PupkeeperCautionEmergency
Tennis balls and small balls (choking) and dogs: what to do
Emergency if stuck. A ball small enough to fit fully in the mouth can lodge in the throat and block breathing.
If your dog ate or touched this, call your vet or a pet poison line now
United States
Poison lines in other countries: United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand
What to do now
- If your dog can still breathe, keep it calm and go to a vet right away.
- If it can't breathe, act before you drive: give up to 5 firm blows with the flat of your hand on the back of the rib cage, beside the spine.
- If that fails, hold your dog with its head lower than its body, or give quick chest or belly thrusts. Be gentle with small dogs.
- If your dog passes out, start CPR. After 30 chest pushes, look in the mouth and remove the ball only if you can see it.
- Once the ball is out, take your dog to a vet right away.
Don't
- Don't reach into the mouth of a dog that is awake, or use pliers or tweezers. You may be bitten or push the ball deeper.
- Don't sweep your fingers blindly in the throat.
- Don't give a dog a ball small enough to fit fully in its mouth.
Signs to watch for
- Struggling to breathe
- Choking or gagging sounds
- Pawing at the mouth
- Blue lips, gums or tongue
Why
A small ball can slip to the back of the throat and block the airway; a small tennis ball can choke even a large dog. Swallowed pieces of balls and toys can also block the gut.
Sources
- RECOVER Guidelines: First Aid for Dogs and Cats, Clinical Guidelines (J Vet Emerg Crit Care, 2026)
- PDSA: First Aid for Choking
- Cornell Riney Canine Health Center: Playing Ball Safely
- Cornell Riney Canine Health Center: Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Obstruction in Dogs
Guide reviewed 9 October 2026.
General information from the sources above, not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call your vet.