Golden Retriever Saves Owner With Modified Heimlich Manoeuvre

Toby, a 2-year-old golden retriever is a dog that you want around in a crisis. Particularly if you are at home alone and end up choking on some food.

In March 2007, Toby demonstrated his life saving skills after an apple became lodged in his owner’s throat.

Debbie Parkhurst, 45, of Calvert, Maryland told the Cecil Whig newspaper how Toby came to her rescue after she began choking and was struggling to breathe.

With her airways blocked, Debbie attempted to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre on herself, which ultimately failed.

She then began to beat on her own chest at which point Toby noticed and stepped into help.

Debbie takes up the story:

“The next think I know, Toby’s up on his hind feet and he’s got his front paws on my shoulders,” she recalled. “He pushed me to the ground, and once I was on my back, he began jumping up and down on my chest.”

“He did this repeatedly until the apple dislodged,” Parkhurst said.

As his owner laid on the floor, Toby instinctively began licking her face to keep her from passing out.

“I literally have paw print-shaped bruises on my chest. I’m still a little hoarse, but otherwise, I’m OK,” Parkhurst said shortly after the incident. “They say dogs leave a paw print on your heart. He left a paw print on my heart, that’s for sure,” she added.

“The doctor said I probably wouldn’t be here without Toby,” she said. “I keep looking at him and saying, ‘You’re amazing.”‘

Of course, a story such as this quickly caught the attention of the national media, which culminated in appearances for Toby and Debbie on “Good Morning America” and the “Late Show with David Letterman.”

Furthermore, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals named Toby its Dog of the Year for 2007 .

The attention was warranted of course. Toby somehow performed his own version of the Heimlich manoeuvre on his owner and saved her life. A truly amazing dog indeed.

From: http://amazingtails.net/golden-retriever-saves-owner-with-modified-heimlich-manoeuvre/