Thankful
Had a very scary time with Sonny on Thursday.
Eric had just closed the door to go for Chinese for dinner. Hedy hit the door, ringing the bell to go out, because she wanted to follow.
Immediately after, I heard nails scrambling on wood. My initial thought was that Hedy had knocked something over and was scrambling to get out of the way. But she came around the chair, somewhat frightened, but the scrambling sound continued.
I looked to the other side in time to see my boy come into view, obviously panicked and loosing his balance. His hind end starting to collapse, his front all splayed out for balance.
I knew immediately what I was seeing. I had seen it before once in Shayna when she had swallowed a bone and it was blocking her airway.
I lept out of the chair and tried to grab him, but he was panicked and running and scrambling for footing. I finally got a hold of him, and he was not breathing. No noise at all, other than the scramble of his feet. I tried reaching down his throat, and I did get my hand down part way...but for his size he must have a narrow throat or just very strong muscles.
I tried to open the door to yell at Eric...but couldnt get the door open as my hand was too slippery. Tried again, and managed to get it open, but the van was already gone. Nothing Eric could have done anyway.
I put my hand down him again. I felt something between my thumb and forefinger but knew that there are structures in the throat, and it didnt feel like it was what was causing the blockage. I never felt anything foreign...but either because my hand opened the throat enough for the object to move, or I actually pushed the obstruction...he started to breathe...and then was his happy goofy self.
Myself, was frightened and shaking violently.
It took me several minutes to decide what to do next. I called my vets office, but it was near their closing and they were booked. They did offer to get me in, but suggested it would be better to go to an E vet. The one up here in Cordelia doesnt open until 5:30, the other option is in Concord and they are open 24 hours.
At that point I called Eric. I was somewhat in shock and found it difficult to articulate what I wanted...but eventually told him that I thought we needed to take Sonny to the E vet.
When he got home, just a few minutes later, we loaded Sonny up and drove to Concord.
Vets exam said he was normal. Vet suggested it might have been a seizure or a stroke. I suppose they look similar, and she hadn't seen him. In my mind I was sure of what I had seen..but its always possible to be wrong.
We did radiographs...and his intestines were clear, but he had just eaten dinner, so not able to see if there was anything foreign in his stomach. We opted to have him throw up what was in his belly. He brought up, along with his dinner, a small part of a toy...probably the foot or maybe a wing...of a toy. It had been down there for some time, and it is likely that is what had caused the obstruction to his airway. For whatever reason it came partway up and blocked his airway.
A freak thing.
I am just so thankful that I was there, and was able to do something, and that it worked. But it leaves me wondering what to do if it hadn't worked. Its hard for me to not dwell on things. The what ifs. I am trying not to do that here.
Hug your loved ones close. You never know what is around the next bend.
Eric had just closed the door to go for Chinese for dinner. Hedy hit the door, ringing the bell to go out, because she wanted to follow.
Immediately after, I heard nails scrambling on wood. My initial thought was that Hedy had knocked something over and was scrambling to get out of the way. But she came around the chair, somewhat frightened, but the scrambling sound continued.
I looked to the other side in time to see my boy come into view, obviously panicked and loosing his balance. His hind end starting to collapse, his front all splayed out for balance.
I knew immediately what I was seeing. I had seen it before once in Shayna when she had swallowed a bone and it was blocking her airway.
I lept out of the chair and tried to grab him, but he was panicked and running and scrambling for footing. I finally got a hold of him, and he was not breathing. No noise at all, other than the scramble of his feet. I tried reaching down his throat, and I did get my hand down part way...but for his size he must have a narrow throat or just very strong muscles.
I tried to open the door to yell at Eric...but couldnt get the door open as my hand was too slippery. Tried again, and managed to get it open, but the van was already gone. Nothing Eric could have done anyway.
I put my hand down him again. I felt something between my thumb and forefinger but knew that there are structures in the throat, and it didnt feel like it was what was causing the blockage. I never felt anything foreign...but either because my hand opened the throat enough for the object to move, or I actually pushed the obstruction...he started to breathe...and then was his happy goofy self.
Myself, was frightened and shaking violently.
It took me several minutes to decide what to do next. I called my vets office, but it was near their closing and they were booked. They did offer to get me in, but suggested it would be better to go to an E vet. The one up here in Cordelia doesnt open until 5:30, the other option is in Concord and they are open 24 hours.
At that point I called Eric. I was somewhat in shock and found it difficult to articulate what I wanted...but eventually told him that I thought we needed to take Sonny to the E vet.
When he got home, just a few minutes later, we loaded Sonny up and drove to Concord.
Vets exam said he was normal. Vet suggested it might have been a seizure or a stroke. I suppose they look similar, and she hadn't seen him. In my mind I was sure of what I had seen..but its always possible to be wrong.
We did radiographs...and his intestines were clear, but he had just eaten dinner, so not able to see if there was anything foreign in his stomach. We opted to have him throw up what was in his belly. He brought up, along with his dinner, a small part of a toy...probably the foot or maybe a wing...of a toy. It had been down there for some time, and it is likely that is what had caused the obstruction to his airway. For whatever reason it came partway up and blocked his airway.
A freak thing.
I am just so thankful that I was there, and was able to do something, and that it worked. But it leaves me wondering what to do if it hadn't worked. Its hard for me to not dwell on things. The what ifs. I am trying not to do that here.
Hug your loved ones close. You never know what is around the next bend.