Elaine
05-07-2008, 05:23 AM
Was talking about Contender with a friend, in the course of the conversation I related an experience we had with him when he was about 5 weeks old... it occurred to me that sharing our experience may save a life.
For those who don’t know, Contender died... literally!!!
He choked to death on a hot dog when he was about 5 weeks old, while we were taking those blasted stacked puppy shots. A piece of hot dog got stuck in his throat... we could not get it out; he died. Arthur was right there when it happened (he had been holding the camera, I even have photos of the moment Contender swallowed the hot dog)
Arthur immediately did a finger sweep of Contender’s airway (which was ineffective, and one should be cautious when doing a finger sweep because you can accidentally push the obstruction further down the throat. ). He got some forceps and considered using them to pull the obstruction out... but again, the piece of hot dog it was too far down the throat. Arthur did chest compressions, held Contender upside down.... again, ineffective. Arthur was about to do a tracheotomy (we had a rudimentary surgical kit in the cabinet within three feet of where we were taking photos and Arthur is an MD... I am NOT advocating that untrained lay people attempt tracheotomies). As a last resort before the trach Arthur did the Heimlich ... he had to be forceful enough to crack ribs. After what seemed like forever, Arthur was finally able to force Contender to expel the hot dog... but by that time Contender was cold and blue...he appeared to be dead.
Arthur considered giving up... he turned to me and said, “he’s gone.” I said something like, “Keep at it!!! Do something, I love that boy!!! If he’s dead, he’s freshly dead, we are not giving up, you’re going to bring him back.”
I made Arthur give him mouth to mouth... after what seemed like an eternity Contender took a breath. We were so relieved I can’t begin to tell you... brings tears even now. Arthur saved Contender’s life.
So, Rule # 3,426 : NO Hot Dogs for baiting young puppies... even with string cheese, we shred it in to narrow strips that can not block an airway.
For those who don’t know, Contender died... literally!!!
He choked to death on a hot dog when he was about 5 weeks old, while we were taking those blasted stacked puppy shots. A piece of hot dog got stuck in his throat... we could not get it out; he died. Arthur was right there when it happened (he had been holding the camera, I even have photos of the moment Contender swallowed the hot dog)
Arthur immediately did a finger sweep of Contender’s airway (which was ineffective, and one should be cautious when doing a finger sweep because you can accidentally push the obstruction further down the throat. ). He got some forceps and considered using them to pull the obstruction out... but again, the piece of hot dog it was too far down the throat. Arthur did chest compressions, held Contender upside down.... again, ineffective. Arthur was about to do a tracheotomy (we had a rudimentary surgical kit in the cabinet within three feet of where we were taking photos and Arthur is an MD... I am NOT advocating that untrained lay people attempt tracheotomies). As a last resort before the trach Arthur did the Heimlich ... he had to be forceful enough to crack ribs. After what seemed like forever, Arthur was finally able to force Contender to expel the hot dog... but by that time Contender was cold and blue...he appeared to be dead.
Arthur considered giving up... he turned to me and said, “he’s gone.” I said something like, “Keep at it!!! Do something, I love that boy!!! If he’s dead, he’s freshly dead, we are not giving up, you’re going to bring him back.”
I made Arthur give him mouth to mouth... after what seemed like an eternity Contender took a breath. We were so relieved I can’t begin to tell you... brings tears even now. Arthur saved Contender’s life.
So, Rule # 3,426 : NO Hot Dogs for baiting young puppies... even with string cheese, we shred it in to narrow strips that can not block an airway.