If your poodle tries to eat something that gets lodged in her airway, you might be able to save her life with a modified version of the famed Heimlich maneuver.

If she starts coughing, gagging, or retching, or if she has difficulty breathing, suspect that something is caught in her windpipe. If she's conscious, take her to the vet. If she loses consciousness or completely stops breathing, and you're fairly sure something is caught in her throat, start the Heimlich maneuver.

For a poodle small enough to be easily carried, pick her up and hold her, face out, so that her head is at your chest and her feet are dangling. Put your fist in the soft hollow underneath her rib cage and push in and up, toward your belly and your chin at the same time. Use a strong, thrusting action.

For a larger poodle, place her on her side and kneel behind her so that your knees are touching her back. Her head should point toward your left. Lean over her and fit your right fist just below her rib cage. Press sharply upward and inward toward her back.

Do the maneuver three times, then check her mouth to see if the offending item has become dislodged. If it hasn't, rush her to the emergency vet. Get someone else to drive so you can continue trying the Heimlich maneuver in the car to extricate the item.

If you're successful in dislodging the item, but your poodle still isn't breathing, do artificial respiration.