Good One Mare...thank you!Gloria C I will say of the Lord, HE is myRefuge and my Fortress, my God; on HIM ...I lean, rely and (confidently) trust! Psalm 91:2
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Sat, 1 Nov 2008 19:30:26 -0500Subject: [Chihuahuas] How To Save A Choking Dog Just like every babies and toddlers, dogs have a bad habit of putting anything they find inside their mouths and many times these objects do not belong there. These objects can range from rocks, coins, batteries, stationery, undergarments, plastic bags or hearing aids; basically anything that seems interesting to play with. Sadly and many times the dog accidentally swallow these small objects which become lodged in his throat. Choking REQUIRES immediate action. If the object is not removed immediately, your dog might stop breathing and become unconscious. Do take extra care when handling an unconscious dog as he may bite on instinct. The most concerning thing is when trying to remove the object, inexperience owner (especially when owner is in a panicky mode) might push the object further down the throat and make the matter worse. Since this is a common occurrence especially among young dogs. It would be useful if not necessary to learn the Heimlich Maneuver in helping your dog from choking. It can definitely save your dog’s life. Heimlich Maneuver: Steps to Save A Choking Dog If your dog starts choking or have difficulty in breathing, do the following basic steps: Take a secure hold of the dog and open its mouth and look at the back of its throat. If you can see the object causing the choking, remove it. Preferably, have a helper assist you in holding the dog’s mouth open while you remove the object. That way you ’ll have a better view into the dog’s throat removing the object and not push it further down the throat. If you can ’t see the object or it’s blocking the airway, don’ t try to pull the object out. With his fore legs planted on the ground, hold his hind legs in the air with his head hangs down. If yours is a small dog, pick him up and hold him by the hips with his head handing down. Sometimes, this technique will simply cause the object to drop off. Otherwise, you have to perform the Heimlich Maneuver. Although Heimlich Maneuver can be performed with the dog in lying side ways or standing position, I ’d recommend the latter one as it’s more effective. Either method, the steps are very similar. With your dog standing, elevate his hind legs slightly and hold them between your knees or shin. Place one hand just below the last rib and another hand on his back. Press the stomach in one fluid motion. Squeeze about 4 to 5 times rapidly or until the object is coughed out. Double check if the object is completely dislodged. If so, let your dog rest a moment before taking him to the veterinary for further check-up. If there is still part of the object jammed inside his throat, strike between his shoulder blades sharply with an open palm and repeat step 2. If the remaining object does not come up and your dog is no longer breathing, you will have to perform artificial respiration or bring your dog to the veterinarian IMMEDIATELY.
