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Emergency team helps pup survive near-drowning episode

Dr. Rachel Davy, Dr. Ashley Allen, Tania Travieso, Andrew Travieso and Dr. Jesseca Bullock sit in front of UF’s Small Animal Hospital with Bo, a Doberman Pinscher who was saved by UF veterinarians after a near-drowning episode in November. (Photo by Jesse Jones)

By Sarah Carey

A Doberman pinscher puppy named Bo nearly drowned in the family pool on Nov. 4, then his heart stopped upon arrival at the University of Florida’s pet emergency clinic in Ocala. But after CPR administered by UF veterinary medical specialists, additional treatment at the university’s Small Animal Hospital in Gainesville and a dose of good luck, Bo survived to return home.

A little over a week later, 7-month-old Bo was fully recovered and graduated as top dog in his puppy obedience class.

Dr. Ashley Allen, a clinical assistant professor of emergency and critical care medicine, was on duty in Ocala when Bo’s family brought him in. She said that in addition to veterinary expertise, the availability of a transport ventilator used to take him from the smaller pet emergency clinic in Ocala to the UF Small Animal Hospital in Gainesville helped to save his life.

His owners said they will never forget the day Bo’s ordeal started.

Bo, a Doberman Pinscher now 9 months old, is owned by the Travieso family of Ocala. The family took him to UF PETS in Ocala for emergency treatment after a near-drowning episode in November. (Photo by Jesse Jones)

“That morning, I let our dogs outside,” said Bo’s owner, Tania Travieso of Ocala. “After about five minutes, I asked my son to let the dogs back in. My son noticed that Bo and another one of our dogs were in the pool and that Bo was in distress and underwater.”

Travieso’s son jumped in and pulled Bo out of the pool. Family members wrapped him in a comforter and placed him on a bed. They saw the puppy was conscious but coughing and that blood had begun seeping out of his mouth.

“His gums were gray and we knew he was in major distress,” Travieso said. The family drove Bo to the UF Pet Emergency Treatment Services clinic in Ocala, hoping for the best. However, soon after they arrived and handed Bo to the staff, UF veterinary emergency doctors told them Bo’s heart had stopped.

Members of the Travieso family walk with their dog, Bo, outside of the UF Small Animal Hospital after a photoshoot on Jan. 13. (Photo by Jesse Jones)

“He had flat-lined,” Travieso said. “They asked us if we wanted them to perform CPR on Bo. It wasn’t even a question for us. We were willing to do anything possible to save our baby.”

“My team and I were able to get the little guy back,” Allen said. “However, we found that he had severe noncardiogenic pulmonary edema — fluid in the lungs not associated with heart disease — which is common in near-drowning events. I talked to the family about how critical he was and that he needed to be re-intubated and transferred to UF’s Small Animal Hospital on the transport ventilator. I also gave them expectations going forward.”

Allen explained that most puppies suffering from noncardiogenic pulmonary edema have a good prognosis for recovery.  Unfortunately, Bo had been resuscitated, which can lead to severe secondary issues such as kidney failure, neurological signs and abnormal heart rhythms. The primary issue of fluid in his lungs and secondary issues from CPR meant there were significant uncertainties about Bo’s short-term and long-term prognosis.

After the family consented, Allen and her team, including veterinary technicians Ryan Coy and Jennifer Lopez, along with third-year veterinary student Alicia Welsh, prepared Bo for the drive to Gainesville by sedating him and placing him on a transport ventilator.

Twice before their arrival, they had to pull over to deal with medical issues Bo was having. By the time they approached the hospital’s entrance, Bo’s lungs had again filled up with fluid.

He didn’t die again, but was close to death, Allen said.

“I jumped out of the van, tipped him down again and let all the fluid drain out of his lungs through the tube in his airway,” Allen said. “Then he improved again. The UF team met us at the emergency entrance, transported him into the hospital and transferred him from the transport ventilator to the ICU ventilator, where he remained the rest of the day.”

Bo was not yet out of the woods, but he gradually improved. Three days later, on Nov. 7, the family was finally able to take him home. He made a full recovery with no expected long-term effects.

Less than 6 percent of dogs and cats that experience cardiopulmonary arrest in the hospital survive to be discharged, according to several studies published in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

“When they brought him to us in the examination room, we could not believe it,” Travieso said. “He has been a totally normal 7-month-old puppy since. He returned to his puppy class for graduation one week after coming home and took first place out of 20 dogs.”

She had nothing but positive things to say about the UF veterinarians, who also included Drs. Rachel Davy and Jesseca Bullock, who saved Bo.

“They always had time to give us updates on Bo and answer the millions of questions that we had,” she said. “We are so extremely grateful for all of the amazing doctors, students and staff at UF.”