Dog in social media furore had heatstroke

Vet says Blaze died of seizure, not abuse

A PIETERMARITZBURG veterinarian says German Shepherd Blaze, whose story went viral on social media, died from heatstroke and not due to abuse by a dog parlour.

Blaze’s owner Damen Nagesur posted videos on social media of his 3-year-old dog in a lethargic state and alleged that the dog died last Thursday after suffering abusive cuts and abrasions and being tranquilised at a dog parlour on the same day.

The posts went viral on Facebook with videos and pictures receiving more than 1000 shares on each post and with some Pietermaritzburg residents calling for the Spaga’s dog grooming parlour to be shut down and its owner Gangarparsad Lutchman to be charged.

Speaking to The Mercury yesterday, Blaze’s vet, Dr Andrew McKenzie from Veterinary House Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, confirmed that he treated the dog shortly after he had been to the parlour.

McKenzie said that in his report, which had been sent to the SPCA, he found that Blaze had suffered from severe heatstroke.

Blood clots that resulted from the heat stroke caused bleeding on his body, and his unresponsive behaviour was also due to the heatstroke.

“When Blaze arrived, we found that his body temperature was extremely high and he was in a comatose state. We put him on fluids and used ice packs to cool his body while he was kept in an air-conditioned room. However, he had a seizure and died,” McKenzie said.

Blaze’s body was taken by the SPCA for cremation. When contacted for comment, SPCA spokesperson Diya Maharaj said she could not comment on the matter.

Nagesur said he had received the veterinarian’s report.

However, he was adamant that his dog was tranquillised at the dog parlour and that the heatstroke could have occurred there.

Lutchman denied allegations of abuse and claimed that he had been forced to cut Blaze’s hair extremely short as his fur had become matted.

“I have been doing this job for 24 years and I come highly recommended. My yard is a haven for animals and there is no way I would allow the mistreatment of animals,” he said.

Lutchman said that the only fault on their part was a “small nick” to the dog’s ear as he had found it difficult to cut the matted hair in that area. He said that he also returned Nagesur’s money because of the cut.

“I don’t know whether the dog may have been sick before it came to the parlour. No one has bothered to hear my side of the story yet I am being attacked on social media. I have now referred the matter to my lawyer,” he said.