Dog Diaries: Heimlich & Top 3 Problems

I talk a lot about crime related subjects because it’s my passion. But today, I thought I’d take a step back and discuss something really important…

SAVING YOUR DOG’S LIFE

Through Twitter and Facebook I’ve discovered many share my love of animals, specifically dogs. But do you know how to protect your baby should an emergency arise?

CHOKING

Let’s say Fido is enjoying a rawhide bone. The rawhide gets wet and slippery and can easily get lodged in his throat, blocking Fido’s airway. You don’t have time to call the vet or poor Fido will die. Anyone who’s ever choked on a piece of food knows how unsettling and horrifying it feels when you can’t breathe. Fido feels this too.

Don’t panic. You’ve got this.

First, open Fido’s mouth. Make sure to put the fleshy part of his lips over his canines. Like this…

This way he won’t be able to bite down. Conditioning your puppy to opening his mouth while he’s young is a good idea, especially if you have a large breed dog. If your baby is older you can start now. It’s never too late. Practice doing this, then reward with praise and/or his favorite treat. NOT RAWHIDE. Unless, it’s been chopped into tiny bits and molded into a bone shape. I do not recommend the rawhide bones that are one long roll of rawhide. You’re just asking for trouble. Mine have never gotten these for this very reason.

With Fido’s mouth open see if you can locate the object. If someone is there with you have them shine a flashlight down his throat. If you can see it, and can safely remove it with your fingers, do it. DO NOT use any instrument like pliers, tweezers, etc. You will only cause further harm, like cutting his mouth or injuring his larynx. If you get grossed out easily– too bad. This is your baby. You should be used to his spit, vomit, and other bodily fluids by now. If not, get over it. This is his life we’re talking about.

If you cannot see the object and easily grab it don’t feel around in there. You might push the obstruction farther down his throat.

HEIMLICH MANEUVER

I learned this fifteen years ago when I had a house full of dogs and, thankfully, have only had to use it once. First, move behind Fido and place your hands together like a fist, just under his rib cage. That’s his solar plexus. Unless, you have a small dog, in which case you want to use just a few fingers so that you don’t break his ribs. Push straight up, hard, three times in the solar plexus, leaving Fido’s front legs on the floor. If that doesn’t work, do it three more times. And so on, in rounds of three. Like this…

WARNING: This will not be comfortable for Fido. He may try to bite you. So you better decide how badly you want him to live. Keep in mind, YOU will heal. HE won’t. If there is someone with you, have them hold his head to help prevent this from happening. Personally, nothing could stop me from saving his life. I’m betting you’ll agree.

If the Heimlich still doesn’t dislodge the object and Fido loses consciousness you need to act fast. You no longer have to worry about pushing the object farther down his throat. Shove your hand down his throat and feel for the object. If his heart stops… So just do it. Once you’re able to feel the obstruction pull it out, obviously. Then take him to the vet (emergency appointment) to check for fluids in the lungs, broken ribs and/or damaged larynx.

Our dogs are such goofy characters with so much personality. It just doesn’t seem right to end a post about dogs with such seriousness.

Dogs aren’t always easy to live with. There are a few problem areas they need to work on. Here are my top three…

1.  JEALOUSY

A dog’s nose is tens of thousands of times more sensitive to odors than ours. So on that rare occasion that I’ve visited a friend who happens to have a dog I’m shunned when I come home. Not just shunned. My two dogs will sniff me up and down like drug dogs hot a suspect’s scent and give me this look like I’ve been unfaithful.

I immediately find myself coming up with excuses. “I swear I didn’t pat him.”

“The dog stayed on the other side of the room the whole time. I must have transferred a hair or two to my pants when I sat on the sofa.”

Still, I get…

When that doesn’t work, because it never works, I confess, “Okay, I only petted him for a minute. You’re the only one for me, I swear.”

In turn, they usually respond with a quick spin of the head and the silent treatment. Until, finally, it’s me who begs for forgiveness.

2.  DRAMA QUEENS

All dogs love a good treat. Mine happen to love carrots, too. We actually have been reduced to spelling the word in their presence.

“Honey, did you remember to buy the c-a-r-r-o-t-s?”

Because one mention of the word and they get, what we affectionately call, “crack eyes”. Their eyes get so big and round they look like they could pop right out of their head. I mean it’s a friggin’ carrot for cryin’ out loud, not a savory bone from the butcher. Still, I get this…

3.  GETTING EVEN

You’d think behind those sweet brown eyes lies a loving soul who doesn’t think of such things. But you’d be wrong. Dogs are notorious for getting even. It may not be right away, but they will have the last laugh, and at your expense. Over the years I’ve had to learn this the hard way. Just when everything seems like it’s going smoothly one of my sweet babies will remember something I said last month, or the ball that I accidentally kicked across the room, and choose that moment to make me pay for it. And usually, in a way that reminds me what it was I said or did that made them harbor such resentment against me. (refer back to #1)

Oh, sure, they’ll try to blame YOU with something like…

But I know what’s really going on.

Since we all could use a good laugh once in a while this will be a new bi-monthly series, which you can find under Dog Diaries in the menu section… soon.

What do your dogs do that drive you crazy? Any problem areas? Just make sure to turn the screen away from your dog. You know how sensitive they can be. More on that later…

Next up on Murder Blog: How To Make Your Character A Badass In Heels