CHAPO'S NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE WITH HEAT STROKE

Chapo tends to get anxious when he first enters the car, panting and needing to see out the window. All seemed normal, but as we embarked on the drive home, his breathing became more labored and excessive. I started to get upset, but my husband didn’t think it was that bad. We pulled over at a gas station and placed Chapo on the cold bathroom floor, trying to offer him water, put cold water on him and covered him with wet towels. When that didn’t work, we moved him to a grassy area and let the breeze take over. Nothing was working.

Back in the car, we positioned him between my feet on the floor with the air conditioning on high, hoping it would cool him down and alleviate his distress. But instead, his gums started to turn grey, and his eyes were bulging. I was panicking. Daryl was totally fine, but Chapo definitely was not. I knew we needed a vet, but we were in such a remote area and on a Sunday no less. But luck and by prayer, I found one. They were just 2 miles down the freeway – the longest few minutes of my life.

I called in advance and told them what was happening. They were so kind and met me at the door. As we pulled in, I was holding him, prepared to jump out of the car, and he collapsed and went completely limp. I started screaming and shaking him, and he came back to. The nurse rushed him inside and we just sat and waited. It was agonizing.

The vet finally came out and shared that Chapo’s body temperature had soared to a life-threatening 105 degrees. His heart also stopped beating with them, but they too were able to resuscitate him. The next 30 hours were a whirlwind of uncertainty. He was essentially placed in intensive care, intubated, and had a vet technician standing watch beside him. Gradually he was placed in an oxygen chamber until he was able to tolerate regular oxygen.

While he was at the ER Veterinary Hospital, we went through three on-call vets. One was great and let me sit with my dog, the next two did not allow me to stay. One vet in particular was harsh with me and really admonished me for having this breed. It was tough to hear, but I just asked more questions to keep him safe and made a point to understand his physiology better.

The cost of survival was staggering $7,000, plus subsequent visits. We were so grateful that he survived, and very lucky that he did not have organ failure, brain damage or any lasting problems. He was on heavy medication and a restrictive diet for a few weeks with subsequent liver and lung tests. The emotional toll was immeasurable, but the gratitude for Chapo’s resilience outweighed it all.