This can make all the difference in an emergency situation, where every minute counts for the life of the animal!
Unlike dogs or cats, rabbits are fragile, silent, and badly express their distress. When they eat too fast, swallow a way or nibble an unsuitable object, the danger can arise without warning. And faced with a rabbit who seeks as best he can of the air, who breathes noisily, who has mucus that comes out of the nose, the mouth or who shouts, many feel helpless. Seeing her animal choke is the obsession of all rabbit owners: they do not know what to do, while every second counts. And if the veterinarian is far away, you have to be able to act without waiting.
On the Tiktok social network, a veterinarian specializing in NAC (new pets), alias @elise_vetnac, showed in a video the gesture that can save a rabbit in the process of choking. This gesture has the same name as that used in humans, it is Heimlich’s maneuver, but the movements are different in animals. The goal remains the same, namely to create pressure to get out what blocks breathing. Concretely, how to reproduce it on an animal, especially a rabbit with a small size?
In her video, the veterinarian explains the steps to do perfectly. First, you have to wear your rabbit. Place a hand under her thorax, sliding a finger between her two front legs, as she advises. The second hand must maintain its head and neck.
Once you hold your pet properly, you will have to take your rabbit and make pendulum gestures from top to bottom, “Always by keeping it well”, underlines the veterinarian. Also, “There must be a certain speed for the circular movement – this kinetics which is created during this movement – expels what was stifling the rabbit”, Add the professional.
If the rabbit is well held during this maneuver, “He is not afraid, unfortunately if he is not well maintained, there may be lesions”, So above all do not make this gesture if your pet is not choking. But if so, do it “Well properly by maintaining your rabbit well”, reports the veterinarian. To avoid possible risks, train upstream to find the right position, to properly place your hands on the animal!
