Marcel almost died last night - choked on chew; please review your 1st Aid!

[Sugar's Mom]

Ann, I am sorry this happened. I'm so glad things turned out well. I am scared to death to give mine chews but I do because of their teeth. I worry every time tho.

[margaritaville]

A good review is in the Sick and Injured Forum on a sticky-Yorkie CPR-posted by Baby Fidgette.

[RDB911]

wow..so glad he's ok! I'm very nervous now..I have the CET chews arriving today...I will make sure to supervise them while they eat...

I too need to sign up for pet CPR.

[FL Tink]

here is another resource to learn about cpr and first aid. I learned a lot of stuff when I heard her speak!
I hope it is ok to post here they have picture instruction page you can put up to remind yourself in case you do panic. Also the first aid stuff is awesome
Pet First Aid Kits and Classes - PRODUCTS

[Bellasmygirl]

The same thing happened to Bella with the same treats!!!! I thought she was gone. I did everything I could do to save her. It was on a Sunday when we had all the flooding in Nashville and the emergency vet was closed due to no electric. (they did answer the phones) I was screaming at them that my baby was not breathing! How could they be closed. The nearest hospital was almost 45 min away but because of the flooding it would take at least 2 hours. I told them she would be dead by then. They told me to feed her bread to push it down her throat. I was driving talking on my cell phone holding her and screaming at them. I was in such a panic
I dont even remember anything else going on around me.

She did come around she was tired after that she was drinking water a lot too. I really dont know about the CET chews now. I am scared to even give them to her now. The vet said to watch her and take it away when it gets small. I am terrified to even try unless I hold the chew the entire time.

I am so glad your baby made it!!!!!

[Sweet Apple]

Omg'sh Ann, I've got tears in my eyes, just thinking about the whole thing that happened. Praise God, your little Marcel is o.k. You know, when I was taking a hands on cpr/first aid class, I couldn't wrap my head around why you would do rescue breathing, if they were choking? Maybe you can help me understand what happened. Did the chew come up, w/the rescue breathing, or did you push it down? My thoughts were that if you pushed it down, it would go into their lungs, and that would, surely, cause asphyxiated pneumonia, later in the day. Or, do we hope, if we push the obstruction down, it will go into their stomach? Thanks for any information, and I'm soooooooooo glad with the positive outcome!
Hugs,
Maggie

[Bizzymammabee]

Goodness. Glad to hear that the cutie is ok. I will definitely take the time to read up on the procedure.

[yorkiemalt]

how absolutely frightening. I heard every bit of panic in your post. you kept yourself together and did what you had to do to save your baby. glad everything turned out well and I hope you both got some rest last night.

[kalina82]

OMG Ann how terrifying! Thank god you were right there to help him and do the Heimlich. I don't even know what else to say, i felt the panic you were feeling in my heart while i was reading what you and Marcel went through. I'm just so happy he is alive and ok now.

Everybody needs to learn CPR and the doggy Heimlich. You just never know when you might need it.

[Breezeaway]

Poor little Marcel, I'm so glad he is ok. I give mine those cet chews too. I have to take them away when they get so small. I started buying the bigger ones so they can chew longer before i throw them out.

[stingraylady]

Oh, my stomach is just turning reading this, how scared you must have been. I'm so glad YOU were able to save Marcel. You must be emotionally exhausted, I'm just so happy for you that everything turned out alright.

[lms0034]

Thank goodness Marcel, but thank god you were able to be level headed enough to give him the help he needs

[cj125]

Originally Posted by red98vett

Talk about being on the edge of my seat reading that - wow ! You did such a good job saving him and everyone needs to read this - I'm soooo glad he's ok now and glad you were right there when it happened !

hugs

Me too Villette! I was holding my breath during the whole post.

Thank God you (Ann) kept your composure and didn't give up. Thanks for posting about this - we printed out the "first aid" from here and have it posted on our bulletin board (on the wall next to our computer center) so that we don't have to fumble around, either.

Happy to know that Marcel is ok and Thanks again for sharing this with us!

[Sookie]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I don't know how much of this will make sense, bc I still feel panic when I think about what happened - but I have to share what I can in case it can help another person and doggie.

Last night, my husband was at a baseball game, I was home alone w/ the babies, and I gave the crew their CET chews. I've never had a single issue with CET chews, until last night. Marcel was near the end of his chew when suddenly he ran over to me, choking and pawing at his face. He could barely breathe. I tried doing the Heimlich several times. It didn't help. I ran downstairs with him and put him on our bed, tried the Heimlich more - he was dying, collapsing, getting weak, not getting any air now. I was literally watching his life leave his body...I can't even describe it and don't want to.

I decided to do rescue breathing as it was clear his lack of oxygen was...that he was going to die. My first couple breaths weren't effective bc in my panic, I didn't hold his mouth shut. I then held his mouth tight and forced air into his nose and then I could feel it going in. He was reviving a bit. But it was very scary bc every time I'd force air in, I'd hear bubbling, so I thought his lungs were filling with fluid. I later realized this was his mucus membranes reacting/swelling/releasing fluid at the back of his nose.

He was still choking, so I did more Heimlich, even harder. Though you are not supposed to, I shoved my entire forefinger down his throat about 3 times, trying to move things inside his throat area.

He was getting weaker and weaker, so I kept breathing for him - and I pushed my breath really hard, thinking I might dislodge the piece and/or open his throat in some way. I tried calling my vet at the same time. Closed. The emergency clinic is 25 mins away, and if I got in the car, I knew he would die bc I couldn't drive and give him breath. I was begging Marcel to stay with us, please don't go please Marcel please!

He started to get slight air. I called my husband, in total panic, barely cohesive, Marcel in one hand, phone in the other hand - I was shaking so hard at this point I could barely hold the phone. I told husband Marcel was dying, and I can't drive or I'll lose him.

At some point while I was holding Marcel and talking to my husband, Marcel started panting a little, then panting more, then panting like he just exercised. It took me awhile to realize his airway was clearing. He was breathing. I got off the phone w/ my husband so I could focus on Marcel. He continued to pant and get oxygen. The panting slowed and became more normal.

Over the next several minutes, he was returning to his normal self as I was holding him - he just seemed very tired. He wanted water right away and drank it fine. Then I had him lick peanut butter off of my finger so I could see his swallowing mechanism. About 20mins later, I fed him a 2nd dinner. Later that night and today, it's as if nothing happened.

But, I cannot believe he is here...after what I saw him go through. I felt so helpless, and it was so obvious that he was dying, that I just can't believe he is HERE, that he is alive...my baby is here.

So please everyone, REVIEW how to rescue breathe and teach yourself how to do the Heimlich on your dogs. I can tell you that I had to Heimlich much harder/firmer than I thought I would to cause a "whoosh" of forced air from the gut. You must do it FAST/ABRUPT and HARD - in a quick, hard pulse - to the get the "whoosh!".

And when you rescue breathe, CLOSE their mouth - and then breathe into their nose. You must close their mouth.

I'm sorry this was long, but this is what can happen...just like *that*. So hug your babies, be careful, and know your emergency skills....which I truly hope you'll never have to use, but learn them just in case.

OMGosh thank the Lord he is ok! I was reading your post and it was like deja vu for me - and not a pleasant deja vu. I got chills and felt scared as if I were going through that all over again.

I know exactly how you felt and I am soooo happy Marcel is ok. Soooo happy.

[Wylie's Mom]

Thanks everyone, for the hugs and support.

As to the question of "did the piece go up or down" - I honestly don't know! And I don't know what I did that worked - was it the Heimlich, the forceful breathing, the finger down his throat - all three together? I just don't know. Maybe it got mushier, came up w/ one of the above interventions, and he immediately swallowed it....I don't know?

SweetApple, the reason I did rescue breathing even though I knew he was choking was bc the Heimlich wasn't dislodging it, and he was passing out, but I thought w/ forceful air, I could get air past/around the obstruction. Also, that perhaps the forceful air would dislodge it in such a way that he could then move it upwards. It's really not the ideal thing to do, but it's all I had left in my toolbox, to be honest....and I knew if I didn't get him oxygen, he'd die in seconds....he was going limp. I also knew that I could make it worse for him, but he was so near death that I was ready to try anything and everything.

I still can't believe he is here. He is just his little self. Loving, goofy, sweet as ever.