PetMD 

What To Do If Your Pet Eats Something Toxic

What To Do If Your Pet 

Eats Something Toxic

In the wild dogs are scavengers, meaning they’ll eat
whatever they can find.Some pet dogs are the same
and will eat anything they find lying around.

There are lots of foods, items and substances in the
house and environment that can poison dogs or block
their guts.

Treatment and outcome varies a lot depending on
what it is your dog has chosen to eat.

Contact your vet immediately if your dog has eaten
something harmful. Acting fast could
save your dog's life!

Toxins, poisons and harmful items for dogs

There are many substances that are toxic, poisonous or harmful to dogs in the house, 
garden and environment, such as cleaning products, human medicines, poisonous plants,
antifreeze and foods (e.g. chocolate, grapes and onions).

Dogs also love to eat strange items which can cause gut blockages. Bones, rubber toys,
stones, socks, underwear and baby’s dummies are just a few examples. The list is endless!

Gut blockages are very serious and can kill a dog if not treated quickly.

Contact your vet immediately if you think your dog has eaten something harmful.

Symptoms

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Twitching
• Sleeping more or being quieter than usual
• Not wanting to eat
• Standing with a hunched back or adopting a ‘bowing’ or ‘prayer’ position due to tummy pain
• Straining and not being able to poo (constipation).

Some dogs will vomit but the vast majority won’t show any signs immediately after eating something
they shouldn’t have. It usually takes a day or two for symptoms to develop (depending on what they’ve
eaten).

If you think that your dog may have eaten something harmful contact your vet immediately for
an emergency appointment.

Should I try to make my dog vomit?

No, never try to make your dog vomit unless your vet specifically asks you to do so. It can make
the situation much worse and you may end up harming your dog.

When to contact your vet

Contact your vet immediately for an emergency appointment if your dog has eaten something
they shouldn’t have. Never wait to see if a problem develops - your dog could become very ill or
even die without treatment. Acting fast could save your dog's life.

You know your dog best. Even if you’re unsure whether or not they have eaten something that
may harm them, if they’re not themselves or you are concerned it’s always best to contact your vet.

Treatment options

Treatment depends entirely on what your dog has eaten, and may include:

• Making your dog vomit (when instructed by vet)
• Activated charcoal in a meal (a liquid that helps absorb any remaining toxins, excess gas & fluids)
• Keeping them overnight on a drip to give them fluids
• Blood tests
• A medication to help reverse or prevent the effects of the toxin your dog has eaten
• X-rays
• An ultrasound scan of their tummy
• An emergency operation to remove a blockage.

Outlook

Toxins and poisons

• The outcome depends entirely on what your pet ingested and whether they get proper treatment.
• Most dogs that receive veterinary treatment quickly make a good recovery.
• Unfortunately some animals, even with correct treatment, develop health problems. 
• Health problems vary depending on what your dog has eaten.

Gut blockages

• Having a gut blockage is a very serious condition that can be fatal if left without treatment. 
• Often your dog will need an emergency operation to remove the item.
• Unfortunately, even with correct treatment, it's common for animals to develop complications.

Gut blockages can lead to serious complications

Why do dogs eat things they shouldn't?

Curiosity

Dogs explore the world with their mouths. Sometimes they can accidentally swallow the things they
pick up out of curiosity.

Boredom

Dogs are very intelligent animals and they can get bored easily. They might fill their time by chewing
on or tearing up things in your house, swallowing something they shouldn’t in the process.

Lack of nutrients

Some dogs have a taste for things that we don’t think of as food, such as poo. This can be a sign that
they’re missing out on important nutrients. Speak to your vet for advice.

Stress

If your dog is stressed out, they might comfort themselves by chewing on something they shouldn’t.

Attention

Did they get a lot of fuss and attention last time they ate something they shouldn’t have? Your dog
might have learnt that eating a toy or chowing down on your slippers makes them the center of attention!

How can I stop my dog eating things 

they shouldn’t?

Read our tips for keeping your dog safe by helping to stop them eating things they shouldn't.



Source: PSDA June 2018.

Pet First Aid

Pet First Aid

We've shared a lot of posts on our social media about pet first aid and what should be in your pet's first aid kit, but do you know how and when to use those things? We'll start with prevention first and work through some different ailments that can happen to your pet. 

Prevention

Keeping your cat in doors will keep them from getting attacked by neighborhood dogs or other animals. Having your dog well trained and on a leash will prevent them from getting hit by a car. Making sure all your pets are microchipped and collared should they get away from your home can get them back to you safely and have you notified should something happen to them. Make sure you pet proof your home to keep your pets out of household chemicals and keep toxic plants.

Ailments

Toxins/Poisoning: Rodent toxins, cleaning agents, some plants, and antifreeze. There are some people foods that are toxic to pets. This first thing you should do if you find your pet has been exposed to something toxic is read the label. If it says to wash your skin thoroughly with soap and water, then you need to wash your pet thoroughly with soap and water. Same thing if it says to flush the eyes with water for 5 minutes. Then call your vet. If you find your pet has ingested something, call your vet, emergency vet, or you can call the Animal Poison Control Hotline (there is a fee for the consultation) immediately. Make sure you have the package available when you call to use as a reference and let them know the breed, size, sex, age, weight, how long they were exposed to the toxin and what their symptoms are.

Bleeding: There are two types of bleeding, external and internal. External is the kind we can see and usually tend to "freak out" when we see it because we know our pet is hurt. Internal is the kind we can't see, think more along the lines of a ruptured organ. This is usually more dangerous than the bleeding we can see. When your pet has external bleeding, apply some clean gauze pads over it and apply pressure for several minutes, same as you would for yourself. You can even take a gauze wrap and wrap it around the pad to hold it in place. If bleeding is severe, apply the bandage and head to the vet immediately. For internal bleeding you need to look for blood coming from the mouth, nose, rectum, blood in the urine, pale gums, coughing up blood, your pet may collapse, or have a weak pulse. If your pet has any of these symptoms, keep them calm, quiet, and warm and take them to the vet immediately. 

Fractures: These almost go hand in hand with external bleeding. If the fracture is an open fracture, there are now two wounds to take care of: the fracture and the bleeding wound. Don't try to set the fractures yourself. If your don't know what you're doing, you risk putting your pet in more pain and you can cause more harm to your pet. The best thing to do is to use something as a stretcher and wrap your pet in a blanket, cover any bleeding wounds, and transport them to the vet. 

Burns: There are different types of burns you need to know about. The obvious is a burn from something hot or a fire, but there are also chemical burns which can be caused from getting into those toxins. For burns from fire, apply ice water compress over the area to stop the burn. For chemical burns, flush the area with large amounts of water. 

Seizures: Do not try to hold your pet still. Move objects away from your pet so your pet doesn't get injured. After the seizure has stopped, usually a couple of minutes, keep your pet calm and quiet and call your vet. 

Choking and not breathing: Please be careful when dealing with a choking pet. When an animal is choking, it is more likely to bite because it is panicking, and this includes your little Fluffy and Snowball. If your pet is still able to breathe, get them to the vet immediately. If your pet has collapsed, place your hands on both sides of the rib cage (if your pet is small enough) or lay them on their side and strike the rib cage with your palm firmly until the object has come out or you've reached the vet's office. If your pet stops breathing and is not choking, it's best to take a pet CPR class, but you want to close their mouth and breathe into their nose until their chest expands. Keep giving rescue breaths every 4 seconds on the way to the vet. For no heartbeat, we advise you take a pet CPR class. 

Heatstroke: Move your pet to shaded or cool area. Submerge your pet in cool - cold water either by dumping water on your pet or using a hose. You can even take your pet inside to the bathtub. Place a cold wet towel around your pet and transport them to the vet.