Angel's Dramatic Delivery

(Angel with one of her pups)

The woman on the phone, Patricia, was very worried and upset. Her nine-year-old Lhasa Apso dog, Angel, had been in labor for two days, no puppies had been born yet, and Patricia could no longer detect any fetal movement. She was advised to bring Angel into Dakin as soon as possible, and Patricia said she would.

The medical team assembled and prepared for Angel’s arrival. After a somewhat lengthy wait, she appeared at the front door - in Patricia’s lap. The pair had traveled the two-mile journey from their home via Patricia’s electric wheelchair, the only way she could get them there.

“The first thing we did was an ultrasound, and we found a fetal heartbeat,” recalled Dr. Rebecca Carroll, Dakin’s medical director. “We knew we had to rush Angel into surgery.” The patient was struggling with her first litter, she was overweight, and her gums were pale, a typical indicator of various – and serious – health issues.

Angel was experiencing dystocia, a condition in which labor is not progressing and litters are unable to be born. Dr. Carroll conducted an emergency Cesarean-section on Angel, and working with Meg, Marisol and Cely, the quartet delivered three puppies. Sadly, one did not survive, but the other two pups were born, according to Dr. Carroll, “plump and healthy,” and needed only a little bit of resuscitation from the team before their hearty cries were heard. Angel was also spayed following the delivery, to prevent any future emergencies.

(Cely and Marisol caring for the pups)

“Angel did well in her surgery,” Dr. Carroll stated. “She was a dream patient. For being a first-time mom, she was great with her pups, and started cleaning them up and nursing them right away.”

Patricia had returned to her house earlier to make plans for Angel’s return home, so she received the happy news about Angel and her two puppies from a phone call. Dr. Carroll also called Patricia the next day to check in, and heard that mom and pups were doing very well. Patricia was extremely grateful for the care her adored pet was given in her moment of crisis.

If Patricia wasn’t able to make it to Dakin with Angel, the charming Lhasa Apso with the soft brown eyes would likely have been lost. Being able to give hope to people with pets that need our help, and keep them together, is imperative to our remarkable team of staff and volunteers. It’s central to our mission.

“I love working with Dakin’s medical team because I don’t have to worry about anything,” said Dr. Carroll. “The veterinary technicians had everything prepared, and knew exactly what they were doing with the puppies, so I could focus on the mom.”

Marisol, one of the veterinary technicians who assisted in the birth recalled, “I felt confident that the surgery would be fine. Angel was a great patient and in good spirits. I’m happy her person came to us, and that we were able to help them.”