My Adina almost died today...
 

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.

Oh my Gosh Linda. I am so glad everything turned out ok. What a hero you are. Just goes to show how quickly these little ones can get into trouble. So happy for you that Adina is gonna be ok.

OMG, what a nightmare. Poor baby. I know it will be a long time before you get that image of her at the bottom of the pool out of your everyday thoughts. Thank goodness you acted do quickly. Praying that all her tests come back clean.

OMG!!! THESE are the kind of lessons we are globsmacked with that REALLY impact us and what we do in relation with our babies!! I bet you will NEVER take your eyes off another of your babies if they are anywhere around a pool of water!

Years ago, the kids that live in this HUGE home behind me, with THREE swimming pools, had deliberately loosened one of the fence pickets so they could reach into my yard and pet my pups....(found this out way after the near disaster!) I was on the phone, walking around the back yard with my babies, 7 or them, and they were playing and running and having a wonderful time....and I was not paying close enough attention and they had all run into the corner of the yard, behind the huge fig tree growing there, out of sight....but I was chatting on the phone, not paying attention. Suddenly, I heard little bells, on the OTHER side of the fence, in the neighbors yard, running up and down the fence....my babies were all in the neighbors back yard and I was hearing all those little bells on their collars! I ran to the wooden fence and was calling and yelling thru the fence, and the neighbors all came outside, momma and 3 bad little kids....on their way to school....well by then 3 of my babies had run across the water on the pool and were floundering in the water....I was hollering and screaming and I flat tore 5 boards off that fence so I could get to my babies...by then the kids, dressed for school, had all jumped into the swimming pool and each saved a dog! We had a screaming, yelling crying hollering name calling fest going on....bottom line I managed to get all my babies back alive! Those bad ass kids had pulled a board loose up behind that fig tree so they could pet the pups thru the fence without being seen....but I STILL have nightmares about my babies almost drowning that day....and they all had coughs after that, coughs that stayed with them the rest of their lives.

I am so happy you saved your baby, and thank God she is doing so well at the hospital....my God, that is a truly terrifying event....but you know what....it will NEVER happen to YOU again, I can promise you that!

So glad she is okay. Can not even imagine how scared you were. Sending prayers she will be home soon

WoW ! The Good Lord was watching over you both as in most cases they do not have the happy ending you both got today. It sounds like she will be fine but good that she's at the vet being monitored through the night. It's amazing how our own fears leave us in circumstances such as this. So glad you both are ok.

I am shocked, but so happy that you saved her. I hope she recovers fully and quickly. Sending warm thoughts and prayers to you too Linda, what an ordeal.

Linda, so glad you were able to save her. What a close call. So glad those puppies were saved too. What a terrible ordeal.

What a shock you had, they are just so quick and seem to have a knack of finding trouble , I glad that you found her when you did and that your life saving skills just took over , I hope she has a full recovery , will be thinking of her.

I don't know what to say except that I'm glad everything is okay. I'd have a big glass of wine after that shock!

Omg, Linda, how scary! So very sorry to hear this happened to you both...but please, do not beat yourself up over this bc, truly, you know it could happen to any single one of us...so very easily.

I'm just so grateful that you got to her in time and gave her the breath of life. It totally reminded me of that time I almost lost Marcel to choking and had to give him some breaths as well - it's just terrifying.

Yup, I'd highly recommend doggie CPR, as I took it years back and found it helpful..I took it via my local Red Cross Chapter. Also see the CPR thread, always a good refresher.

Please keep us updated on today's report - I hope you find she is vastly better today :love:!!!!

Oh my goodness I am so glad Adina is ok .. I think it is awesome that you knew just what to do to save her life ..

OMG, how horrific, it's amazing how were don't think about our own fears in emergency's like this, babies always come first. Praying little Adina gets a good bill of health when she is released. Sorry to say, I agree with others, this memory will stay with you forever, how horrifying for both of you. Thank god in your state of mind you were quick to give life saving breaths.

Linda, I can imagine that you are still shaking today after this terrifying ordeal. I am very thankful that you were able to revive Adina.

Praying she is doing well and can return home today.

OMG I can only imagine the horror you felt at seeing her on the bottom of the pool. Don't beat yourself up you are only human and we all have done things we regret. Good news is that she is alive and improving!!

Oh my goodness Linda - have only just read this...

How are you both today? Needless to say - big hugs from over here :) xx

I'm very sorry that you both went through that but very grateful that you are both okay. I know you will never forget this nightmare, but please remember that you would do anything to protect her, and your fearless act of love saved Adina.

Good morning Linda.....praying Adina is doing well today with no residual issues! I have no doubt YOUR knees are still quivering.....I am just so very thankful you got to her in time and she seems to be doing well post trauma!

I am so sorry to hear what you had to go through, hope she will be home with you soon.

Sorry to be so delayed in posting. Adina came home today! Just amazing how good she looks ... she ran all over the backyard and is totally back to normal. I am so very grateful that she is still with me.

Thank you SO much to all of your for your comments, tips and good wishes. It means so much to me.

You know, yesterday I put that sentence about doggie cpr in red letters and it is a great message....but the most important message was missing. Judy/Yorkiemom1 said it:

NEVER take your eyes off another of your babies if they are anywhere around a pool of water!


This was a very quick thing as I was watching closely (but obviously not close enough...what can happen in a matter of seconds is really frightening)...I knew the pool was there (I had mentioned it to the photographer and it is why I took them to the very back corner of a large yard, away from the pool) and I was immediately alarmed when she disappeared. If I knew THAT, then I really should not have had her out there without a life jacket/vest. AND there should not have been ONE second that I didn't have my eyes on both of them.

It takes less than a heartbeat for them to run into the pool...they think they can run on top of the water and they haul a$$ right across the pool!! They are in the water before you can even get your legs and feet in motion! If you had even been WATCHING her, the same thing would have happened....she thought she could cross on top, did not realize she would sink, and she would have darted right out across the top of the water, while your MIND was relaying to your feet and legs, MOVE!! MOTION!! FULL SPEED!!!
Thank God everything fell into place and she is fine.....you would have beat your self to death for the rest of your life over that one oversight....

I am very happy that Adina is home and doing well!

Very good advice about never taking your eyes off these little ones around pools and water. Things happen so fast and these pupsters can be so stealthy with their movements.

Thank heavens she is ok and home again. I know you feel bad but it was an accident.

I guess your nursing CPR class came in handy as you treated her as a baby, using the baby hold.

They are faster than lightening sometimes. Other times they are directly under your feet and we are almost breaking our own necks trying to avoid stepping on them.

OMG! I just saw this -- thank goodness for you quick thinking! That probably saved her life! My Cali loves the water, And can swim, but it scares me all the time!

So glad she is doing well! Be thankful that you were there when you needed to be !

I am very relieved to see that all is OK now. I cannot imagine, nor do I ever want to, the feeling of horror seeing you baby at the bottom of the pool. Your quick reactions saved her life. She is lucky to have you.

The scary part is that I was winging it...I had no idea if she had a pulse...never even thought to check for one. I only knew she was lifeless and not breathing. All I could think was to get the water out and thought if I held her that way with her head lower then that would happen. I would switch from that to giving breaths....with each time it seemed to get bleaker and then, all at once, that tiny coughing sound. I have no idea how long it took (it seemed like an eternity)...I need to ask the gal who was there. But then, she may not know either..I think it took a few years off of her life as well. Poor thing kept apologizing...it had nothing to with her but she felt terrible about it.

The drive to the EC was the worst. Two lane road with people riding side by side. I had my flashers on and was honking and flashing headlights and the person in front of me intentionally was messing with me. When I finally had a chance to pass on the right, they pulled in front of me...then I went to the left lane and they pulled back there. I was just so upset....I had to ride slowly there for a while because of that crazy person. People are so ridiculous...even IF they thought I was a crazy driver...why not just get out of the way? I really, really need to write the letter to someone in the state...maybe just my city to push for education about this! People are supposed to use that lane for passing....how hard is that to comprehend? In NJ they have signs that tell people to keep right and pass left and the police DO write tickets. It should be that way everywhere...if they had ambulances for pets, then people would pull over...like they do for humans. But...they don't comprehend that someone could possibly have an emergency? geez

I honestly don't know how I could have ever forgiven myself. As it is I feel just downright horrible.

Maxdog just commented that Adina is lucky to have me. I am left to wonder about that after allowing this to happen. I truly feel sick over it.

You can't let yourself go there. These little suckers are faster than lightening!
The only way to prevent something like that is to have them teathered to you 24/7. 365 days a year.

I'm impressed with your diving to the bottom and doing CPR. I don't know if I would have the presence of mind to do that much.

I'm thrilled she is okay.

Linda, Adina IS lucky to have you. I believe your medical training, although not K9, and your quick reaction saved her.

You know how neurotic I am about keeping my eyes on my boys, even inside the house . . . yet Max managed to slip out the back door right under my nose one night. He couldn't go anywhere because our deck is lined with xpens, but I was searching the house frantically. Then I saw through the sliding glass door the flash of his eyes on the deck. The boy who is afraid of the dark and afraid of being left behind was so pleased with himself. These little ones are full of surprises and manage to get past the most attentive people.

Adina is lucky to have you.

I wish I could find a bookie that would place this bet for me!! I could make a fortune in one fell swoop.....because I can PROMISE you, THAT event will NEVER happen to you again!