Yorkie Choking - YorkieTalk.com Forums

sbgooljar · 10-12-2011, 04:03 PM

Last night my poor baby Romeo choked on a piece of broccoli. He coughed several times and was able to clear his airway but he kept sneezing (didn't sound normal) and just didn't look well. I rushed him over to the Animal Specialty Clinic where the doctors quickly examined and hydrated him. They were not able to find any blockage in his airway and after about 30 minutes discharged him. Fortunately I am only 10 minutes from the ASC but I realized I need to take a "doggie CPR course".

Has anyone ever had a choking experience with their furbaby? Are you aware of any CPR classes for furbabies???

yorkietalkjilly · 10-12-2011, 04:15 PM

My Jilly swallowed the large end of a small chewie tied in a knot and choked on it. You could see it stuck tight in her throat. She could not breathe except for a horrible wheeze for many, many, many minutes - probably 15 - 20 from the time I noticed it, tried the Heimlich, called vet and until I got her to the vet. The Heimlich did not work on her. The vet told me to try to push it down then and that almost stopped her breathing but I breathed in her nose as I dressed with one hand and drove her to the vet, praying to Jesus to save her life all the way and telling her as calmly as I could that she was alright and just to relax, as I was coming undone mentally and just knowing she might die any second but somehow I couldn't really accept it. I kept praying. Somewhere on the way to the vet, the knot passed on into the trachea and down and by the time I ran into the vet's office and put her down on the floor inside the door thinking I was out of time, she stood up and looked around! She was past the emergency breathing situation then and she was kept overnight and released the next day. The vet thought that the cool air and the rush of getting her outside caused a rush of adrenaline that eventually dilated her upper esophagus enough to allow the knot to go on down. We never did chewies after that!

sbgooljar · 10-12-2011, 04:26 PM

Oh my goodness and thank God Jilly is ok. I felt so helpless watching him cough to clear his airway and not knowing just how large the piece of broccoli was. Romeo tried to bite me when I attempted to put my finger in his mouth so the next best thing was the 24/7 animal clinic! I am fortunate it's only 10 minutes from my house but I had visions of Romeo dying and I too did the same -- drove with one hand while I kept the other on him just petting and telling him he's going to be alright. Even though they discharged Romeo and told me he was ok I did not sleep last night -- I stayed up and watched him while he slept for fear they missed something. I don't wish this experience on anyone and I am determined to learn some form of CPR for animals.

yorkietalkjilly · 10-12-2011, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbgooljar

Oh my goodness and thank God Jilly is ok. I felt so helpless watching him cough to clear his airway and not knowing just how large the piece of broccoli was. Romeo tried to bite me when I attempted to put my finger in his mouth so the next best thing was the 24/7 animal clinic! I am fortunate it's only 10 minutes from my house but I had visions of Romeo dying and I too did the same -- drove with one hand while I kept the other on him just petting and telling him he's going to be alright. Even though they discharged Romeo and told me he was ok I did not sleep last night -- I stayed up and watched him while he slept for fear they missed something. I don't wish this experience on anyone and I am determined to learn some form of CPR for animals.

Boy, I know. I didn't sleep well for many nights after that. There are demonstrations of dog CPR and Heimlich here on YT in the library section, if I am not mistaken. If not, you will find them on YouTube. So glad your baby is okay and I know how awfully scary the situation of choking can be. Jilly was getting tired breathing as I started to drive to the vet and I had to put air in her nostrils as she was flagging from fighting so hard to draw breath past the tight-wedged chewie end. She was very swollen around it the vet later said and I really believe only my breathing some air with a bit of force into her nostrils kept her going as she didn't have much left when we first got into the car and started. She began to rouse some and then, I guess all the adrenaline and cool air helped and my prayers were answered along the way, though she was so limp and tired, she didn't clue me in the lump had passed until I put her down at the vet! I will never forget that night as long as I live. I thank God for answered prayer.

Pateut · 10-12-2011, 05:18 PM

Celine has choked before in a chew bone. It was so scary! The rest of the house was sleeping, she suddenly sounded like she was trying to throw up(it was actually so quiet!) I tried to do they Heimlich and wasn't having any success. I called for my daughter who was sleeping and she did the same thing but somehow was able to help pop it right out. It was all soggy and big! I will never forget, it was awful! Since then I only get her the wag n wraps. (with meat in the middle) She can get pieces off but not in huge chunks. I am so glad that I caught it because she wasn't making much noise.

yorkietalkjilly · 10-12-2011, 05:23 PM

An episode of choking will pretty much scare you off chewies. Jilly never got another one but I let Tibbe have them only if I am holding one end! He never gets one on his own unless he is lying within arm's reach and I watch him like a hawk and if he starts chewing into one much at all, I have to take it away and substitute one of those that is made of the composite stuff that breaks up. It is usually too hair-raising an experience for us to do this so usually he never gets an actual chewie anymore. No more choking from those!

Buster Brown · 10-12-2011, 07:25 PM

I found this on google Pet First Aid & CPR Training Pet Tech, cat, dog, pets, first aid class

sbgooljar · 10-13-2011, 01:32 AM

Thank you for the link! I plan to check it out shortly and will also ask my vet about pet CPR classes.

susan lynn · 10-13-2011, 02:22 AM

My Sassy almost died 6 months ago when she choked on a piece of dog food. At first I thought she was having a seizure, and realized she couldn't breathe. I was hysterical but did the Heimlich maneuver and she finally was able to breathe, she just fell in my arms exhausted. Search CPR and the Heimaleich on YT and you can print out the info here. YT is where I learned about it ans I am sure it saved Sassy's life. All I did was get o my knees and Thank God she was ok. Vet said she was lucky.Now I hand feed her because I have 4 and they all want to eat at the same time and she is only 6 lbs.

My lil friend · 10-13-2011, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

An episode of choking will pretty much scare you off chewies. Jilly never got another one but I let Tibbe have them only if I am holding one end! He never gets one on his own unless he is lying within arm's reach and I watch him like a hawk and if he starts chewing into one much at all, I have to take it away and substitute one of those that is made of the composite stuff that breaks up. It is usually too hair-raising an experience for us to do this so usually he never gets an actual chewie anymore. No more choking from those!

I recently started stuffing Mina's chewies in the end of her kong. She still only gets them if I am sitting right with her.

Lil Ladies · 10-13-2011, 08:46 AM

I have taken the CPR classes here. Its good to know the proper technique and placement, esp for these little guys. You could pop a lung or snap a bone very easily. However youtube is the next best thing! I didnt look at the link, but Im going to- always good to brush up!

Teresa Ford · 10-13-2011, 11:11 AM

I am so glad your Yorkie is ok. I have 2 stories about dogs choking. Rubin when he was a puppy, my neice saved him by reaching down his throat and pulling out a plastic soda lid. And the other story is about our Lab Lily. When she was still a puppy, she swallowed a Yorkie squeaky ball and was dieing. I did the Heimlich and the ball shot out of her mouth.

sbgooljar · 10-13-2011, 03:06 PM

Oh dear I am glad both incidents had positive outcomes. My neighbor's Pom died choking on a toy (she was at work) and the poor woman was devastated. I have been careful with Romeo around food and toys but all it takes is one quick move and they're in trouble. I've been so busy today and not been able to check out the links yet but I will get to this before I go to sleep tonight.

yorkietalkjilly · 10-13-2011, 03:31 PM

I watched the vids and reread the lit today just to refresh. It's really good to catch up on those every 6 wks. or so just so as to keep it in my mind and remember what to do when. Thanks for the links and thanks to OP for posting, albeit under a great deal of stress at what just happened, because it reminds us all to stay up on our CPR training. And so glad there was a goooood outcome for her baby!

BoltonsMom · 10-17-2011, 06:34 AM

Do any of you suggest I take a dog first aid class (the red cross and many other offer it) after my Bolton choked while eating to fast on his food (it is small chunk food made for small dogs)?

10-12-2011, 04:03 PM	#1
sbgooljar YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Westchester County, New York Posts: 1,231 Blog Entries: 1	Yorkie Choking Last night my poor baby Romeo choked on a piece of broccoli. He coughed several times and was able to clear his airway but he kept sneezing (didn't sound normal) and just didn't look well. I rushed him over to the Animal Specialty Clinic where the doctors quickly examined and hydrated him. They were not able to find any blockage in his airway and after about 30 minutes discharged him. Fortunately I am only 10 minutes from the ASC but I realized I need to take a "doggie CPR course". Has anyone ever had a choking experience with their furbaby? Are you aware of any CPR classes for furbabies??? __________________ Romeo and Sujata

10-12-2011, 04:15 PM	#2
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	My Jilly swallowed the large end of a small chewie tied in a knot and choked on it. You could see it stuck tight in her throat. She could not breathe except for a horrible wheeze for many, many, many minutes - probably 15 - 20 from the time I noticed it, tried the Heimlich, called vet and until I got her to the vet. The Heimlich did not work on her. The vet told me to try to push it down then and that almost stopped her breathing but I breathed in her nose as I dressed with one hand and drove her to the vet, praying to Jesus to save her life all the way and telling her as calmly as I could that she was alright and just to relax, as I was coming undone mentally and just knowing she might die any second but somehow I couldn't really accept it. I kept praying. Somewhere on the way to the vet, the knot passed on into the trachea and down and by the time I ran into the vet's office and put her down on the floor inside the door thinking I was out of time, she stood up and looked around! She was past the emergency breathing situation then and she was kept overnight and released the next day. The vet thought that the cool air and the rush of getting her outside caused a rush of adrenaline that eventually dilated her upper esophagus enough to allow the knot to go on down. We never did chewies after that! __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

10-12-2011, 04:26 PM	#3
sbgooljar YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Westchester County, New York Posts: 1,231 Blog Entries: 1	Oh my goodness and thank God Jilly is ok. I felt so helpless watching him cough to clear his airway and not knowing just how large the piece of broccoli was. Romeo tried to bite me when I attempted to put my finger in his mouth so the next best thing was the 24/7 animal clinic! I am fortunate it's only 10 minutes from my house but I had visions of Romeo dying and I too did the same -- drove with one hand while I kept the other on him just petting and telling him he's going to be alright. Even though they discharged Romeo and told me he was ok I did not sleep last night -- I stayed up and watched him while he slept for fear they missed something. I don't wish this experience on anyone and I am determined to learn some form of CPR for animals. __________________ Romeo and Sujata

10-12-2011, 05:18 PM	#5
Pateut Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Utah Posts: 149 Blog Entries: 1	Celine has choked before in a chew bone. It was so scary! The rest of the house was sleeping, she suddenly sounded like she was trying to throw up(it was actually so quiet!) I tried to do they Heimlich and wasn't having any success. I called for my daughter who was sleeping and she did the same thing but somehow was able to help pop it right out. It was all soggy and big! I will never forget, it was awful! Since then I only get her the wag n wraps. (with meat in the middle) She can get pieces off but not in huge chunks. I am so glad that I caught it because she wasn't making much noise. __________________ Pate Celine And Meeps!

10-12-2011, 05:23 PM	#6
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	An episode of choking will pretty much scare you off chewies. Jilly never got another one but I let Tibbe have them only if I am holding one end! He never gets one on his own unless he is lying within arm's reach and I watch him like a hawk and if he starts chewing into one much at all, I have to take it away and substitute one of those that is made of the composite stuff that breaks up. It is usually too hair-raising an experience for us to do this so usually he never gets an actual chewie anymore. No more choking from those! __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

10-12-2011, 07:25 PM	#7
Buster Brown Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Toluca Lake, CA Posts: 5,491	I found this on google Pet First Aid & CPR Training Pet Tech, cat, dog, pets, first aid class __________________ CarolynBuster Brown "The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."

10-13-2011, 01:32 AM	#8
sbgooljar YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Westchester County, New York Posts: 1,231 Blog Entries: 1	Thank you for the link! I plan to check it out shortly and will also ask my vet about pet CPR classes. __________________ Romeo and Sujata

10-13-2011, 02:22 AM	#9
susan lynn Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,262	My Sassy almost died 6 months ago when she choked on a piece of dog food. At first I thought she was having a seizure, and realized she couldn't breathe. I was hysterical but did the Heimlich maneuver and she finally was able to breathe, she just fell in my arms exhausted. Search CPR and the Heimaleich on YT and you can print out the info here. YT is where I learned about it ans I am sure it saved Sassy's life. All I did was get o my knees and Thank God she was ok. Vet said she was lucky.Now I hand feed her because I have 4 and they all want to eat at the same time and she is only 6 lbs. __________________ SUSAN : TESSIE : HOBBES :CALVIN :SASSY There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face! ~ Ben Williams

10-13-2011, 08:46 AM	#11
Lil Ladies Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Kelowna, bc, canada Posts: 46	CPR classes I have taken the CPR classes here. Its good to know the proper technique and placement, esp for these little guys. You could pop a lung or snap a bone very easily. However youtube is the next best thing! I didnt look at the link, but Im going to- always good to brush up!

10-13-2011, 11:11 AM	#12
Teresa Ford Therapy Yorkies Work Donating Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central, Florida Posts: 3,863	I am so glad your Yorkie is ok. I have 2 stories about dogs choking. Rubin when he was a puppy, my neice saved him by reaching down his throat and pulling out a plastic soda lid. And the other story is about our Lab Lily. When she was still a puppy, she swallowed a Yorkie squeaky ball and was dieing. I did the Heimlich and the ball shot out of her mouth. __________________ Teresa & Rubin, Gracie, Abba, Ginny Joy and Julia Rose Act like a dog, be kind, forgiving, and loyal.

10-13-2011, 03:06 PM	#13
sbgooljar YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Westchester County, New York Posts: 1,231 Blog Entries: 1	Oh dear I am glad both incidents had positive outcomes. My neighbor's Pom died choking on a toy (she was at work) and the poor woman was devastated. I have been careful with Romeo around food and toys but all it takes is one quick move and they're in trouble. I've been so busy today and not been able to check out the links yet but I will get to this before I go to sleep tonight. __________________ Romeo and Sujata

10-13-2011, 03:31 PM	#14
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	I watched the vids and reread the lit today just to refresh. It's really good to catch up on those every 6 wks. or so just so as to keep it in my mind and remember what to do when. Thanks for the links and thanks to OP for posting, albeit under a great deal of stress at what just happened, because it reminds us all to stay up on our CPR training. And so glad there was a goooood outcome for her baby! __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

10-17-2011, 06:34 AM	#15
BoltonsMom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Somerset, NJ Posts: 25	Do any of you suggest I take a dog first aid class (the red cross and many other offer it) after my Bolton choked while eating to fast on his food (it is small chunk food made for small dogs)?