Pet CPR
This weekend we almost lost Ginger, the little Miniature Pincher we rescued from the interstate's HOV lane a little over a year ago. She was playing with her best friend Rainier when her collar got caught on one of his teeth. He's a lab mix so he's much bigger than she is and when they both attempted to get free from each other the collar only got tighter. Janet and I struggled for what seemed like an eternity to try to free Ginger from his mouth or the collar but nothing we did worked. We were panicing and everyone was struggling, finally Janet was able to cut through the rolled leather collar with a scissors while I supported Ginger and helped to keep Rainier still.
I ran outside with Ginger the second she was free, it just seemed like their was no air in the room and the cool, fresh air of the morning seemed a better place but she was just not breathing. I laid her down on the deck and gave her a few rescue breaths until she started breathing on her own. I honestly could not remember how to check her pulse let alone give chest compressions but, luckily, I did not have to do that, she started breathing on her own. We rushed her to the vet who checked her out and said she'd be fine.
The dogs seem to have recovered quickly from the event but we have been feeling quite traumatized. I'm glad we were able to save her and that I at least remembered the rescue breaths. The dogs are now all running around the house collarless (they are micro chipped for identification) and I'm reviewing my pet first aid. If you have any animals please do the same, it's a good idea to know how to handle emergencies for every member of your family.
Other Stuff:
How-to-Perform-Canine-CPR
Dog CPR Video
Check out the gallery page - Future Relics Gallery
I ran outside with Ginger the second she was free, it just seemed like their was no air in the room and the cool, fresh air of the morning seemed a better place but she was just not breathing. I laid her down on the deck and gave her a few rescue breaths until she started breathing on her own. I honestly could not remember how to check her pulse let alone give chest compressions but, luckily, I did not have to do that, she started breathing on her own. We rushed her to the vet who checked her out and said she'd be fine.
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| Happy Ginger |
The dogs seem to have recovered quickly from the event but we have been feeling quite traumatized. I'm glad we were able to save her and that I at least remembered the rescue breaths. The dogs are now all running around the house collarless (they are micro chipped for identification) and I'm reviewing my pet first aid. If you have any animals please do the same, it's a good idea to know how to handle emergencies for every member of your family.
Other Stuff:
How-to-Perform-Canine-CPR
Dog CPR Video
Check out the gallery page - Future Relics Gallery
So happy to read that this had a happy outcome! Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteOur indoor cats are collarless. Winter wears her collar when she goes out on her run. We are always out there with her. In the car she wears a safety harness. The cats ride in carriers.
That is such good advice. I love the safety harness for the car. It's just so much safer, we wouldn't drive with a small child wandering around freely, we shouldn't let our dogs or cats either.
DeleteMy dog is an indoor pet and we stopped putting his collar on in the house a few years ago when I came downstairs to find he had somehow managed to trap his paw in it and couldn't move. All I could think was what if I had not been here, he might have broken his leg! Now we just put the collar on when it''s time to walk. My brother in law attempted CPR on his dalmation that was hit by a car years ago, but sadly it didn't work. So glad your outcome was better, what a scary day!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you were able to get to your dog on time Tracey. The vet tells us that the collar should be lose to avoid problems but apparently that's not really safe either. I see that some breakaway collars are available on line, that may be the route to go just incase one of the pups gets out of the house or the yard.
Deletegood thing you were there and able!
ReplyDeleteIt was Meredith, not everyone is so fortunate.
DeleteOh my what a scare, I try to pet proof everything, but sometimes there are things one would never realize need to be done.
ReplyDeleteYou're smart to try to make a safe environment for your cats Linda. I imagine that must be next to impossible because they are so agile.
DeleteWe don't collar our dogs, either, unless they are going for a walk. My sister had a dog that hanged itself by it's collar on her back patio - very traumatizing and after that I didn't feel comfortable having the dogs collared if they were unsupervised. I'm so glad Ginger is OK!
ReplyDeleteOh Julia, I feel so bad for your sister. I can't imagine how horrible that must have been for her. It can happen so fast, it's a good thing you un-collared your dogs. I hope they are chipped or tattooed or something.
DeleteSo glad that you were able to save her. How traumatic for you two and the dogs. My brother lost a dog many years ago when it was tied outside on a leash and it appeared he tried to back out his collar. I am so glad that there fewer people who tie dogs outside now.
ReplyDeleteI am too Michele, it's actually illegal here in Georgia now but only if it's for long periods of time.
DeleteOH LORI gosh, what an amwazing story, I am so glad it turned out OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gary, it was traumatic but they are just fine now. I hope other people learn from this and learn some pet CPR and think about collar issues.
DeleteSo glad your sweet dog is OK! I have 2, and know the pain of losing one. Must have scared you to death!
ReplyDelete