While on a hike this past weekend, we had a lesson in how fast a good time can quickly turn to an emergency, when you least suspect it. After hiking to the summit of some local mountains, we gave Kona a cookie for a snack . Being a dog, he inhaled it as fast as he could. That is the normal part…the bad part is it got lodged in his throat.
Now Spencer used to choke quite easily and I made it a point of learning how to do the Heimlich maneuver just incase he couldn’t cough up a cookie on his own. Fortunately, Spencer always managed to give a mighty cough and clear the way to continue eating.
Not so with Kona in this instance. In the time it took for me to realize he could not breathe and get my arms around him, he went limp. I cannot tell you how quickly this all happened and how much raced though my mind in that short period of time but somehow I managed to properly do the maneuver and Kona promptly coughed up the cookie, re-swallowed it and looked over his shoulder at me as if to say “What the heck are you freaking out about?”
So, for that one time you may need it, for your dog or your uncle Joe at Thanksgiving, I suggest learning how to perform the Heimlich maneuver. You really never know when you will need it. I certainly didn’t expect to be using it after climbing 1900 feet on a lovely Sunday afternoon.
I am not skilled in any veterinary or medical stuff in anyway, no-how and we all know anyone can post anything on the internet so rather than post directions or link about the maneuver, I suggest you ask your vet on your next visit for their advice or look for a local CPR course for humans and/or canines.
I am happy to report Kona was fine immediately afterward (although I was shaking like crazy from the adrenaline of near panic) and he made the hike back down the mountain happy as any dog sniffing in the wild could be. Here’s a few picks of our spring hike:
A few California wildflowers…
Kona flushing out a gecko…
Kona supervises all trail photography…
The view from half way up…
One tired pup at home afterward…
BTW: please go visit our pal, the amazing Ben, who is having a FUNdraiser for rescue….he ROCKS and so do rescue dogs (but you already knew that:)!
We are so thankful you knew what to do, and that Kona is okay. I can only imagine the panic of that. I am for sure going to learn how to do that on a dog, thank you so much for the great advice!
Oh yikes!!!! So glad Kona is ok, and you knew exactly what to do. We have a local community doggie CPR that has always intrigued mom, so I better sign her up!
Really nice to visit you. Sorry it has been too long!! :)
Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
Sierra Rose
We are so glad you are AOK. My mom & dad know CPR, since I inhale my food. Tail Wags & Happy Hiking to All.
~moose
Wow, how terribly scary! Thank goodness it turned out ok.
oh my that sounds really scary…
thank dawg you know how to go about it, i probably will cry and freak out.
Kona, be good and eat slowly ok?
Oh.M.D. – Yoi! Sca-aaarrry to the max. I have human CPR, but have never considered figgurin’ out how to transpose it to canines. THANK YOU for this post and the suggestion of learning how to save your dog’s life!
SMACK! xoxoxoxoxo Love,
Sammie
What a great reminder. How come things always seem to happen when you’re farthest away from the car?
OMG – I think I would have panicked! How lucky you knew how to do this. I know basic first aid for dogs, but have never been lucky enough to learn the heimlich maneauver for dogs! I think I will ask our vet next time!
Sam
We are so happy that you are okay! Good job mom!!!
WOW…I have read about the Heimlich for dogs and so happy that it works. Good for you for cool thinking and hoping you recover quickly (obvio, Kona has….ha). I’m afraid my new pup tends to inhale treats the same way, especially if there is any chance that another dog could be in the vicinity. xo
Hello, Michelle.
You are so right. I never even thought of that, I always assumed that dogs could cough any throat problem away, but I now realize it’s not true.
Thank you so much for sharing that.
Loved your photos!
Love
Carla
Very good advice there.
Years back, I read a story by James Herriot (an English vet who wrote about his patients; All Creatures Great and Small is his most famous book), in which he saved a dog that had a ball lodged in its throat.
I’ve always remembered the instructions I read there: push upwards from behind the jaw – but preferably, of course, just don’t let your dog have a ball that’s too small in the first place!
oh my god… that must have been scary!
were so happy that everything’s ok!
we’ll take your advise and ask our vet about it :)
big licks
pu
omd! Kona…remember. Chew, Swallow, Breathe. In that order.
glad to hear you are ok. That musta been one scary moment for your mom!
wags, wiggles & slobbers
Murphydog
OMD!
I bet that was so skhary – I think my mom is feeling the ‘rush’ too – she would have been freakin’ right along with woo –
Thanks fur sharing the advice
The pikhs
AND THAT BEN AND RESKHUES ROKHK!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra