Dog Community

paranoid parent

Posted : 6/12/2006 11:15:11 PM

Hello all,

    I'm a newbie and thought I would introduce myself with this silly story. I came home today from work, fixed dinner, gave my dogs a bone each and kicked back. All seemed well untill I happened to notice my puppy acting odd. He was walking like a duck in a marching-band and batting at his head. At first I brushed it off as him just being goofy, but he kept on and started getting a look of panic in his eyes. I freaked out! Oh no he is choking! I have never left a bone or chew toy in my dog's crate because I didn't want them to choke while I'm not there. Then I started to realize as I jumped on top of him and held him down that I didn't know what to do. I may be Red-Cross certified, but not for a K9 and staring at my puppy's face really humbled me because I felt helpless. I saw that he was still breathing, but just irregularly because he was so affraid (maybe from the bone, but in retrospect it was most likely from this giant new owner holding him down and trying to crack open his mouth like a pistachio, lol).
    I thought to myself that the only thing I could really do was open his trap and try to see what he was choking on. Upon opening his mouth I saw the problem right away. In his bone-chewing frenzy he had locked a piece of bone fragment in his palate. It was amazing that this piece was the perfect size to fit right in there. So I stuck my finger behind and under it towards the back of his mouth and POP! It came right out. I let him up and ZOOM we tore right through the apartment looking for a hiding-place to escape the big bad master who must have been trying to kill him.
    I decided it best to let him calm down and wait it out in the other room. I sat with my other dog watching TV for nearly an hour when his big breed goofy puppy head peered around the corner. I looked over at him and said "Hey buddy, you okay?" ZOOM he went right back into exile. Another half an hour later he darted from his hiding spot and without warning landed right in my lap. I never thought that a 60lb puppy landing in my lap would be such a relief, but he seemed alright and had managed to pass the discomfort on to me very effectively. I thought it ironic and the tear in my eye, although I was very happy he was okay, was purely reflex.
    I have only had him for a few days, but to me it was amazing how quickly I had

anicked. It was the exact same feeling I felt when my 3 year old dog was in pain in the past, I really didn't see that we had bonded untill then. As a matter of fact in an instant I went from doubting whether or not he was going to fit into the family to forging myself as his devoted parent. Just like that, SNAP and I'm forever his. Brilliant. Just brilliant.

Xebby

Posted : 6/12/2006 11:19:37 PM

I love how dogs always forgive us so easy. Also how puppies seem to bring out the best in all of us.

Welcome to the forum!

loveukaykay

Posted : 6/13/2006 12:57:31 AM

What a wonderful story!! Thanks for sharing that!

My Kayla choked once and I stood there screaming and crying and my huband gave her a heimlick (sp?) sort of thing after he couldnt "see" it and it came out. OMG it was incredibly stressful because she was our LIFE. PANIC! It didnt scare her what we did, just the choking... but we had already had her for a long time and it was nothing but trust between us.

The trust will come with him... it already has begun[

]

Welcome!

Lou_Dog

Posted : 6/13/2006 9:02:14 AM

    These stories always seem to speak to the compassionate dog savant in all of us, but I have been marinading in this since last night when I posted. I really thing there aught to be some sort of education regarding pet emergencies offered by the Humane Society, AKC, or AVMA. A large organization that could offer some uniformity of information for the concerned pet owner and show us what we need to know in order to be better prepared for the situations we may never expect. I'm sure there are accidents that occur more often than we know that are potentially life-threatening and could be solved with some communication between owners and professionals alike.
    Unfortunately there will always be pets, children, and adults that fall victim to circumstances that could have been averted by simple education. I'm sure we all have the basics covered: using a leash, supervision, sound training etc. It's the problems I can't think of that I'm affraid of, because if it can happen it will. Maybe this forum is the first step, or maybe the only step needed. Let's just keep each other up to speed on anything we may see as beneficial.
    Thanks for the warm welcome!

Benedict

Posted : 6/13/2006 9:13:29 AM

That's a great story - enjoy the growing bond with your dog, it's a wonderful thing.

My local RSPCA (UK version of the SPCA) does teach dog first aid. I am not sure how many people take advantage of it, but I will be when the next round of classes starts. I would rather have the skill and never have to use it than not learn and need it one day. I think it would be fabulous for a basic animal first aid class to be a pre-requisite for adopting or fostering an animal. I am not sure how it would be regulated for getting a dog from a breeder, though.

Kate

Lou_Dog

Posted : 6/13/2006 9:54:06 AM

Thanks benedict! That's good that you are attending that class, if you don't mind posting your experience so we know if it was worth it that would be great. I started to ask around and was suprised that that in a city of 1.5 million I wasn't finding a plethora of classes. There must be something out there. I wouldn't even mind driving to a nearby city for one if I could only find the time.
I'm not sure how the breeding thing would work, I don't know much about it. Don't you think the sanctioning bodies could require it before certification of registration? That may be impractical, funny how the things that seem smartest and simplest are always impractical. Oh well.