Every year in the US, more than 1 million dogs experience choking emergencies, resulting in an eye-popping $45 million in vet costs.¹ Those numbers may seem incredibly high, but many of us have either experienced this ourselves or heard about it from friends and family. To raise awareness and hopefully prevent some of these incidents, the Bow Wow Labs pet chew company has created a new holiday: National Pet Choking Day, observed annually on June 22nd.

What is National Pet Choking Day?

This brand-new holiday, created in partnership with a veterinarian named Dr. Judy Morgan, aims to keep pet parents informed about common choking hazards. Many pet owners give their dogs edible chews and chew toys without being aware of the choking and suffocation risks. This holiday aims to change that.

The holiday’s sponsor, Bow Wow Labs, sells a bully stick holder designed to make bully sticks and other chews safer for dogs. According to research sponsored by the company, 80% of veterinarians who tested it firsthand would recommend it, and 85% would use it with their own dogs.

How to Keep Your Dog Safe

1. Choose a safer chew.

Not all chews are created equal, so it’s important to pick a safer variety for your dog’s chewing needs. The top recommended dog chews are bully sticks, yak cheese chews, and synthetic bones.

If you want to give your dog real bones, vets recommend natural raw bones. Avoid cooked bones that can splinter, and make sure you carefully source and store raw bones to avoid transmitting diseases. Keep in mind that overly large, hard bones (like antlers) can break your dog’s teeth, while overly small bones can cause choking if your dog swallows them.

2. Monitor your dog while they chew.

Although it may be tempting to leave your dog alone with their chewable distractions, it’s always a good idea to monitor any chewing session. If your dog starts to swallow big chunks whole, you can take the chew away and redirect with another toy.

3. Be careful with toys, too.

Edible chews aren’t the only choking risk for your dog. When you’re buying your dog toys, make sure to consider the durability and size. If your dog is a heavy chewer with a tendency to swallow pieces, make sure you pick durable toys that won’t break apart and cause intestinal blockages. Toys like balls should also be larger than your dog’s jaw so that they won’t get stuck in their throat.

Remember that if you have multiple pets, the right size toy for one may be a choking hazard for another. For example, your cat’s toys could be too small for your dog to play with. To minimize this risk, put your pets’ toys away when you’re not there to monitor the action.

4. Keep your dog away from garbage.

Another major risk factor for choking and suffocation is from packaging like plastic bags. If your dog gets into the garbage, they may end up unable to breathe inside a bag or swallow and choke on a piece of plastic. To avoid this, make sure everyone in your household is cleaning up their garbage, and secure it somewhere your dog can’t access.

5. Learn how to react if your dog does choke.

The Heimlich maneuver isn’t just for people! By planning ahead, you can be prepared and ready to react if you ever encounter a choking situation. Take a look at this step-by-step guide on how to safely perform the Heimlich maneuver on dogs of all sizes.

How Can You Help?

Keeping your own pets safe is a great way to start. If you already have edible chews and toys, this is a good time to do a safety review and consider lower-risk replacements. You can also spread the word to your fellow dog owners, in person or using the hashtag #EndPetChoking. For more information on the holiday, you can visit the website here.

Featured Image Credit: Iryna Imago, Shutterstock

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