Dog’s Sudden Passing From Hidden Danger Prompts Owner To Warn Others

Every dog owner should read this. In fact, every dog LOVER should read this and then pass it on to prevent further tragedies. This story is about a common mistake that can potentially happen in every single day household. Sadly for one dog owner, the warnings come too late to help herself.

Whether you’re pro-crate training or against, one thing is for certain– Many dogs need to be crated when unsupervised for a single, resounding reason: to remain safe. It’s unfathomable to think that the one place a dog is supposed to be safe can actually be the cause of her demise. But that’s the reality for one broken-hearted family.

Courtney Sexton Gresham/Facebook

In a viral Facebook post, a woman shares a story about her beloved five-year-old Boston Terrier named Emmie. When Courtney Sexton Gresham went to work, she put Emmie in her crate like she did every morning. Emmie had a large crate with plenty of room to stand up, turn around, lie comfortably and even play a bit so she wasn’t cramped or uncomfortable while her owners were away.

Courtney Sexton Gresham/Facebook

Courtney Sexton Gresham tells the story best herself:

“Emmie was a beautiful, healthy (had just had a vet check-up last week – said she was in “perfect health”), five-year-old Boston Terrier we loved with every ounce of our being. She brought so much fun, personality, light, and love into our lives. She never met a stranger – whether it be cat, dog, or person. We tried to take her so many places with us – kayaking, on boats, to run fast as she could in the country, for car rides, to friends’ houses – you name it.”

“On Tuesday morning before leaving for work, Emmie and I did our usual routine… (my husband just happened to be out of town with work, he works from home a lot of days)… she went out in the yard to potty, she had a little breakfast and so did I, I threw a few treats around the kitchen for her to chase and pounce upon before eating, and I put her in her (extra-extra-large) wire metal crate before leaving. She didn’t like the crate much (who could blame her?); she’d MUCH rather be with Brent or myself… but we have to go to our jobs. I blew her a kiss, told her bye, and said that I’d see her after work.”

Courtney Sexton Gresham/Facebook

“I left work a little early and got home that afternoon. I opened the back door and immediately saw Emmie up on her back legs in the crate. I ran to her to find that her COLLAR was hung on a part of the metal crate near the top. In tears and screaming, I opened the door and unhooked the hung part of her collar. She was unresponsive. I rushed her to the emergency vet to see if they could save her… but sadly, it was too late. The vet called it a freak accident. She was trying to open the kennel door, her collar got hung on a jutted-out piece of the crate, and she had been strangled.”

“We had NO idea of the dangers of having a collared pet in a crate. We’re all fairly well-educated people, and we had NEVER thought about this at all. I have since read so much on the internet about how this can happen. A collar (or the tags on a collar) can get hung in a crate, a collar can get hung on another dog/or in another dog’s mouth when two dogs are playing together, a collar can get hung on a doorknob (if a dog jumps just right), a collar can get hung on a low tree branch… and these can be fatal to the dog. We learned this the hard way. So many “what ifs” and “why didn’t I do this” are plaguing our minds.”

Courtney Sexton Gresham/Facebook

Gresham then adds, selflessly, to warn others:

“**I beg you to NEVER PUT A COLLARED ANIMAL IN A CRATE. Take off the collar. Or at the least, get a “break-away” collar. I had never heard of these collars, but if they get caught on anything, they immediately break open, and free the dog.**”

What Emmie’s family has suffered is unimaginable but this freak accident now plays as a warning to us all. No family should have to suffer this fate but Gresham wants us to at least learn from this mistake.

She continues:

“I didn’t know whether to share this story or not. I feel so guilty that it happened. Now in hindsight, I see so many ways it could have been prevented. But if it saves even ONE dog’s life, it’s worth it to share.”

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In a blog post published by Animal Behavior College Blog, that Gresham adds to her Facebook post as well, author Fanna Easter discusses the hidden dangers of dog collars that many of us don’t even think about.

Easter, a professional dog trainer, also experienced her dog’s ID tag getting caught on the crate. She writes:

“Now, understand, I didn’t leave him in his crate with a collar on. He chose to lie next to his crate when his ID tag became entangled within the wires of his crate. When it happened, he freaked out! Thank goodness we were home to hear his panicked screams and frantic sounds from pulling against his crate; he was choking himself. It took two people to free him from his collar; my husband and I had to cut the collar off of him. From that day forward, he never walked into that room again—ever.”

Thankfully, Easter’s dog was okay, traumatized but okay, but not all dogs have been so lucky. She reports that a whopping 15% of her clients have ‘experienced dog strangulation by collar.’

And that ‘15% of Easter’s clients had a similar incident with a dog collar getting caught on the wires of their dogs’ crate, fence, furniture, and even while playing with another dog.’

These scenarios don’t always involve a crate so what do we need to know to prevent accidents like these in our homes? By being informed!!!

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Scenario 1

Dog collar strangulation during playtime

Think back to your glorious prepubescent years of metal braces and first kisses. Many of us were ‘warned’ never to kiss another brace-face because of what may happen if the two lovebirds got stuck together … and of the painful, embarrassing outcome that would ruin your reputation for the rest of your life.

It was an unlikely scenario, but still, we worried about it.

However, the canine version is definitely possible. Dog ID tags can get caught to another collar (or ID tag) or muzzle, paw, body part of another dog while playing.

Easter writes:

“The first time I heard of a dog being strangled by a collar, it was 20 years ago and happened while two dogs were playing together. Both dogs were wearing collars when one dog playfully pulled on the other dog’s collar. Her muzzle suddenly became tangled in the other dog’s collar. Well, the tangled dog panicked and started pulling away, which caused the other dog (the one wearing the tangled collar around his neck) to choke. His collar was strangling him. Thankfully, someone nearby had a pocket knife and cut the tangled collar, which freed both dogs. What a horrifying situation.”

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How to prevent this:

Option #1

If playtime is happening in a safe location, in a fenced-in yard or inside a house, go ahead and remove your dog’s collar.

Option #2

Opt for a collar with your dog’s info embroidered on it or etched into the metal buckle. This will do away with hanging tags completely. Also, purchase a breakaway collar. These are designed for this very reason. With enough force and pressure, the collar will fall open and Fido will be okay!

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Scenario 2

Dog collar strangulation by furniture, toys, fences, etc.

Again, the above options apply. Your dog does not need to wear his collar when he is safely indoors but if you prefer that he does, opt for a breakaway collar that is personalized.

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Also, your dog should be supervised at all times. Try to keep him in the same room as you, if possible. If he’s a mischievous playful puppy then by all means, keep him safely confined if you can’t keep a close eye on him. This is not a punishment, this is an insurance policy. A safe dog is a happy dog!

Scenario 3

Dog collar strangulation inside crate

How to prevent this:

REMOVE your dog’s collar before putting him inside the crate. Simple. Also, choose a crate that is the best size for your dog. He should be able to comfortably stand up and turn around but should not have too much room to get into trouble.

Crate time is for rest time, not play time. If you are going to be away from home for long periods of time, opt for a dog walker or a dog sitter who can make quick playtime visits.

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Most importantly, have your dog microchipped! It’s the safest line of defense if your dog runs away.

Also, make sure your dog’s microchip is up to date! When you change addresses or phone numbers, you must update your dog’s chip! This is easy to do. Just go onto the microchip’s site and follow the instructions.

Ask your veterinarian about any other suggestions to keep your pet safe. Your doggo’s doc is happy to help!

No one expects their dog to get hurt in a freak accident but the reality is, it can happen. Do your part to prevent what you can. And share this story to warn others about the hidden dangers of dog collars.

Do you have any stories or suggestions? Please feel free to share with us in the comment section. We love hearing from you!

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The man gave it two weeks (the amount of time the shelter said it may take for the dog to adjust to his new home), but it just wasn’t working out. Maybe it was the fact he was also trying to adjust to a new situation. Maybe they were too much alike. But then the man started going through Reggie’s stuff, and that’s when he was reminded of a letter the previous owner had left with the dog. That’s what would end up changing their lives dramatically.

What an amazingly beautiful story. It’s all going to work out for Tank and his new owner. 🙂

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Reverse Sneezing In Dogs – What to do…

Does this sound familiar? Your dog suddenly starts making loud snorting sounds—over and over again, in quick succession.

Do you start wondering, did they swallow something they shouldn’t have? Can they breathe?!

Chances are, you’re experiencing the infamous “reverse sneeze.”

Veterinarians often see dogs whose owners rushed them in for an emergency appointment after finding them standing with their elbows apart, head pulled back, and eyes bulging as they snort or gasp repeatedly.

Yet for the vast majority of these dogs, a vet visit was unnecessary.

Reverse sneezing looks and sounds scary the first time you encounter it. However, it’s a fairly common and harmless respiratory event for dogs.

Read on to learn how to identify reverse sneezing, what causes it, and how to tell the difference between a harmless reverse sneeze and something else.

What is reverse sneezing?

A reverse sneeze is pretty much what it sounds like: a sneeze that happens in reverse! The above video is a good example of what it looks and sounds like.

In a regular sneeze, air is rapidly pushed out through the nose. In a reverse sneeze, air is rapidly, and noisily, pulled in through the nose.

It occurs in spasms lasting anywhere from a few seconds up to a minute and sounds like snorting, snuffling, and even gagging. See the above video for an example.

Because of the sounds their dogs make while reverse sneezing, many people mistakenly think their dog is choking. However, a reverse sneeze is almost as normal and harmless as a regular sneeze.

What causes reverse sneezing?

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There’s no single cause for a reverse sneeze. Like regular sneezing, it’s often triggered by an irritation or inflammation in the nose, throat, or sinuses.

It often occurs when dogs wake up from a nap, or after eating, when their breathing pattern may have rapidly changed. It’s also caused by irritants in the airway—anything from dust to an inhaled hair!

Some dogs experience more frequent reverse sneezing in springtime when the air is full of pollen and other allergens.

Others reverse sneeze more in the winter, when sudden temperature changes between outdoors and indoors cause the nasal passages to contract.

Another common cause of reverse sneezing is pressure on the throat and neck. A too-tight collar, or straining against the leash, can irritate the throat and lead to a reverse sneeze. That’s just one more reason to consider a harness for your dog.

Finally, some dogs reverse sneeze after exercise, or when they’re overexcited. This is particularly common among brachycephalic, or short-nosed, breeds like pugs and bulldogs.

When they get worked up, they may inhale their elongated soft palates into the throat, triggering an episode of reverse sneezing.

How to end a reverse sneezing episode

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Reverse sneezing is super-common, and it won’t hurt your dog. However, some dogs become anxious during a reverse sneezing episode, and a lengthy episode may be uncomfortable.

You can help your dog recover from a reverse sneezing episode by remaining calm yourself. If you get anxious, your dog’s anxiety will increase, too. So, stay calm, and show your dog there’s nothing to panic about.

If your dog is experiencing a particularly long episode of reverse sneezing, you may be able to ease or end the episode by:

  • Gently massaging your dog’s throat
  • Briefly covering their nostrils, which will cause them to swallow and potentially stop sneezing
  • Depressing their tongue with your hand to help open airways
  • Some vets suggest gently blowing in your dog’s face

In the vast majority of cases, there’s no need to intervene. Reverse sneezing doesn’t last long, and your dog will be perfectly normal after it stops.

When you should go to the vet

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As mentioned, reverse sneezing rarely requires veterinary treatment. As soon as the sneezing episode stops, the situation is resolved. However, if episodes increase in frequency or duration, you should call the vet just in case.

You should also seek treatment if your dog’s reverse sneezing is accompanied by other respiratory symptoms or if they have any unusual discharge from their nose.

Occasionally, chronic reverse sneezing can be a symptom of more serious issues. These include nasal mites, foreign objects in the airway, respiratory infections, and tracheal collapse.

If you’re concerned about the intensity of your dog’s reverse sneezing, take a video to show the vet. They’ll be able to determine potential causes.

Most dogs experience episodes of reverse sneezing at some point in their lives. For the vast majority of dogs, it’s a common, temporary, harmless reaction with no lasting aftereffects.

Of course, it still sounds unsettling to our human ears! But now that you know what reverse sneezing is, you’ll be less likely to make an unnecessary vet visit.

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