‘Vets saved both my dogs’ lives!’
GRATEFUL OWNER TELLS OF RELIEF AFTER PETS’ ORDEAL
A RELIEVED dog owner has praised vets who saved the lives of her pets which were hospitalised after eating mouldy garden waste.
Chris Thompstone, from Sutton-inashfield, is sure she would have lost both her Border Collies without their care.
The dogs, four-year-old Chance and one-year-old Tia, were left fighting for their lives in intensive care after eating the waste on a walk.
They were taken to Paragon, a specialist animal hospital in Wakefield after having seizures following a collapse.
Ms Thompstone said: “They were having seizures and had collapsed and were rushed to Paragon as they were both critical and not responding.
“After 36 terrible hours they finally showed some signs of improvement and they are now virtually back to normal.
“I cannot praise Paragon enough for their care and expertise. I have no doubt that without them I would’ve lost them both.”
The dogs were in a critical condition, having eaten a fungal toxin in the waste.
It was the mention of this waste to vets that saved them.
Ben Safrany, a resident in internal medicine at Paragon, explained the treatment, saying: “Both of them were in a critical condition when they arrived here and were having dramatic and continuous tremors. “Chance was especially unwell so we quickly transferred the two of them to the intensive care unit.
“A toxin made by fungi found in mouldy garden waste can act as a neurotoxin and cause severe tremors – a condition which is known as tremorgenic mycotoxicosis. “The fungus can also be found in mouldy food and refuse and can be life-threatening, so Chance and Tia needed immediate treatment. “They remained in ICU for two days for intensive treatment including a combination of muscle relaxants, sedatives and anaesthetic medication. “At one stage they were on six separate medications along with supportive treatment, intravenous fluids, oxygen and a lot of nursing care.”
He added: “They were kept fully sedated for the first 24 hours, after which medication was gradually withdrawn as both dogs slowly recovered before being allowed home.” Both Chance and Tia have now made full recoveries having being cared for by three vets, a specialist anaesthetist and three ward vets as well as intensive care nurses.
A toxin made by fungi found in mouldy garden waste can act as a neurotoxin and cause severe tremors Ben Safrany