Possible Causes: Foreign object (needle, bone, food, plant material) lodged in throat, esophagus, or teeth; allergic reaction.
Action Steps
(Do not attempt if animal is trying to bite.)
- Gently pull tongue forward and carefully inspect mouth and throat, if possible.
- If a foreign object is spotted, hold the mouth open and attempt to remove it by hand or with tweezers or a pair of small pliers. Take care not to push the object farther down the animal’s throat
- Do not pull on “objects” that you cannot directly see.
- If animal is not breathing, initiate CPR