On New Years Day me and my wife were enjoying a movie on TV when suddenly we noticed that Bella was choking. She had been chewing on a rawhide chewy when evidently it had become a small piece about 1 inch square. Immediately I grabbed her, turned her with her head facing down and gave her a few sharp slaps on her back between the shoulder blades. To my horror, it didn't work...she was still in distress and panicking. I had to hold her as firmly as possible and then force her mouth open. I felt the object which was lodged in the back of her throat and was able to pull it out with my fingers. While this was going on Wolfie ran outside and then back inside again. He was freaking. He must have thought we were hurting Bella. We comforted Bella and Buddy. Bella was definitely traumatized; I think she realized the severity of what had just happened. My blood pressure must have gone thru the roof during the ordeal.

My wife was very grateful for my actions but asked if there would have been something better I could have done. This got me thinking so I went online and realized it would have been safer and better had I used the Heimlich Manuever on the dog. I came across this article on how to give the heimlich manuever to your dog if it is choking. I now know what to do. The real scarey part is what would have happened if no one was home when this happened? So we decided to only give rawhide chewy treats to our dogs when we are home and not to keep rawhides that have gotten to a small size. I never thought this would have happened. Don't let it happen to you. Be prepared.