Choking
- Thread starter LucksAngel28
- Start date
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Nancy
Hooked on Hogs
I posted one on CnQ. I'll have to search my files and see if I still have it. Thanks for mentioning this. 
HedgieMate
Mad About Geoffrey
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2009
- Messages
- 26
Here are instructions regarding what you can do when your hedgehog is choking posted by HedgeMom last year on CnQ:
Nancy
Hooked on Hogs
Nancy (HM) do you want to post that info and I'll make it a sticky please.
pricklesnquills
Well-known member
HedgeMom
Memory Keeper
How to help a choking hedgehog
First try a simple mouth sweep. Using any blunt object such as a end of a eyedropper, handle of a spoon, wooden chopstick, etc, open the mouth and sweep around. If you can fit fingers in, open as above using the object to prevent being bitten and sweep with your finger.
GRAVITATIONAL SWING
Hold the animal (any small animal) in BOTH hands, head towards your fingers, butt towards the heel of your hand, belly down. Hands together like you're praying (trust me, you probably are at this point). Hold firmly. Raise both hands over your head, fully extended and quickly but gently swing towards the floor. Make sure the ENTIRE animal is supported during this swing, especially the head, neck and spine.
During this time, someone should be getting the vet on the phone. If the gravity swing doesn't work, you may need professional intervention.
It's nearly impossible to perform a Heimlich manuever on a small animal and not cause life-threatening injury. It's easy to rupture internal organs and the amount of thrust needed can snap spines, break ribs, burst spleens and livers. I wouldn't try it unless I had a vet on the phone and it was my ONLY recourse.
First try a simple mouth sweep. Using any blunt object such as a end of a eyedropper, handle of a spoon, wooden chopstick, etc, open the mouth and sweep around. If you can fit fingers in, open as above using the object to prevent being bitten and sweep with your finger.
GRAVITATIONAL SWING
Hold the animal (any small animal) in BOTH hands, head towards your fingers, butt towards the heel of your hand, belly down. Hands together like you're praying (trust me, you probably are at this point). Hold firmly. Raise both hands over your head, fully extended and quickly but gently swing towards the floor. Make sure the ENTIRE animal is supported during this swing, especially the head, neck and spine.
During this time, someone should be getting the vet on the phone. If the gravity swing doesn't work, you may need professional intervention.
It's nearly impossible to perform a Heimlich manuever on a small animal and not cause life-threatening injury. It's easy to rupture internal organs and the amount of thrust needed can snap spines, break ribs, burst spleens and livers. I wouldn't try it unless I had a vet on the phone and it was my ONLY recourse.
LucksAngel28
Ashley
:bump1: I'm bumping this just to draw attention for newer members and refresh the memory of others! :cute:
Courtney
... and the Dynamic Duo!
From personal experience: If the gravitational swing doesn't work all by itself, try sweeping a syringe through the animal's mouth right after. My old girl, Vette, nearly choked to death on one of her kibbles a few months ago. Her eyes were bugging out, and she had gobs of foamy saliva all over her face. After trying to dislodge the kibble with a syringe didn't work, I did the gravitational swing. It loosened the kibble up, but didn't dislodge it completely. A second swipe with the syringe popped the kibble out easily.
Melissa
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2009
- Messages
- 1,736
Just to add on to this.. Remember never do a blind sweep. You may lodge the object further rather than loosening it.
Courtney
... and the Dynamic Duo!
Exactly.
What may be beneficial in case of choking is working to get your hedgehog comfortable with having their lips lifted so you can peek in their mouth. I do this with my hedgehogs just in case I ever have to open their mouths quickly for whatever reason. It's come in handy at least 3 times since I've owned hedgehogs, when they were choking. Prepare them to be comfortable with whatever you need to do, just in case you ever need them to be perfectly calm when you're poking around their face.
C
Chinniechantel
Guest
Great idea. I will definitely do this with my hedgies.
Sasha
Mmm Helicobacter pylori..
I'm glad this was bumped up because I've completely missed it. Very important to know.
Nancy
Hooked on Hogs
I wrote a faq on what to do if they are choking but it didn't get brought over from CnQ. I'm trying to find it. I know it's somewhere on my computer. :hilarious:
Nancy
Hooked on Hogs
Courtney
... and the Dynamic Duo!
Vets will definitely thank you. The vet that examined Kismet's mouth a few weeks back was shocked that she let him lift her lip gently to look around and get a general idea of what we were dealing with. She was ouchie, but she still let him take a quick peek without freaking out.
