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I saved a life today!

Andrea March 18, 2009 February 22, 2011

Forums

So I left work early today to get some hay and straw. I'm not normally at the barn so early. The barn owner came home for lunch to let her dogs out. She has a French Bulldog named Maxie. Cute little thing. As I was getting ready to take Silo to the large turnout, Sue started saying "Maxie... Maxie... SHE's DEAD" and she's sobbing that Maxie is dead. I turned around and sure enough, Maxie is on her side, limp as a noodle. Sue was nudging her and she was just not moving or breathing. I threw Silo back in her stall and ran over to Maxie. Not breathing. So I started to thump her sides and chest to see if I could get her going again. I started shaking her and massaging her throat to see if she was choking. Her mouth was full of snotty mucous. I started to lift her up so I could put my mouth over her nose and mouth to see if I could get some oxygen back into her and as I lifted her I heard her inhale just a little bit and it was a really wet sound. So I started shaking and pounding her back and sides again and massaging her throat. Sue started digging the mucous out of her mouth and Maxie started breating better. I've no doubt Maxie would be dead if I hadn't decided to take off early today. Sue had just lost her husband over Christmas and Maxie was his doggy. The sound of her disbelieving voice calling Maxie is almost haunting. I'm so happy I was there to help and while I've saved serveral lives, I think this is my first mammal! I've done mouth to mouth on a beta that had jumped out of his bowl and save him! :shock: He was all dry and icky. I had to dowse him in slime juice after, but he lived another year! :D

Andrea Thu, 03/19/2009 - 13:47

OK. Not mouth to mouth... It was more like straw to mouth. I can't stand the taste of fish!!!
We're not really sure why the dog keeled over. She either choked on something and neither of us noticed, or the dog had a seizure. But she really just dropped over without struggling at all. She did lose bladder control, not sure if that was indicative of a siezure or dying?
I thank God I was there to help. Otherwise the dog would have died... Sue had given up without trying anything. Next time, I think if something happens, she'll act instead of panic.

TheRedHayflinger Thu, 03/19/2009 - 16:58

Good for you!

sounds like the owner actually went into a type of shock and was really unable to do anything...it's happened to me before and I've seen it happen to others

At least the pooch was saved :D

rabbitsfizz Fri, 03/20/2009 - 13:13

[quote="horsegen"]I'm still stuck on imagining Andrea giving mouth-to-mouth to a beta fish...[/quote]
Yes....me too!!! :laugh1 :rofl :laugh1
She's a Bull breed??
Get the Vet to check her soft palate...sometimes it is too long and flaps back into the throat and prevents air getting in...this gets progressively worse as the dog gets older.
It would be worth having her check it out as it sounds to me as if she needs this dog right now!!
Well done for the quick thinking, picking the dog up by it's hind paws if it is small enough and swinging it back and forth is a good way to start the heart and the lungs and dislodge anything obstructing the airways at the same time....it works, too, I brought a small child with an obstruction (can't do Heimlich on a child) back this way.

Andrea Fri, 03/20/2009 - 15:33

Hey. I loved that fish! LOL. Got another year out of him!

Yes, Maxie is a French Bulldog and I'll ask Sue if she's had her pallet checked. I love bulldogs, but man... They have soooo many issues!
My next choice is a blue Dane, but I like the look of the cropped ears... :oops: So I probably wont get one of those either... I'll just stick with ponies...