Blech. The things we do.
So last night we were sitting watching TV. It was a peaceful evening. The TV was mindless and the animals were quiet.
Early in the evening, Sparkly gave each of the dogs a (rawhide) "chewie" of a size appropriate to their size.
Big, our oversized GSD was gnawing on hers. Crunching is a better description, as she normally annihilates them in just a few minutes and then cruises for whatever she can steal from the other dogs. Remarkably, there are only the very rarest of times when such chewie thievery results in a kerfuffle. Last night was not one of those times.
Big had finished hers and stole the one from the Shih-tzu, who was on to other things. No kerfuffle because the little one actually wants the big one to take her chewie and get it nice and soft. Then she steals it back.
Big was chewing the little's contendedly when the little one made a move for it. The big one pulled back and - gack - partially aspirated it. It was at the back of her big maw, right at the opening to her throat.
She was fine to breathe, but it was clearly bothering her. She was "air chewing," trying to get it back into her mouth or down her throat. But it wasn't moving.
I watched her for a while, noting that she was in no distress, just doing this chewing motion. Then stopping and laying her jaw on the carpet. then chewing.
Then she stood up and tried to cough.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
I opened her mouth and had Sparkly reach in for the stuck chewie, just *barely* visible. It was too wet and slimy to get a hold of. I went to my hobby drawer and got a hemostat, thinking I could grab it with that. I chickened out, imagining stabbing the inside of her throat with it.
Finally, my son (a nurse) came in and saw what was going on. He took a flashlight to look down there. The light caught the dog's eye, distracting her at the very moment I was again opening her mouth. He stuck his hand in there, deeper than we had, and got it out.
She has this way of hugging us. She takes her big long body, from her head to her rumps, and wraps it around us as she sort of leans on us. It is, indeed, a doggie hug. She gave it to each one of us.
Then went to the closet and stood in front of the door, her nose pointed to the door knob.
She wanted another chewie.
Not tonight, ya big dummie!
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and hugs to your son the nurse, and Big and the little! And you and Sparkly, of course!
