What Causes Suffocation?
The first sign of suffocation is extreme anxiety, gasping, or straining to get a breath with the head and neck extended. If oxygen continues to be scarce, the dog will lose consciousness. A state of cyanosis may be seen, where the tongue and the mucous membranes turn blue in color. In some cases, when suffocation is due to carbon monoxide poisoning, the tongue and mucous membranes may become cherry red in color.
