Doggie Heimlich Maneuver Saves Cocker Spaniel

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Muffie the cocker spaniel is lucky her teen-age master improvised a doggie Heimlich maneuver.

“I learned it at school, but they didn’t say anything about using it on a dog,” Justin Weigel said.

Donna Weigel, Justin’s mother, said she called her son after noticing the dog couldn’t breathe on New Year’s Day.

“Muff just ran up to me and sat down,” Justin said. “It was almost like she knew we could do something to help.”

He wrapped his arms around the dog from behind and administered the Heimlich maneuver, an abdominal thrust used to dislodge objects caught in people’s throats. After a few thrusts, whatever was caught in Muffie’s throat was dislodged and she started breathing again.