Dark Angel
01-02-2010, 08:46 PM
We were sent to assist the police with a "recovery" earlier this morning. We get there, and one of our divers, dressed in gumby suit & tied into a line with his harness, heads out onto the ice. A small/medium sized white dog is under the water, swimming away from the hole in the ice. He is able to snag him and they get pulled back across the ice. Another diver grabs the dog and brings him to us.
We get him in the back of the ambulance and start drying/warming him with towells & blankets. After a little stimulation, he starts breathing again on his own so we give him some blow-by O2. The battalion chief gives us permission to transport the little guy to the closest open vet clinic & has dispatch contact them to let them know we are bringing the dog in.
The vet said that they would continue to warm him and treat him for shock. He most likely will get sent to the emergency vet clinic for at least the night. He may not be completely out of the woods yet, but the vet seemed to think he was going to pull through and be ok.
It was the first time I have actually transported an animal, but not the first pet that I have treated. I just thought it was cool that we were allowed to do it.
So, here's a picture of my patient. He didn't have tags on his collar, and appeared to have broken his chain. There was a family onscene that didn't know the dog, but were very concerned. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if they end up adopting the little guy if his owners aren't found.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/kahzo/puppydog.png
We were given permission to give the media an interview about the rescue, so the diver that pulled the dog from the water, and myself had to talk to them. Fun.....uh, not really. At least it is good PR for the department, right?
The reporter had just come from the vet's office though, and said that the dog was doing better. He tried to sit up on his own a couple times. They had gotten his core temp up to 90.9, and apparently normal for a dog is around 100, so he was still pretty cold but getting better. Also, the family onscene has already told the vet that they will take the dog if the owner is not found.
We get him in the back of the ambulance and start drying/warming him with towells & blankets. After a little stimulation, he starts breathing again on his own so we give him some blow-by O2. The battalion chief gives us permission to transport the little guy to the closest open vet clinic & has dispatch contact them to let them know we are bringing the dog in.
The vet said that they would continue to warm him and treat him for shock. He most likely will get sent to the emergency vet clinic for at least the night. He may not be completely out of the woods yet, but the vet seemed to think he was going to pull through and be ok.
It was the first time I have actually transported an animal, but not the first pet that I have treated. I just thought it was cool that we were allowed to do it.
So, here's a picture of my patient. He didn't have tags on his collar, and appeared to have broken his chain. There was a family onscene that didn't know the dog, but were very concerned. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if they end up adopting the little guy if his owners aren't found.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/kahzo/puppydog.png
We were given permission to give the media an interview about the rescue, so the diver that pulled the dog from the water, and myself had to talk to them. Fun.....uh, not really. At least it is good PR for the department, right?
The reporter had just come from the vet's office though, and said that the dog was doing better. He tried to sit up on his own a couple times. They had gotten his core temp up to 90.9, and apparently normal for a dog is around 100, so he was still pretty cold but getting better. Also, the family onscene has already told the vet that they will take the dog if the owner is not found.