FEATURE | CRISIS CONTROL
Beth teaching first aid class with stuffed animals .
Beth Bowers using Potato as a demo dog .
One Decision Against My Gut Turned My World Upside Down One particularly exhausting day , I had been doing overnight pet sitting for a client for a week and was on my last night , so I decided to mix all my dogs so they could all keep each other company . Something in my gut stopped me , thinking it would be too long with everyone together and no supervision . Still , I quickly dismissed the feeling and proceeded along , blaming my exhaustion for the overanalyzing .
When I arrived home the following day , one of my foster dogs had escaped her kennel . My heart dog , Burt , was in severe shock , covered with puncture wounds and blood . A fight had broken out , and I had my suspicions it was a multiple dog attack . The unknown details still haunt me to this day .
I immediately rushed him to the veterinary clinic where I worked , and they stabilized him with a very guarded prognosis . Unfortunately , within 24 hours , he fell into acute kidney failure due to the shock and trauma on his 12-year-old body . The rollercoaster of events and emotions had begun that resulted in five long days never leaving his side . I was so blessed to work for a veterinary company that let me stay with him and camp there overnight so that I could see to it that he got round-the-clock care .
He began to show improvement on the fifth day , so I left briefly to go home and shower and grab something to eat . When I got back , I was on the phone with my vet , talking about him potentially going home later that week if he continued to show improvement as he had that day . I was finally in good spirits having some newfound hope and was unhooking his IV line set so that he could get out and go potty . He was very anxious and repeatedly barking to get out of his kennel , so I hung up with her and hurried to let him get out .
The Unthinkable I held him up , supporting him as he walked to go potty , and he fell to the ground . For a split second , I thought he tripped , but then my heart stopped . My 110-pound baby dog went limp in my arms and my life as I knew it crashed right along with him . My cell battery was on 1-percent , and I made two phone calls . One call was to my vet , and one was to the veterinary nurses at 11:30 p . m . All I screamed to each of them was , “ He crashed !” They were on their way … 20-30 minutes away .
I ’ m in a pet hospital , but I didn ’ t know where their crash cart was . I worked for the company , but I didn ’ t work in this hospital . I never asked because his crashing was never a possibility . It never crossed my mind that this would happen to me . This happens to other pet parents , not with my pets . I didn ’ t know where all their equipment was , and it would take me too long to find it . I know Pet CPR . I teach Pet CPR . I didn ’ t have time to think , just time to act . I performed CPR – 30 chest compressions with two breaths over and over and over and over … non-stop for 30 minutes . Exhausted can ’ t fully describe it . I was not going to give up . I performed CPR until help arrived . We attempted epinephrine injections . They finally placed a tracheal tube and filled his lungs with fresh oxygen . They all tried compressions until my vet said the fateful final words : “ I ’ m sorry , Beth … he ’ s gone …” and my world went black .
Your adrenaline crashes , panic rushes your cells , shock takes over , and your body is spent . Even using your whole body instead of your arms , the strength it takes to continue compressions that long completely robs you of every ounce of energy you think you have left . You can ’ t scream and cry and perform CPR simultaneously , so a swell of un-vented emotions surfaced , and I don ’ t have much memory after they pronounced him .
I , of ALL people , should have been able to save him … I know this skill like the back of my hand . I teach this skill from
The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Winter 2021 45