i almost lost my harley yesterday - YorkieTalk.com Forums

keri1973 · 10-02-2006, 07:52 AM

i went to walmart for groceries and stuff. of course i picked him up a couple new toys and some new treats. they look kind of like beef wrapped around cheese stick things, they are soft. when i got home i pulled one out of the bag and they were really long so i cut a small piece off and took it over to his pen and gave it to him. i started unloading my bags and i heard him make a noise and i ran over there and realized he was choking. i took him out and he started running in circles and making kind of a yelping noise. i called for tim to help me that he was choking and we were rubbing his back and hoping he would cough it up. he got worse and went limp..... it scared me so bad, he stopped breathing, his tongue was hanging out and his eyes were half way opened. we freaked and of coarse had no clue what to do, i stuck my finger down his throat (which i know now i should not have done) and we were shaking him and yelling at him. my husband i and i just kept screaming and crying to each other to help and that we didnt know what to do. all of this was in front of my kids by the way :-( his heart was still beating so i put his nose and mouth in my mouth and i gave him a couple breaths. he came to a little and this foam stuff was coming out. he was able to get some small shallow breaths and he was awake so i kept giving him breaths and rubbing him and talking to him, then we loaded him up and went to the emergency clinic. all the way there i kept trying to stimulate him and give him breaths. when we got there i just handed him over crying and told them he was choking and they rushed him to the back and put him on oxygen. he ended up stabalizing on his own with the oxygen so they took and xray and they treat had made its way down to his stomach. one of his lungs had some fluid in it, she said some of that foamy stuff probably got sucked in (or blowed in by me i guess) so she gave him a shot to get rid of the fluid and gave him another shot of antibiotics just in case so he wouldnt develop pnemonia (sp?). he will also be on antibiotics for 7 more days.
anyway, we brought him home and he was bad traumatized (sp?) shaking, scared and looked real fragile. he started coming around some last night and he ate some. i'm still giving him nutrical too.

it just scared me so bad, i keep seeing his face and lifeless body... it was horrible. my daughter which is 7 was so upset when all this was going on she just ran to her room crying and slammed the door. she told me this morning she keeps hearing me screaming that he is dying, he is dying.....:-(
i keep thinking if i would have gave him that treat and went outside or jumped in the shower, i would have found him dead..... believe me i have learned my lesson.
he has been back to his spunky self this morning and i just keep thinking, wow i have had him a little over 3 weeks and i thought i loved him then, now i could just eat him up :-)
i just wanted to let you guys know....be careful.

vainchick5 · 10-02-2006, 07:59 AM

wow what a scary experience. I always worry about this when I'm not home, so other than her kibble I don't really leave any of her chew bones or treats out. How scary for Harley and the whole family. I'm so glad he's doing better and hugs to you for the scare. I'm so glad you were right there when it happened. He's lucky to have a great mommy like you

Izzy'smom · 10-02-2006, 08:04 AM

I am sorry you all had to go through that scare. I am just glad everything turned out okay!

LIL MIS' MAGIC · 10-02-2006, 08:07 AM

I am so glad to hear that Harley is ok .....what a terrible experience for you guys!! Thanks for posting so we are all more aware of what we give our little ones. (And that is not just our pups...but kids too!)

Give Harley lots of extra hugs and tummy rubs today....glad he is back to himself today!!

ellie81 · 10-02-2006, 08:13 AM

Oh wow!

poor Harley! that must have been very scary!!! I glad everything is fine now. I'm pretty sure you'll be extra careful from now on.

yorkieusa · 10-02-2006, 08:25 AM

It sounds like you need some hugs. I'm soooooooo glad Harley is OK today. It is pretty scary. I know. My little Muffin got choked many, many years ago, but I got it up. It's amazing how things like this make you realize just how much you love them, isn't it?

keri1973 · 10-02-2006, 08:31 AM

thanks everyone

LuvtheCooper · 10-02-2006, 08:33 AM

Bless your heart, how scary for your entire family. Glad little Harley is doing okay now! It is so scary how fast some of these situations can arise!! Hope your day today is very uneventful!

TatumsMom · 10-02-2006, 10:29 AM

That must have been horrible for you and your family. I had an awful experience with my daughter years ago where she was choking on a Starburst candy. Although I had not been officially trained in the Heimlich maneuver, I figured trying it was my only shot. Sure enough, that candy shot out of her mouth on my second try. I will never forget the frantic-ness of that moment!! Makes me wonder....... is there a Heimlich for animals?? I've heard of dogs choking on treats before and the owner always says they stuck their finger down their throat and know now that this wasn't the right thing to do....... so, what IS the right thing to do??

I'm so glad your baby is okay now. I'm sure your daughter is traumatized quite a bit. Hopefully this will turn out to be a good lesson for all and she will be okay too!

keri1973 · 10-02-2006, 10:38 AM

yes the dr. told me yesterday you do the hymlec (sp?) just as you would on an infant. hold them upside down and press down right below the ribs.

keri1973 · 10-02-2006, 10:41 AM

when he was passed out i stuck my finger in and i could feel the tip of the treat and there was no way to get it so i pushed down, i didnt know what else to do. i did scratch the back of his throat too because there was a little blood but the vet said everything looked fine. i was soo lucky that things turned out the way they did.

Julz · 10-02-2006, 10:47 AM

OMG, how very terrifying! I am so afraid of the different treats, what's in them, and what they could do to my Yorkies that I actually never give them treats. I look at how tempting they make them, but I never buy them. I give them pieces of their kibble, call it a treat, and they belive me. I am so relieved that your boy is okay now. It brought tears to my eyes reading it because I can totally picture the entire scene. What a relief to hear how well he is doing today!

mizzwanned · 10-02-2006, 10:55 AM

I'm soo sorry, that's terrible. I would be crying if it were me but I am so glad that he survived and he is ok. I hope everything turns out fine and nothing else happens like that again.

Piccolo's mom · 10-02-2006, 11:16 AM

What a scarry thing you went through. You both need lots og huhs and kisses.

magnolia · 10-02-2006, 11:21 AM

I'm so glad to read that harley is okay!! I know how dangerous the treats can be as I also had a choking experience with my first yorkie - because a treat got lodged in her throat! Thankfully, hubby was home (trained in cpr) and he got the treat out before things got any worse - vet checked her the next morning and she was fine! Give him an extra hug from some caring friends down south!

10-02-2006, 07:52 AM	#1
keri1973 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 629	i almost lost my harley yesterday i went to walmart for groceries and stuff. of course i picked him up a couple new toys and some new treats. they look kind of like beef wrapped around cheese stick things, they are soft. when i got home i pulled one out of the bag and they were really long so i cut a small piece off and took it over to his pen and gave it to him. i started unloading my bags and i heard him make a noise and i ran over there and realized he was choking. i took him out and he started running in circles and making kind of a yelping noise. i called for tim to help me that he was choking and we were rubbing his back and hoping he would cough it up. he got worse and went limp..... it scared me so bad, he stopped breathing, his tongue was hanging out and his eyes were half way opened. we freaked and of coarse had no clue what to do, i stuck my finger down his throat (which i know now i should not have done) and we were shaking him and yelling at him. my husband i and i just kept screaming and crying to each other to help and that we didnt know what to do. all of this was in front of my kids by the way :-( his heart was still beating so i put his nose and mouth in my mouth and i gave him a couple breaths. he came to a little and this foam stuff was coming out. he was able to get some small shallow breaths and he was awake so i kept giving him breaths and rubbing him and talking to him, then we loaded him up and went to the emergency clinic. all the way there i kept trying to stimulate him and give him breaths. when we got there i just handed him over crying and told them he was choking and they rushed him to the back and put him on oxygen. he ended up stabalizing on his own with the oxygen so they took and xray and they treat had made its way down to his stomach. one of his lungs had some fluid in it, she said some of that foamy stuff probably got sucked in (or blowed in by me i guess) so she gave him a shot to get rid of the fluid and gave him another shot of antibiotics just in case so he wouldnt develop pnemonia (sp?). he will also be on antibiotics for 7 more days. anyway, we brought him home and he was bad traumatized (sp?) shaking, scared and looked real fragile. he started coming around some last night and he ate some. i'm still giving him nutrical too. it just scared me so bad, i keep seeing his face and lifeless body... it was horrible. my daughter which is 7 was so upset when all this was going on she just ran to her room crying and slammed the door. she told me this morning she keeps hearing me screaming that he is dying, he is dying.....:-( i keep thinking if i would have gave him that treat and went outside or jumped in the shower, i would have found him dead..... believe me i have learned my lesson. he has been back to his spunky self this morning and i just keep thinking, wow i have had him a little over 3 weeks and i thought i loved him then, now i could just eat him up :-) i just wanted to let you guys know....be careful. __________________ Kayli Camden Minnie , Milo , Harley and Shooter

10-02-2006, 07:59 AM	#2
vainchick5 YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: CA Posts: 6,588	wow what a scary experience. I always worry about this when I'm not home, so other than her kibble I don't really leave any of her chew bones or treats out. How scary for Harley and the whole family. I'm so glad he's doing better and hugs to you for the scare. I'm so glad you were right there when it happened. He's lucky to have a great mommy like you __________________ Mommy to Coco and Rocco

10-02-2006, 08:07 AM	#4
LIL MIS' MAGIC Yorkie Lover Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlothian, Texas Posts: 4,377 Blog Entries: 3	I am so glad to hear that Harley is ok .....what a terrible experience for you guys!! Thanks for posting so we are all more aware of what we give our little ones. (And that is not just our pups...but kids too!) Give Harley lots of extra hugs and tummy rubs today....glad he is back to himself today!! __________________ Kristin, Mom to: Lil Mis Magic, Sailor and Captain

10-02-2006, 08:13 AM	#5
ellie81 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Florida Posts: 5,314 Blog Entries: 1	Oh wow! poor Harley! that must have been very scary!!! I glad everything is fine now. I'm pretty sure you'll be extra careful from now on. __________________ Ellie and Bengi Bengi Is Home!!! - http://youtu.be/8OKv35pk5Pk

10-02-2006, 08:25 AM	#6
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 21,173	It sounds like you need some hugs. I'm soooooooo glad Harley is OK today. It is pretty scary. I know. My little Muffin got choked many, many years ago, but I got it up. It's amazing how things like this make you realize just how much you love them, isn't it? __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel

10-02-2006, 08:04 AM	#3
Izzy'smom Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Roberts IL Posts: 163	I am sorry you all had to go through that scare. I am just glad everything turned out okay!

10-02-2006, 08:31 AM	#7
keri1973 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 629	thanks everyone __________________ Kayli Camden Minnie , Milo , Harley and Shooter

10-02-2006, 08:33 AM	#8
LuvtheCooper & LuvtheCarley too! Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wa State/Texas Posts: 1,625	Bless your heart, how scary for your entire family. Glad little Harley is doing okay now! It is so scary how fast some of these situations can arise!! Hope your day today is very uneventful! __________________ Delaina Cooper & Carley

10-02-2006, 10:29 AM	#9
TatumsMom Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: TX Posts: 2,799	That must have been horrible for you and your family. I had an awful experience with my daughter years ago where she was choking on a Starburst candy. Although I had not been officially trained in the Heimlich maneuver, I figured trying it was my only shot. Sure enough, that candy shot out of her mouth on my second try. I will never forget the frantic-ness of that moment!! Makes me wonder....... is there a Heimlich for animals?? I've heard of dogs choking on treats before and the owner always says they stuck their finger down their throat and know now that this wasn't the right thing to do....... so, what IS the right thing to do?? I'm so glad your baby is okay now. I'm sure your daughter is traumatized quite a bit. Hopefully this will turn out to be a good lesson for all and she will be okay too! __________________ ~ Angie

10-02-2006, 10:38 AM	#10
keri1973 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 629	yes the dr. told me yesterday you do the hymlec (sp?) just as you would on an infant. hold them upside down and press down right below the ribs. __________________ Kayli Camden Minnie , Milo , Harley and Shooter

10-02-2006, 10:41 AM	#11
keri1973 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 629	when he was passed out i stuck my finger in and i could feel the tip of the treat and there was no way to get it so i pushed down, i didnt know what else to do. i did scratch the back of his throat too because there was a little blood but the vet said everything looked fine. i was soo lucky that things turned out the way they did. __________________ Kayli Camden Minnie , Milo , Harley and Shooter

10-02-2006, 10:47 AM	#12
Julz Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 4,347	OMG, how very terrifying! I am so afraid of the different treats, what's in them, and what they could do to my Yorkies that I actually never give them treats. I look at how tempting they make them, but I never buy them. I give them pieces of their kibble, call it a treat, and they belive me. I am so relieved that your boy is okay now. It brought tears to my eyes reading it because I can totally picture the entire scene. What a relief to hear how well he is doing today!

10-02-2006, 10:55 AM	#13
mizzwanned Donating YT 11K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: new york Posts: 14,007 Blog Entries: 2	I'm soo sorry, that's terrible. I would be crying if it were me but I am so glad that he survived and he is ok. I hope everything turns out fine and nothing else happens like that again.

10-02-2006, 11:16 AM	#14
Piccolo's mom Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Posts: 778	What a scarry thing you went through. You both need lots og huhs and kisses. __________________ Barb & Piccolo If your dog barks and doesn't fit in a bread roll, don't eat it.

10-02-2006, 11:21 AM	#15
magnolia YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 1,459	I'm so glad to read that harley is okay!! I know how dangerous the treats can be as I also had a choking experience with my first yorkie - because a treat got lodged in her throat! Thankfully, hubby was home (trained in cpr) and he got the treat out before things got any worse - vet checked her the next morning and she was fine! Give him an extra hug from some caring friends down south! __________________ Suzi - mom to Gabby and Gage For Mickey