It was a heart-stopping moment at one veterinary clinic in South Carolina as the owners rushed their German Shepherd after choking on a ball. This moment was captured on camera as a veterinarian was trying to successfully get the ball out of the German Shepherd’s throat.
Dogs love playing with anything and everything that they see. This is the same reason why dog owners opt to buy their dogs a chew toy to play with and ease the boredom that they feel. Usually, rubber balls are the common choice for a dog toy especially with big dogs like German Sheperd. However, these objects that are meant for playing could possibly be swallowed by your dog, leading to a life-threatening situation. Such a thing happened to a 5-year-old German Shepherd named Clyde after he swallowed a rubber ball.
As soon as the owners knew of what happened to their pet Clyde, they immediately went to the clinic to save him. Upon reaching the clinic, the owners learned that Clyde was in critical condition.
The veterinary team that was led by Dr. Margaret Hunt quickly went to their places and assessed what had happened to Clyde. As soon as they determined the necessary steps, Dr. Hunt calmly laid Clyde on his back and straddled him gently. In the video clip, she was seen positioning herself on top as she tried to perform a lifesaving maneuver. Dr. Hunt used the External Extraction Technique (XXT), a safer method used for dogs who are choking. It makes use of a special technique to push the foreign object out of the dog’s throat and into his mouth.
As for the good news, Dr. Hunt successfully pushed out the rubber ball from Clyde. As soon as the ball appeared in his mouth, the whole room cheered. Clyde was able to regain his strength back as he took a deep breath and stood up the moment he felt that he was better. It was Dr. Hunt and her team that saved the German Shepherd’s life! 👏
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What To Do When Your Dog is Suddenly Choking
Witnessing a dog choking is one terrifying scene for owners. Clyde’s family is probably traumatized by what happened. They might even be scared of buying a new toy for Clyde. But in case you see your dog or any other dog choking, it is best to immediately bring them to the nearest veterinary clinic. But how do you know when your dog is choking? Here’s how:
- The dog is acting anxious and distressed than usual
- Hearing repetitive coughing or gagging noise
- Gasping for air
- Sudden collapse or unconsciousness
- The face is turning blue or pale
- Trying to vomit out
If you see these symptoms, then it’s likely that your dog is choking. The best thing to do is to stay calm to make sure that you’re doing the right thing. Follow the steps below:
- Assess your dog – Check your dog’s status, whether his unconscious or breathing. Lift the lips to check their gum color. The normal and healthy gums should be bright pink. But if you see that your dog has bluish or purple gums, then they are probably choking.
- Check the mouth – Slowly open your dog’s mouth, and if you see the object is within reach. If they are calm and choking, it means that you can safely pull the object out. Make sure to not use your fingers in doing so, as you might push it down further.
- Take your dog to the veterinarian – If you’re unsuccessful in removing the foreign object, make sure to immediately bring your dog to the nearest veterinarian for them to perform a XXT technique on your dog.
But remember, prevention is always better than cure. It is best to select the best and highest-quality toys for your dogs. Make sure that the toy you’re purchasing is big enough for them not to choke on. Also, make sure that there aren’t hazardous small stuff on your floor while your dog is walking, especially when they’re the kind to put objects in their mouth.
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From The Club
I would never want to see my dog choking on some foreign object and having a hard time breathing; it’s a nightmare as it seems like their lives depend on my speed to take them to the veterinary clinic. It’s a good thing that Clyde was in good hands with Dr. Hunt, who successfully took the rubber ball out of his throat. Clyde’s case was a call for me to always look after Lilygirl, my one-year-old chihuahua who loves putting random objects in her mouth.
