Choking!

[DebsRoxy19]

Roxy just ate a piece of mango and its the usual size she eats, not too big and not too small, just big enough to hold and munch on.... This happened before but she got it down within 30 seconds... its been like ten minutes and she keeps trying to swallow and I've been trying to pull the fruit out of her throat but I haven't had any luck! any ideas??

[Abacat]

Do you have one of those baby ear syringes? You could try that, squeeze the bulb, place in the throat, release the bulb to suction the blockage... Is she breathing okay?

[DebsRoxy19]

ok i will try! Yes shes breathing fine, even jumping around a bit, but her tongue is hanging out of her mouth and shes pushing her arms into the ground each time she tries to swallow!

[Abacat]

Have you gotten it out yet? How's Roxy?

[DebsRoxy19]

no :(

I managed to get two fingers in her mouth to pull it out but only got a small piece, and she continued gagging. I will keep trying.. its just hard to tell if I'm pulling on the food or her tongue and she squirms away :dono

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

You need to be persisent in getting her mouth open and seeing if you can get to it. If you can't get to it, the bulb trick is a good idea.

You can also try holding her and tapping her back, like you would a baby.

[DebsRoxy19]

PHEW! She finally managed to get the food down.. Thanks for being here for me I was in a panic! :)

[atlantasquirrelgirl]

I always intentionally give really large pieces, too large to fit entirely in the mouth. When they knaw it down to the size it will fit all the way in the mouth, I take it away. Soft fruit is particularly bad.

Glad she is OK.

[Abacat]

ditto! :thumbsup

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I do the same, except with soft foods (banana and orange) and grapes, I chop it up really tiny so they can suck it down. Then when they learn how to pick up their food they get big chunks. Mine always get grapes caught in their throats if I just peel them or peel them and cut them in half. I use tweezers to get the little bits out of their mouth, you just have to be careful not to get their tongue or the back of their throat.