Our Cardiology Team saves a dog for Christmas
A dog whose heart had slowed to just 15 to 20 beats per minute was saved by our brilliant cardiology team in a last-chance operation that ran into Christmas morning.
Poncho, a small Dachshund who received a lifesaving pacemaker, presented with an alarmingly slow heart rate, although she was still able to wag her tail to cuddles.
Cardiologist Xavier Navarro-Cubas called his wife Sandra Sanchis, an anaesthetist at Blaise, to come in from festive preparations at home to help save Poncho.
Having carried out the procedure on the beloved pet late into the night on Christmas Eve, he says everyone at Blaise was just happy they could give her family the perfect present.
And grateful owner Stephanie Diamond says she’ll never forget the team who gave up their Christmas plans to save 11-year-old Poncho.
Stephanie, from the Brecon Beacons, had travelled to spend Christmas with her sister in Warwickshire when Poncho took ill.
“Poncho is such a special little dog, and she’s only ever had problems when she’s eaten things she shouldn’t,” said Stephanie.
“So, when she started being constantly sick through the night before Christmas Eve, I thought she must have got hold of something. Her legs went and when I took her to Severn Vets the next morning, they immediately spotted that it was a major cardiac issue as Poncho’s heartrate was down to 25 beats per minute.
“There were also concerns about potential damage to her kidneys and I was really worried.”
Severn Vets realised that an urgent operation was needed to save Poncho’s life, but it was looking bleak because of the holidays until the cardiology team stepped forward to save the day.
Team members who were about to leave for Christmas holidays volunteered to stay behind as Poncho was rushed in, and Xavier had to make drastic changes to his festive plans.
“My wife Sandra and I had prepared food for a Christmas Eve dinner at home with friends and colleagues from Blaise,” said Xavier.
“That had to be cancelled but, as we needed an anaesthetist, I also had to ask Sandra to come in and help.
“As we have two young children, Lauren Osborne who is our senior cardiology nurse and a very good family friend, stepped in to take care of our children so Sandra could come in.”
The team were on standby when Poncho arrived and was prepared for surgery.
“By the time we were ready for anaesthesia her heartrate was only around 15 beats per minute,” said Xavier.
“That’s so low that I listened few times to check it. Usually when doing a pacemaker procedure, the patient’s heart rate tends to be around 40 beats per minute. I have seen other dogs when the rate has been 15 or 20, but in those cases the dog’s mentation tends to be more depressed.
“Poncho was somehow still sitting, but she was very weak and, in these cases, it can be fatal unless we can act quickly.
“So, although it was very late on Christmas Eve, I felt we just had to operate straight away.”
It was after midnight before the procedure was over and Sandra was able to head back to the sleeping girls as they waited for Santa, and then Xavier was finally able to join them.
Thankfully everything had gone well, and Poncho has been making a good recovery back at home following discharge.
“I can’t thank everyone enough from Severn Vets and Blaise who did so much on Christmas Eve to save Poncho,” said Stephanie. “Xavier had such a passion for helping and the team there did amazing things.”
Having had such an unexpected evening, Xavier is just happy that the Blaise team were able to deliver their own little Christmas miracle, saying
“There’s no better gift than saving a beloved pet, especially at Christmas, and finally being able to reunite them with their devoted family.”