Breathing and Respiratory Problems

• Check for breathing by looking, listening and feeling for up to ten seconds
• If there are no signs of breathing you can start chest compressions to force air out of the lungs and draw fresh air in
• You can provide mouth to nose ventilation, by pulling the tongue out gently, closing the mouth and blowing into the nose

If an animal is having breathing problems due to poison, you need to be very careful not to get the poison on you.

Choking can be a serious problem, but often it looks worse than it is if your pet chokes remember:

• Animals are very good at clearing an obstruction themselves, so give them time and space to try to clear the obstruction. 
• Do not push your fingers down the throat of an animal, as you may push the item down or get bitten. 
• If the animal becomes unresponsive, chest compressions can help to clear an obstruction. 
• Prevention is best, so make sure food is safe to eat and stored out of reach.