This is my personal story about my dog Stardust. Don’t let this happen to you, say no to rawhide.
Our dogs get a special treats every Sunday. It’s usually a pork roll or piece of rawhide. They love these treats and look forward to them every weekend. There are some benefits to these treats like satisfying their desire to chew and keeping their pearly whites in tip top shape.
Personally I’ve never liked them mostly because of the chemicals used to process them but my husband insisted it’s only once a week, what harm can it do? So the weekly tradition continued, that was until Stardust almost died from choking on a pork roll.
They were given their weekly treat and they each went off to their special place to devour it. Luckily for Stardust she chose the living room. I was working in my office and got up to get something to drink as I passed by I saw her frantically pawing at her face. She was in distress and not making a sound. I tried to open her mouth and promptly got my finger chomped on and hard, now we have blood flying everywhere! On to step 2, I tried the Heimlich, that didn’t work either. Mr. they must get their special treats every Sunday was out working in the yard. I run and get him and he tries the Heimlich and it doesn’t work for him either. I grab a towel to protect myself from another bite and use it to pry her mouth open. Way in the back there is the smallest tip of pork roll sticking up out of her throat. My husband runs to the garage for a pair of needle nose pliers and pulls it out. Stardust is saved.
Luck was on her side that day. What if I hadn’t got up? She wasn’t making a sound, would she have perished 10 feet away from me in the other room? Scary thoughts. The package says they should be supervised, just being in the other room is not the same as supervising, we found that out the hard way.
Even Mr. they must get their special treat on Sunday agrees no more raw hide or pork rolls for the dogs, now it’s stuffed kongs, they are happy with that and so are we.
Dogs can choke on may things, food, treats, toys, their own vomit or even their own tongue if they are having an allergic reaction. What are some of the signs of choking? They could be pawing at their face like Stardust, gasping or gulping for air, frothing or wheezing, blue or white gums. They will be anxious, frantic, distressed as Stardust was. What can you do? Unlike me try not to get bit! Here’s more information on what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation. http://www.the-happy-dog-spot.com/choking-dog.html.
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