Zach Almost Died Last Night
 

Last night my friend and I were sitting on our deck with our dogs when all of a sudden Zach our Yorkie and Zoe our Shorkie started screaming. We thought they were only playing but they wouldn't seperate. We then noticed that Zoe had Zach's colllar stuck in her mounth. Zach was losing conscienous fast. He was being choked by Zoe. My friend was screaming and there was blood all over us. I finally was able to cut Zach's collar off. He lay on the table with his eyes rolled back and his tongue was hanging out and blue. I was sure he was dead, he wasn't moving. I picked him up and his head just hung to one side. All of a sudden he coughed a couple of times and he came around a little bit.
We wrapped him up in a towel and rushed him to the emergency vet. By the time we got there he had come back almost 100%.
The vets said his vital signs were good, He just had some scabbing around his neck where his collar was.
They radiographs and he had minimal intersitial infiltrated in right caudal lung field and mild generalized enlargement of heart. They said just to watch him closely and get in touch with our vet in 2 or 3 days.
The vet said it was a good thing I cut his collar off when I did. I felt so guilty because I know small dogs should not wear collars. I don't know why I had them on. I cut up their collars. BTW I never use the collars for walking them. They have safety harnesses for walks. I just keep thinking that had we not been home he would be dead. That was a real wake up call for us.

Oh my goodness how scary!!! I am so thankful you were there when it happened and was calm enough to think fast. You saved Zach's life with your quick thinking. What a traumatic experience for you all. I hope Zach continues to be ok. ((hugs))

Wow...so glad you were home....What a scare that must have been for you! I used to keep collars on mine too only to keep there tags on, but, after reading a few stories like yours i have taken them off! Mine are not runners (they know they have it pretty good here...so spoiled!) and when we go out they wear there harnesses. Im really glad that you were there and this didn't end badly...:) Feel better Zach!!:D

Very scary! I am so glad you were home and acted quickly. You saved Zach's life! Sending prayers for Zach for a speedy and full recovery.

How scary Im so glad they are ok.

Bless your heart how horrible is this. So happy to hear he is ok and you saved him. My 4 always wear collars with ID on them but never to walk, they hve harnessess also. I have never thought of this. Sassy gets Calvins collar in her mouth all the time and never thought about her choking him. Now I am sacred to leave it on but afraid if they get out they won't have tags on. Thanks for posting this.

That must have been terribly scary! Thank goodness you were right there and able to save Zach. I hope that he will be ok, give him a hug from me and my dogs.

I'm so sorry this happened to your furbaby. SO glad he's ok!!!!! We always use harnesses cause i've heard this story too many times. I just make sure i brush out his coat at the end of the day.

That is very scary! So glad you were home! I was ordering tags for mine and was going to put collars on them for that reason but will not be doing that now. So glad he is ok!

So happy he is okay. Another lesson learned. These things happen so fast. Big hugs to you and your pups

Wow, that is terrible. Glad he made a nice recovery. When ours are home, we do not have collars on.

How horrible!!! So glad he is alright. Sending big hugs to you both. We've been keeping collars with ID tags on our two during the day. We never used to, but just moved and have been worried about them getting out. Questioning that practice after reading this. I think I'll just put the tags back on their harnesses.

Zach and I both want to thank everybody for their well wishes. Zach is doing just fine. He's eating and playing He has to go back to my own vet in a few days because of the radiograph of his lungs and enlarged heart but the emergency vet seems to think it's very slight and if need be can be treated by medication
As far as the collar situation, I always had that fear of my babies getting out so I left their ID tags on their collar but after this I said it's not worth the risk I cried all night when I thought of what could have happen
One more thing I have to say. There is no feeling like when you think your baby is dead and all of a sudden he comes back to life and starts kissing you all over like he's saying "Thank you for saving me mommy, I love you"

awww! I hope he keeps feeling better!