What you think is fun for your dog can turn into your worst nightmare if you’re not vigilant or well-informed about the risks of specific toys.
But with the right know-how, these incidents can be prevented and can save not only the life of your dog but also of other pets that find themselves in a similar situation.
Clyde, a 5-year-old German shepherd was rushed to the veterinarian.
The dog is terrifyingly inching toward unconsciousness, and for every second that passes, his risk of death continued to increase.
The German shepherd is choking on a rubber Kong toy. A Kong toy is a pet enrichment toy that rewards dogs with treats as they figure out how to extract it from the said toy.
When Dr. Margaret Hunt saw the dog’s condition, she immediately climbed on top of the dog to save him.
A Heimlich maneuver can be used to dislodge any item that obstructs an animal’s airways. But this time, the veterinarian employs something that is called XXT or “External Extraction Technique.”
In a matter of seconds, they were able to dislodge the toy from Clyde’s throat and the German shepherd quickly sprang back to life. Everyone in the room rejoiced, most especially Clyde’s owners.
“The toy just popped right on out,” Dr. Hunt says to Inside Edition. “It worked really well and so we’re all really pleased about that.”
The XXT is an important skill to have for pet owners and those who handle similar-sized animals.
There are many ways to dislodge an obstruction like the animal version of the Heimlich maneuver, fishing out the item with forceps, or doing a finger sweep.
However, for full airway obstruction of a ball or a similarly shaped object that can slide out or roll, one can use the XXT. It is also worth noting that the patient must be still or unconscious.
First, place the dog on its back.
The underside of the dog should be facing upwards with its airway parallel to the floor. Next, straddle the dog. You can use your legs to stop the dog from rolling.
Then, identify the parts of your dog. The trachea is a ringed tubed, the location of the obstruction, and the dog’s mandible. It is the V-shaped jawbone.
Next, make an open diamond shape with your hands.
Place your hand over where the obstruction is and nestle your thumbs on either side of the ball or similar object. Grip the “V” of the jaw using the lips or cheek to protect your finger.
Then, once you have secured the obstruction, push down with a J stroke to force the ball out of the dog’s mouth.
While chew toys are common for dogs, it is best to follow size recommendations.
When choosing the proper toy, make sure that the whole item won’t fit inside the dog’s mouth as any size smaller can result in choking.
Dog enrichment activities became much more popular in the past years as were the toys that supplemented such programs. It is believed that by giving them puzzles and engaging their sensory instincts, dogs can develop much more holistically.
Watch the video to see the step for XXT in detail.
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