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

[livingdustmops]

Ann I am so glad you were home and you could do something to save his life...big hugs to you and your little ones. It really is important for people to know CPR but also to understand any chew object can harm our little ones.

[BonBon]

Rescue breathing would never have occurred to me. I just printed out the sticky on CPR & Rescue breathing - it's different than what I have on the refrigerator now (that's just for the Heimlich Manuever, I remember now). Where can I find a pet CPR class?

This was just so scary! Ann, please give Marcel lots of extra lovins for us.

[nana911]

Not only did you do everything right, but dogs usually go off alone when hurting or distressed. Marcel came immediately to you and let you know exactly what his problem was. Amazing. You should be very proud, he was an active participant in the saving of his life. A life lesson well done by both of you!

[Darlene68]

OMG What an awful thing to have to experience, I never want to go through that, but you just never know! Thanks for the reminder that we have to really be prepared for these things! Hugs to Marcel and to Mommy for doing such a great job in a crisis!!

[Sweet Apple]

Originally Posted by 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.

Acually, Ann, the instructor taught us to do rescue breathing, w/a choking victim, and I questioned him about it...His answer, like yours, was that you have to try everything, if they are not breathing, and the Heilich hasn't worked...Thanks for you input, and, again, I'm soooooooo happy for you and your adorable little Marcel

[Britster]

Sooooo scary!!!!

I am so glad to read Marcel is totally okay. I don't really know what I'd do in that situation. When Jackson was around 5 months old, I remember he had a rawhide (know better now!) and it got all slobbery and mushy and soft, and he must have tried to swallow it whole, because all the sudden I turned around and he was wiping his face against my bed really hard and pawing at his face so I went over, picked him up and knew he had it stuck. I grabbed him and ran into the next room and screamed for my stepdad to help! He ended up just sticking his finger down his throat and pulling it out -- but I cannot imagine if I had been home by myself and Jackson never lost consciousness or anything. I would FREAK!

[Patti]

How scary. That's great you were able to react so well in a time of pure panic. I am so glad Marcel is ok. I stopped giving mine any chews because of a choking incident. I wish there was a 100% safe chew for them.

[lil louis]

Ann, you are an amazing women to be able to react so quickly in such a scary situation. I am so glad that Marcel is alright.

[LDandPasquale]

Ann, a huge hug from me to you. I cant even imagine what you went through. Marcel is one of my favorite yorkies on YT. He is blessed to have a wonderful mother like yourself.

Thank you for posting this and making us more aware of the accidents that can happen.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by BonBon

Rescue breathing would never have occurred to me. I just printed out the sticky on CPR & Rescue breathing - it's different than what I have on the refrigerator now (that's just for the Heimlich Manuever, I remember now). Where can I find a pet CPR class?

This was just so scary! Ann, please give Marcel lots of extra lovins for us.

Bonny, me and hubby took a Pet First Aid and CPR class (about 4 hrs and $30) at our local Red Cross. It was very good. Enter your zip code HERE and see if they have a class in your area.

[nana911]

Originally Posted by Patti

How scary. That's great you were able to react so well in a time of pure panic. I am so glad Marcel is ok. I stopped giving mine any chews because of a choking incident. I wish there was a 100% safe chew for them.

I think chews are like Qtips and ears, the only 100% safe ones are the ones they can't get in their mouths. My girls love them. Unfortunately they don't get their money's worth as I usually take them away about 1/2 way down.

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Bonny, me and hubby took a Pet First Aid and CPR class (about 4 hrs and $30) at our local Red Cross. It was very good. Enter your zip code HERE and see if they have a class in your area.

Thank you, Ann!

I checked and they don't have a class scheduled right now but they expect to have one this summer. I will definitely be there!

[Cha Cha]

So glad you had a happy ending. Any kind of chew scares me too.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Bonny, me and hubby took a Pet First Aid and CPR class (about 4 hrs and $30) at our local Red Cross. It was very good. Enter your zip code HERE and see if they have a class in your area.

Ann, thank you for these very important reminders about safety and emergency care.

I am so glad you were able to save your precious Marcel's life. What a terrible scare!

[Deenie]

How scary I'm glad he's okay