SAN DIEGO -- A La Jolla man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of choking his 10-week-old puppy nearly to death as punishment for barking and nipping his girlfriend on the nose.

David Hale Warner, 50, was taken into custody at a San Diego emergency veterinary clinic where he brought the chocolate Labrador retriever after allegedly abusing the pup at his home late Tuesday evening, said Dan DeSousa, a spokesman for the county Department of Animal Services.

When Warner dropped off the dog at the facility, the animal, named Coco, could not walk, was breathing with difficulty and had red-tinged saliva and blue gums, DeSousa said.

Animal control officers questioned Warner about the dog's injuries when he returned to the clinic this morning, the spokesman said.

Warner initially claimed the retriever had hung itself up on something by its collar, but eventually admitted to choking and pinning down the animal for about 20 seconds to "teach it a lesson" after the canine jumped onto his bed, bit his girlfriend's nose and barked while she was on the telephone, according to DeSousa.

Based on those alleged statements, the county personnel arrested Warnerand took him to county jail for booking on suspicion of felony animal cruelty.

While processing the suspect, detention deputies learned that he was wanted on an outstanding warrant charging him with spousal abuse, DeSousa said.

The puppy remained in intensive care this afternoon with a "guarded" prognosis, according to DeSousa.

"At this point in time, they don't even know if he's going to survive," he said.