OMG what a horrific experience I had today. I almost lost my Adina after she fell into the neighbor's pool.
It was horrific, but she seems ok. She is being kept in ICU for observation. It is a long story...will try to make it short. I was at the neighbor's with both girls and had taken them to the back of the yard away from the pool. We had gone there with a photographer to take photos of the girls. I turned my attention to Cookie who went running into the cactus plants...got her and turned around and Adina was missing. I am terrified of that pool anyway...so that was the first place I went looking. I really didn't expect her to be there, but ran there first because of the danger. OMG she was at the bottom...I jumped in and got her out...she was limp and not breathing. She looked dead.
I just kept giving her breaths and holding her like a baby when giving CPR and was hitting her back. After doing breaths a few times, I saw a slight cough but thought maybe it was just because I was forcing air in. I kept it up and she started to cough and looked like she was trying to hold her head up a bit. Her eye (she only has one) looked more lifelike at that point. I ran to my car with her and Cookie and went straight to the EC. By then, her respirations were loud and wet sounding but she looked a bit more alert. Since she was going to need to be hospitalized, I spoke with the vet who felt she was stable enough to go to Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston. So ... I went there and she was admitted to ICU for testing and observation. She was actually looking pretty good when I left. They did xrays and blood work, and will watch her for signs of pulmonary edema .. if she is ok tomorrow morning, she will be coming home. He said that a drowning victim (dog or person) can develop pulmonary edema up to 36 hours after the incident.
The evening report was that her lungs are clear.. YAY! She did have an elevation of her ALT. He said it could be from the event in which case it should resolve quickly, but he is starting her on antibiotics just in case it is an infection....and I will check it again in a week.
SO grateful tonight that my girl is alive...I really thought I had lost her and I don't know how I would ever have gotten over the fact it was my fault.
NEVER AGAIN....geez. I am so careful about the fence...even have it double fenced on that side of my yard because of that pool and then I go over there and turn my head like that. I feel so horrible for putting her through that.
I just saw that post by SWHouston about his girl and his suggestion about Doggy CPR. I had recently spoken to a woman at an event that I went to. She teaches it...I plan to contact her and take that course. I never want to feel so unprepared again in an emergency like that. I honestly was not sure what to do...and I believe God took my hand because when I saw her at the bottom of that pool I was stunned. I didn't even have time to think how fearful I am of being underwater...jumped in clothes, shoes and all..I think I will have nightmares for a long long time. She was limp and lifeless .
So...copying SWHouston and suggesting this:
I urge any and all who have not gone through a Doggy CPR course, to please do so.