A dog owner from Consett has thanked the vet who saved the life of his beloved pet when it nearly choked to death. Max, the Border Terrier, snatched a treat meant for a much-larger dog, and it soon got lodged in his throat.
Westway Vets, which is part of UK veterinary group VetPartners, is now warning owners to be extremely cautious about giving their pets the right treat for their size and to be vigilant in ensuring dogs cannot easily access treats.
Max could barely breathe and was on the brink of death when owner James Roe rushed him to Westway Vets, where vet Emma Stansbie and nurses Sophie Wayper got to work trying to remove the the large chunk of treat blocking his airways.
Explaining the situation, James said: “My uncle was working at our transport company office and went to give a treat to his Labrador when Max snatched it from his hand, but it was too big and it went down sideways. It all happened so fast, and I tried getting it out of his mouth myself but couldn’t as he kept biting as a reflex action.”
Emma, of the County Durham practice, added: “I’ve been a vet for a long time, and this is one of the most urgent emergencies I’ve seen. Max was barely alive and we knew what we had to do to save him before he choked to death.
“His tongue was so discoloured as he was starved of oxygen, so we knew we had seconds to save him. The problem was getting hold of the treat with the forceps because bits of it started breaking up. The next step would have been a tracheotomy, but I wanted to avoid such a high risk procedure if possible.
(Image: VetPartners)
“We managed to get it out at the final attempt, but even though we removed the obstruction, the worry then was that tissues at the back of his throat could swell because they had been damaged. We put a tube in to maintain the airways and gave him steroids to counteract the swelling, as well as antibiotics and paracetamol for pain relief.”
Because Max’s brain had been starved of oxygen, there were concerns about his recovery, but the three-year-old was back to normal and able to return home with owners James and his partner Louise Pearson, within two hours of his arrival.
James added: “I thought Max was dead on arrival at the practice, and I don’t know how he is still alive, but we are very grateful to have him home and back to his playful self.
“From the receptionist who helped us when I burst into the practice with Max lying lifeless in my arms to the veterinary team that saved him, we can’t thank them enough. He is a very special dog who is like family to me and Louise.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/vet-issues-warning-after-border-31139231
