Something scary happened. What could it mean?

GatorRay

I am in total control....I think
Feb 25, 2011
3,432
227
Louisville, KY
Bulldog(s) Names
Gator & Lucy Goosey, the Basset and Gigi (AKA Gypsy)
Today when Gypsy was eating her dinner, she started choking. I mean, air cut off and everything. She walked off from her bowl so I followed her. She then proceeded to get up the food she was choking on and then fell over on her side. She recovered quickly and I was standing right there so was available to help her if she did not get it up but it was VERY scary!

Now, she is a pretty noisy eater and she occasionally will "cough" after eating. What could this be? The first thing that popped into my mind was elongated palate but I don't know the details on that (off to research now). Any thoughts? She does have a vet appt at the end of the week.
 

kazzy220

..........
Jul 31, 2010
8,556
441
Grafton, OHIO
Country
England
Bulldog(s) Names
Maggie (My Angel Baby 5/31/2012). Daddy (2 years). Linus (1year). Bella (4 years)
I am no expert ... what immediately sprung to mind with me, is if she is eating too fast?? Inhaling it rather than eating it and that's what made her choke.

I'm guessing the passing out was lack of oxygen ....... so she literally blacked out.



Like I said no expert so hopefully somebody else has more experience of this than I do!!
 
OP
GatorRay

GatorRay

I am in total control....I think
Feb 25, 2011
3,432
227
Louisville, KY
Bulldog(s) Names
Gator & Lucy Goosey, the Basset and Gigi (AKA Gypsy)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #3
I don't think she actually passed out. She was still awake when she fell over. I am going to put something in her bowl from now on to see if I can slow her down because she does "inhale" it so to speak. I am not sure why she does that! I feed her three times a day, as much as she wants at each feeding (she is only 4 months) so I would hope she wouldn't think it was her last meal or something. lol

All I know is that I about had a heart attack! I have never experienced anything like that before. She is a pretty noisy breather too. I think I might change our next appointment to the "bully" vet who is about an hour away just to have them look at her.
 

Terry

New member
Jan 16, 2011
110
13
Central Valley, California
Bulldog(s) Names
Bubbles
Might want to go ahead and get a slow feeder bowl. I think the Bully vet is a good idea, make sure that they check that both her nostrils are open as well. You also need to watch her for any signs of respiratory infection, cough, lethargy, fever, just not being herself. You also might want to learn canine CPR.
 

JAKEISGREAT

.................
Mar 25, 2011
14,802
1,155
Southern California
Bulldog(s) Names
Jake
Oh dear [MENTION=1906]GatorRay[/MENTION] I would've been so frightened. I have had Jake cough a few times and act like he's choking after inhaling his food. He has acted like he was going to barf. I figured he was eating much too quickly. Maybe Gypsy did this too and she actually cut off her breathing. I am sorry..mustve been terrifying. I will be watching to see what vet says. I have been threatening to put large rock in jakes dish to slow him down. Now..i know I will!
 

gizmo49ers

New member
Feb 25, 2011
25
9
Southern California
Bulldog(s) Names
Rocco, Roxy, Nico, Tank
I am sad that you had to experience what you did, but Thankful that Gypsy is okay. I do have experience with this situation, and not something I would want anyone to go through. I had a female bully, Ruby (RIP), that passed away Thanksgiving evening 2008, from Aspiration at 5 months old. She was eating her food and gave a Yelp as though she possibly was choking. She walked away from her bowl and tried to hide behind the couch. I immediately went to her and cleared her mouth in case she had choked on food, but there was none. In a matter of seconds her gums turned blue and she went limp, but her heart never stopped beating, therefore I could not do any CPR. We rushed to the nearest Emergency Vet and they put her in an oxygen cage. They took xrays and they showed no blockage, but her lungs were full of fluid. They tried to intubate her but she continued to bleed profusely and eventually passed away. The vet said that her capillaries in her lungs bursted and filled her lungs with blood. It took me awhile before I could even think of getting another pup. I took a Pet CPR class because I wanted to be sure that I would be able to respond, if ever need be again. Today I have another female bully named Roxy and she will be 2 years old in July. I was very cautious around feeding time, and I also purchased a feeding ball from Petsmart that helps to slow them down when eating. I also put her on bigger sized puppy kibble, so she would have to chew instead of just swallowing her food. I wish you the best and I hope I was of some help to you. Take care.
 

Mack-N-MatildasMommy

Bulldog Spoiler
Community Veteran
Apr 3, 2011
1,750
128
Moore, OK
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
Matilda A.K.A Sassy Pants & Mighty Mack A.K.A. Fat Peanut
Oh poor Gypsy. I am not much help. Matilda doesn't inhale her food.
 

JAKEISGREAT

.................
Mar 25, 2011
14,802
1,155
Southern California
Bulldog(s) Names
Jake
Wow..[MENTION=1903]gizmo49ers[/MENTION]..that is a horrible story. I am so sorry. This did convince me it's time to get a slow feeding bowl for Jake. He inhales his food. I thank you for this info. I'm sure it's still painful for you.
 

LariP

..........
Aug 4, 2010
8,293
452
Milwaukee, WI
Country
USA
Bulldog(s) Names
(HRH) Her Royal Highness Princess Gracie & Princess Amelia Pond (Amy)
Hope the slow feed bowl does the trick!
 

NJBullyMommy

New member
Apr 20, 2011
323
59
New Jersey
Bulldog(s) Names
Brutus (Bruty, Bru Bru, Brutus Maximus)
I'm so happy she's ok...I would have been flipping out as well. I'm sure she was just eating too fast because puppies eat like they never had a meal in their life lol. Just to be safe def mention it to your vet this week :)
 

kim n the guys

Well-known member
Community Veteran
Apr 3, 2011
1,581
138
Holt, MI
Country
United States
Bulldog(s) Names
Oliver, Sebastian, Remy, Gracie, and Tonka (10-21-07 to 05-29-14 RIP)
I'm so sorry that situation happened to you. Fortunately, the boys don't inhale their food so I've been very lucky with them *knock on wood*!
 
OP
GatorRay

GatorRay

I am in total control....I think
Feb 25, 2011
3,432
227
Louisville, KY
Bulldog(s) Names
Gator & Lucy Goosey, the Basset and Gigi (AKA Gypsy)
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
I am sad that you had to experience what you did, but Thankful that Gypsy is okay. I do have experience with this situation, and not something I would want anyone to go through. I had a female bully, Ruby (RIP), that passed away Thanksgiving evening 2008, from Aspiration at 5 months old. She was eating her food and gave a Yelp as though she possibly was choking. She walked away from her bowl and tried to hide behind the couch. I immediately went to her and cleared her mouth in case she had choked on food, but there was none. In a matter of seconds her gums turned blue and she went limp, but her heart never stopped beating, therefore I could not do any CPR. We rushed to the nearest Emergency Vet and they put her in an oxygen cage. They took xrays and they showed no blockage, but her lungs were full of fluid. They tried to intubate her but she continued to bleed profusely and eventually passed away. The vet said that her capillaries in her lungs bursted and filled her lungs with blood. It took me awhile before I could even think of getting another pup. I took a Pet CPR class because I wanted to be sure that I would be able to respond, if ever need be again. Today I have another female bully named Roxy and she will be 2 years old in July. I was very cautious around feeding time, and I also purchased a feeding ball from Petsmart that helps to slow them down when eating. I also put her on bigger sized puppy kibble, so she would have to chew instead of just swallowing her food. I wish you the best and I hope I was of some help to you. Take care.

I am so sorry this happened to Ruby. I know how you must have felt at that moment (totally helpless). I will go to the feed store tonight and find something to help her with this. I feed her Fromm which has very small kibble. I will ask around for suggestions for food with a bigger size kibble. Until I do, I will hand feed her only a couple of pieces at a time. Someone suggested using a Kong with just a few pieces at a time.

It was truly terrifying! She has only been with us a week and we already have her in our hearts VERY firmly. If anything happened, it would be devastating.
 

LisaMarie

New member
Community Veteran
Jan 13, 2011
1,184
96
Burlington, Vermont
Bulldog(s) Names
Mocha Bubbles
Yikes! that was scary! I agree maybe she is eating way to fast. I think a slow feedre would be great for her, that way if this does happens again you might want to have her checked by the vets.
 

cali baker

Worlds Greatest Chef
Feb 25, 2011
8,925
851
The Crown City (Pasadena)
Country
United States
Bulldog(s) Names
Tate Rory & Finn Paddington
Wow..[MENTION=1903]gizmo49ers[/MENTION]..that is a horrible story. I am so sorry. This did convince me it's time to get a slow feeding bowl for Jake. He inhales his food. I thank you for this info. I'm sure it's still painful for you.

where can we get a slow feeding bowl? regular pet store?
 

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