Mini Pig CPR, Rescue Breathing & Heimlich Manuever
CPR/Rescue breathing/Heimlich manuever for mini pigs
If your pig shows any of the following symptoms, your pig may be choking.
Signs of choking:
-Slobbers or excessive drooling
-Excessive coughing or gagging
-Vomiting or dry heaving
-Standing with head extended with a worried expression
-Inability or unwillingness to eat and drink
-Difficulty in inhaling or hearing "whistling" when inhaling or exhaling
-Blue ears, nose, gums, tongue
-Loss of consciousness
-Pigs mouth opening like it wants to vocalize, but no sound comes out
-Labored breathing
Your pig might have tried to swallow a foreign object such as a small toy, a bone or even food you have given them. Choking is interference with breathing caused by foreign material in, or compression on, the trachea (windpipe). In pigs, this most often happens because a piece of food, like an apple, is stuck in the esophagus and causes compression of the windpipe, which is located right next to the esophagus. Pigs tend to swallow without chewing, so cutting foods like vegetables into small bite sized squares, not "coin shaped" or round, help to lessen the incidence of your pig getting food trapped in the airway. When a pig tries to swallow a substance that is too large for the caliper esophagus, it becomes impacted in the animal and causes the choking to occur. Examining on the left side of the neck, the foreign body should be able to be felt and seen. Your best best is to try and manipulate the obstruction as instructed below. You can try to use a little olive oil to lubricate the esophagus to aid in the attempts to move the obstruction from blocking the airway.
Frequently, coughing is confused with choking. Both cause the pet to forcefully exhale. With choking, the pet has difficulty inhaling. When coughing, the pet can inhale almost normally. Be careful to distinguish the two: attempting to give first aid to a pet who is merely coughing can cause injury. If you are in any doubt, have your pet evaluated by a veterinarian. To evaluate the throat, most pets will require sedation and some will require evaluation with a fiber-optic endoscope or X-rays to look for foreign material.
Signs of choking:
-Slobbers or excessive drooling
-Excessive coughing or gagging
-Vomiting or dry heaving
-Standing with head extended with a worried expression
-Inability or unwillingness to eat and drink
-Difficulty in inhaling or hearing "whistling" when inhaling or exhaling
-Blue ears, nose, gums, tongue
-Loss of consciousness
-Pigs mouth opening like it wants to vocalize, but no sound comes out
-Labored breathing
Your pig might have tried to swallow a foreign object such as a small toy, a bone or even food you have given them. Choking is interference with breathing caused by foreign material in, or compression on, the trachea (windpipe). In pigs, this most often happens because a piece of food, like an apple, is stuck in the esophagus and causes compression of the windpipe, which is located right next to the esophagus. Pigs tend to swallow without chewing, so cutting foods like vegetables into small bite sized squares, not "coin shaped" or round, help to lessen the incidence of your pig getting food trapped in the airway. When a pig tries to swallow a substance that is too large for the caliper esophagus, it becomes impacted in the animal and causes the choking to occur. Examining on the left side of the neck, the foreign body should be able to be felt and seen. Your best best is to try and manipulate the obstruction as instructed below. You can try to use a little olive oil to lubricate the esophagus to aid in the attempts to move the obstruction from blocking the airway.
Frequently, coughing is confused with choking. Both cause the pet to forcefully exhale. With choking, the pet has difficulty inhaling. When coughing, the pet can inhale almost normally. Be careful to distinguish the two: attempting to give first aid to a pet who is merely coughing can cause injury. If you are in any doubt, have your pet evaluated by a veterinarian. To evaluate the throat, most pets will require sedation and some will require evaluation with a fiber-optic endoscope or X-rays to look for foreign material.
If the pet is conscious
1. Perform a finger sweep if you're able- If your pig will let you, take your pointer finger and in a swift motion, quickly use it
You can try to wrap the pig in a towel to avoid him or her panicking and being able to maintain control. speak softly and try not to panic yourself. Open the mouth and pull the tongue forward. If you can see the object, try to gently pull it out with a tweezers. If the pig has swallowed string or tinsel, pull at it very gently. If it doesn't come out, leave it. It may be stuck and pulling on it could do more damage. Take the pig to your veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately.
If the object is not visible try the Heimlich Maneuver. Lay the pig on his/her side, place one hand on the back, the other hand on the belly below the ribs. Push several times sharply on the belly, in and up. Check the mouth to see if the object has come up. Remove it to avoid the pig swallowing it again. Repeat the procedure if necessary until the object comes up.
If this does not work, place the pig on its side, and place your hands over the chest, just behind the shoulders, and gently but firmly thrust your hands downward.
-Perform a finger sweep and begin rescue breathing. Repeat until the foreign body is clear and the lungs can be inflated.
Transport to the veterinarian.
If the pet is unconscious
Perform a Finger Sweep- Open your pet's mouth and do a finger sweep by placing your finger along the inside of the mouth, sliding it down toward the center of the throat over the base of the tongue, and gently "sweeping" toward the center to remove any foreign material. Warning: there is a structure deep in the throat (the Adam's apple) that feels like a smooth bone. Do not attempt to pull it out!
If you can feel the object, but can not clear it from the throat area: Use the handle end of a wooden spoon to push the object down into the esophagus so that the airway can be opened. Once the object is in the lower esophagus, breathing can resume and you can transport the pig to a veterinarian to have the object removed or pushed all the way into the stomach (where it can digest, or be removed more easily)
Begin Rescue Breathing- If air is not entering the lungs, slap the chest wall firmly or perform the Heimlich maneuver by putting the pet on his back, placing your hands over the abdomen near the bottom of his rib cage, and gently but firmly thrusting toward the spine.
Rescue Breathing: Make certain the animal is actually unconscious
Talk to the pet first. Gently touch and attempt to awaken the pet. You could be seriously injured should you attempt to perform rescue breathing on a pig who was only sleeping heavily and was startled awake.
1. Ensure an open airway
Extend the head and neck and pull the tongue forward. Look in the mouth and remove any saliva or vomitus. If it is too dark to see into the mouth, sweep your finger deep into the mouth and into the throat to remove any vomit or foreign body. Be aware of a hard, smooth, bone-like structure deep in the throat, which is likely to be the hyoid apparatus (Adam'sapple). Serious injury could result if you pull on the hyoid apparatus.
2. Observe for effective breathing
Sometimes an animal will begin to breathe spontaneously when the head is put in the position discussed above (head and neck extended, tongue pulled forward). Watch for the rise and fall of the chest while listening closely for sounds of breathing. If no breathing is evident in 10 seconds, begin rescue breathing.
1. Perform a finger sweep if you're able- If your pig will let you, take your pointer finger and in a swift motion, quickly use it
You can try to wrap the pig in a towel to avoid him or her panicking and being able to maintain control. speak softly and try not to panic yourself. Open the mouth and pull the tongue forward. If you can see the object, try to gently pull it out with a tweezers. If the pig has swallowed string or tinsel, pull at it very gently. If it doesn't come out, leave it. It may be stuck and pulling on it could do more damage. Take the pig to your veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately.
If the object is not visible try the Heimlich Maneuver. Lay the pig on his/her side, place one hand on the back, the other hand on the belly below the ribs. Push several times sharply on the belly, in and up. Check the mouth to see if the object has come up. Remove it to avoid the pig swallowing it again. Repeat the procedure if necessary until the object comes up.
If this does not work, place the pig on its side, and place your hands over the chest, just behind the shoulders, and gently but firmly thrust your hands downward.
-Perform a finger sweep and begin rescue breathing. Repeat until the foreign body is clear and the lungs can be inflated.
Transport to the veterinarian.
If the pet is unconscious
Perform a Finger Sweep- Open your pet's mouth and do a finger sweep by placing your finger along the inside of the mouth, sliding it down toward the center of the throat over the base of the tongue, and gently "sweeping" toward the center to remove any foreign material. Warning: there is a structure deep in the throat (the Adam's apple) that feels like a smooth bone. Do not attempt to pull it out!
If you can feel the object, but can not clear it from the throat area: Use the handle end of a wooden spoon to push the object down into the esophagus so that the airway can be opened. Once the object is in the lower esophagus, breathing can resume and you can transport the pig to a veterinarian to have the object removed or pushed all the way into the stomach (where it can digest, or be removed more easily)
Begin Rescue Breathing- If air is not entering the lungs, slap the chest wall firmly or perform the Heimlich maneuver by putting the pet on his back, placing your hands over the abdomen near the bottom of his rib cage, and gently but firmly thrusting toward the spine.
Rescue Breathing: Make certain the animal is actually unconscious
Talk to the pet first. Gently touch and attempt to awaken the pet. You could be seriously injured should you attempt to perform rescue breathing on a pig who was only sleeping heavily and was startled awake.
1. Ensure an open airway
Extend the head and neck and pull the tongue forward. Look in the mouth and remove any saliva or vomitus. If it is too dark to see into the mouth, sweep your finger deep into the mouth and into the throat to remove any vomit or foreign body. Be aware of a hard, smooth, bone-like structure deep in the throat, which is likely to be the hyoid apparatus (Adam'sapple). Serious injury could result if you pull on the hyoid apparatus.
2. Observe for effective breathing
Sometimes an animal will begin to breathe spontaneously when the head is put in the position discussed above (head and neck extended, tongue pulled forward). Watch for the rise and fall of the chest while listening closely for sounds of breathing. If no breathing is evident in 10 seconds, begin rescue breathing.
3. Begin rescue breathing
Rescue breathing is performed by covering the pig’s nose with your mouth and forcefully blowing your breath into the lungs. In small pigs and piglets, you must hold the corners of the mouth tightly closed while you force the air in. In larger pigs, the tongue should be pulled forward and the mouth and lips held shut using both hands cupped around the muzzle. Force air into the lungs until you see the chest expand. Take your mouth away when the chest has fully expanded. The lungs will deflate without help. Air should be forced into the lungs until you see the chest expand means you should be able to see the chest rise and then fall.
Give 3 to 5 Full Breaths
After several breaths are given, stop for a few seconds to recheck for breathing and heart function. If the pig is still not breathing, continue rescue breathing 20 to 25 times per minute in piglets or small pigs, or 12 to 20 times per minute in medium or large pigs. Push down on the stomach area every few seconds to help expel the air that may have blown into the stomach. If the stomach is allowed to distend with air, the pressure will make the rescue breathing efforts less effective.
4. If Breathing is shallow or non-existent
If you find that breathing is either shallow or non-existent and the pet is still unconscious, continue rescue breathing 10 to 15 times per minute and transport the pet to the nearest veterinary facility.
If the pet is conscious or becomes conscious after CPR efforts- Stay calm and try to keep the pet calm. If the pet is overheated, cool them with cool (not cold) water applied to their extremities (ears and feet) and belly, and transport them to the nearest veterinarian or emergency clinic. Perform a finger sweep only if it will not excite the pet. Do not perform a finger sweep if you believe your pet will bite you. It may be better to use a wooden or plastic spoon to sweep the mouth to prevent injury to your hand.
ALWAYS TRANSPORT TO THE VET AFTER ANYTHING LIFE THREATENING HAPPENS. There is a reason why your pig choked. Sometimes these things happen, changing the way you feed or how you cut up vegetables may be the change that needs to be made to lessen the chances of this happening again. Perhaps there is an esophageal stricture or abscess that can be treated. Maybe there is some esophageal muscle problems. You just dont know until you've had your pet checked out by a doctor of veterinary medicine.
Basic CPR: Chest Compressions
After ensuring an open airway, check for a pulse. If no pulse is detectable, begin chest compressions. No pulse means the heart isn't pushing blood through the network of arteries "feeding" the body with oxygenated blood. The purpose is to provide the major organs with blood flow, if there is no pulse, this means the pig isn't getting any oxygenated blood circulating in the body. Time is muscle. Every minute that goes by without oxygenated blood circulating through, muscle and tissue dies. Once the muscle or tissue dies due to oxygen deprivation, the function in those "dead" areas will never come back. (To check for a pulse in a pig, you will need to place you fingertips at the center of the hind leg, just below the level of the kneecap. A normal pulse would be somewhere between 70-80 beats per minute. To take a pulse, you will need a watch or other device and count the number of pulses you feel on your fingertips for 15 seconds and multiply by 4, 30 seconds and multiply by 2 or check for the full minute. Do NOT use your thumb because you can detect your own heartbeat and it will limit the accuracy of your findings)
In small pigs and piglets: Squeeze the chest using one or both hands around the chest. Depress the ribcage circumferentially Do this 100 to 150 times per minute.
In large pigs: Compress the chest wall with one or both hands, depending on the size of the pig and the size of the rescuer (whatever works best for you). If the pig is on her side, place your hand(s) on the side of the chest wall where it is widest. If she is on her back, place your hand(s) on the breastbone. Depress the ribcage 1.5 to 4 inches, depending on the pig's size. Do this 80 to 120 times per minute.
Coordinate rescue breathing and chest compressions- If possible, give breaths during the compressions. If it is not possible, give two breaths after every 12 compressions.
Continue CPR until
• You become exhausted and can't continue.
• You get the animal transported to a veterinary facility and professionals can take over.
• The pulse is palpable or heartbeats are felt and they are strong and regular. In the vast majority of cases, artificial ventilations will continue to be required for a period of time, even though heart function has returned. This is due to the nervous system depression that occurs as a result of the arrest.
All resuscitated animals should be transported to a veterinary facility for further examination and care!
If the pig is not breathing, try CPR and rescue breathing (see above). Get your pig to the closet veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately, whether the pig "seems ok" or just fine, so your pig to be checked for the possibility of internal injuries/conditions that may have contributed to these issues.
Written by Cathy Zolicani, DVM, With especial thanks to Dr. Roger Gfeller.. (edited to add additional information)
*If your pig is salivating excessively, your pig may still have something caught in the esophagus. It may be caught in the part of the esophagus that is inside the chest. This can cause fluid (salvia) to back up in the esophagus and be aspirated. this can lead to horrible pneumonia. If your pig continues to foam or act strange, please please take them into the vet to be throughly checked out.
**According to a research study link below, this was their conclusion about the best thrusts for pig for maximum efficiency.**
Lateral chest and abdominal thrust techniques generated significantly greater airway and pleural pressures than the anterior thrust technique. We recommend further research to provide additional evidence that may inform management guidelines for clearing foreign body upper airway obstruction. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300957212009264)
To lessen the chances of your pig choking, you can take some simple precautions. Don't cut food in circles, circles can easily block the airway. If your pig chokes when eating pellets, wet the pellets with warm water so it becomes more of a mash. Scatter the food on the ground, or you can use a tarp for feeding, so that your pig isn't able to get substantial amounts of food in the mouth at once and is forced to slow the eating down. You can also experiment with various treat dispensers and find one that is suitable to use for pig feed. Using the treat ball method actually has two benefits, it slows the eating down by not dispensing large amounts at once and also creates an avenue for mobility and exercise in order for your pig to get the food to eat. Never cut rinds into small pieces, such as pumpkin or watermelon. While pigs love to eat these parts in addition to the softer internal parts of these foods, they should be offered the rinds uncut so they're made to chew or bite off pieces to chew reducing the chances of swallowing a hard piece of food that would take a long time to breakdown naturally potentially causing issues in the esophagus or even in the GI tract.
Rescue breathing is performed by covering the pig’s nose with your mouth and forcefully blowing your breath into the lungs. In small pigs and piglets, you must hold the corners of the mouth tightly closed while you force the air in. In larger pigs, the tongue should be pulled forward and the mouth and lips held shut using both hands cupped around the muzzle. Force air into the lungs until you see the chest expand. Take your mouth away when the chest has fully expanded. The lungs will deflate without help. Air should be forced into the lungs until you see the chest expand means you should be able to see the chest rise and then fall.
Give 3 to 5 Full Breaths
After several breaths are given, stop for a few seconds to recheck for breathing and heart function. If the pig is still not breathing, continue rescue breathing 20 to 25 times per minute in piglets or small pigs, or 12 to 20 times per minute in medium or large pigs. Push down on the stomach area every few seconds to help expel the air that may have blown into the stomach. If the stomach is allowed to distend with air, the pressure will make the rescue breathing efforts less effective.
4. If Breathing is shallow or non-existent
If you find that breathing is either shallow or non-existent and the pet is still unconscious, continue rescue breathing 10 to 15 times per minute and transport the pet to the nearest veterinary facility.
If the pet is conscious or becomes conscious after CPR efforts- Stay calm and try to keep the pet calm. If the pet is overheated, cool them with cool (not cold) water applied to their extremities (ears and feet) and belly, and transport them to the nearest veterinarian or emergency clinic. Perform a finger sweep only if it will not excite the pet. Do not perform a finger sweep if you believe your pet will bite you. It may be better to use a wooden or plastic spoon to sweep the mouth to prevent injury to your hand.
ALWAYS TRANSPORT TO THE VET AFTER ANYTHING LIFE THREATENING HAPPENS. There is a reason why your pig choked. Sometimes these things happen, changing the way you feed or how you cut up vegetables may be the change that needs to be made to lessen the chances of this happening again. Perhaps there is an esophageal stricture or abscess that can be treated. Maybe there is some esophageal muscle problems. You just dont know until you've had your pet checked out by a doctor of veterinary medicine.
Basic CPR: Chest Compressions
After ensuring an open airway, check for a pulse. If no pulse is detectable, begin chest compressions. No pulse means the heart isn't pushing blood through the network of arteries "feeding" the body with oxygenated blood. The purpose is to provide the major organs with blood flow, if there is no pulse, this means the pig isn't getting any oxygenated blood circulating in the body. Time is muscle. Every minute that goes by without oxygenated blood circulating through, muscle and tissue dies. Once the muscle or tissue dies due to oxygen deprivation, the function in those "dead" areas will never come back. (To check for a pulse in a pig, you will need to place you fingertips at the center of the hind leg, just below the level of the kneecap. A normal pulse would be somewhere between 70-80 beats per minute. To take a pulse, you will need a watch or other device and count the number of pulses you feel on your fingertips for 15 seconds and multiply by 4, 30 seconds and multiply by 2 or check for the full minute. Do NOT use your thumb because you can detect your own heartbeat and it will limit the accuracy of your findings)
In small pigs and piglets: Squeeze the chest using one or both hands around the chest. Depress the ribcage circumferentially Do this 100 to 150 times per minute.
In large pigs: Compress the chest wall with one or both hands, depending on the size of the pig and the size of the rescuer (whatever works best for you). If the pig is on her side, place your hand(s) on the side of the chest wall where it is widest. If she is on her back, place your hand(s) on the breastbone. Depress the ribcage 1.5 to 4 inches, depending on the pig's size. Do this 80 to 120 times per minute.
Coordinate rescue breathing and chest compressions- If possible, give breaths during the compressions. If it is not possible, give two breaths after every 12 compressions.
Continue CPR until
• You become exhausted and can't continue.
• You get the animal transported to a veterinary facility and professionals can take over.
• The pulse is palpable or heartbeats are felt and they are strong and regular. In the vast majority of cases, artificial ventilations will continue to be required for a period of time, even though heart function has returned. This is due to the nervous system depression that occurs as a result of the arrest.
All resuscitated animals should be transported to a veterinary facility for further examination and care!
If the pig is not breathing, try CPR and rescue breathing (see above). Get your pig to the closet veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately, whether the pig "seems ok" or just fine, so your pig to be checked for the possibility of internal injuries/conditions that may have contributed to these issues.
Written by Cathy Zolicani, DVM, With especial thanks to Dr. Roger Gfeller.. (edited to add additional information)
*If your pig is salivating excessively, your pig may still have something caught in the esophagus. It may be caught in the part of the esophagus that is inside the chest. This can cause fluid (salvia) to back up in the esophagus and be aspirated. this can lead to horrible pneumonia. If your pig continues to foam or act strange, please please take them into the vet to be throughly checked out.
**According to a research study link below, this was their conclusion about the best thrusts for pig for maximum efficiency.**
Lateral chest and abdominal thrust techniques generated significantly greater airway and pleural pressures than the anterior thrust technique. We recommend further research to provide additional evidence that may inform management guidelines for clearing foreign body upper airway obstruction. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300957212009264)
To lessen the chances of your pig choking, you can take some simple precautions. Don't cut food in circles, circles can easily block the airway. If your pig chokes when eating pellets, wet the pellets with warm water so it becomes more of a mash. Scatter the food on the ground, or you can use a tarp for feeding, so that your pig isn't able to get substantial amounts of food in the mouth at once and is forced to slow the eating down. You can also experiment with various treat dispensers and find one that is suitable to use for pig feed. Using the treat ball method actually has two benefits, it slows the eating down by not dispensing large amounts at once and also creates an avenue for mobility and exercise in order for your pig to get the food to eat. Never cut rinds into small pieces, such as pumpkin or watermelon. While pigs love to eat these parts in addition to the softer internal parts of these foods, they should be offered the rinds uncut so they're made to chew or bite off pieces to chew reducing the chances of swallowing a hard piece of food that would take a long time to breakdown naturally potentially causing issues in the esophagus or even in the GI tract.
You can buy your rescue breathing apparatus for pigs by clicking here. The device pictured above is made by Nasco.
Mini Pig Choking
An example and instructions by Happy Tails Farm Sanctuary. It is scary to watch your pig choke on anything, but it's even scarier not to know how to help them. Watch this video, know what to do in case of emergency.