EVANDER – Staff of the Highveld Ridge SPCA described Stupe, a cross-bred dog, as Lazarus who rose from the dead.
Stupe arrived at the SPCA on Monday, 26 March for a sterilisation procedure to be performed the next day.
According to Ms Jenneth Geel, senior inspector, nobody could have known that Stupe would have an allergic reaction to the anesthetic medication that he was given before the operation.
“Stupe went into cardiac failure the second the medicine was injected into his vein and he died on the table,” said Ms Geel.
“He had no heart beat and was not breathing. His body turned blue and his eyes were fixed and dilated.
“Even the fleas rose off his body as happens when animals die.”
The veterinarian, Dr Wandile Mbethe, and two nurses spent an hour resuscitating Stupe.
“Little Stupe’s heart began beating again after about five minutes and then stopped again and then began beating again.
“It took much longer for his breathing to return, but never once did the team stop working on him.
“Once Stupe’s vital signs had stabilised, he was moved to Recovery, but he remained unconscious.
“He was also having a very vocal reaction to the premeds and this is common, but it’s a very distressing sound for caregivers to listen to.
“His little body was in a deep coma, but he was breathing on his own and his kidneys, heart, lungs and bowls were working.”
However, Stupe did not wake up at that stage.
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According to Ms Geel, Stupe was hydrated and SPCA staff checked on him regularly and contacted the vets for support and to keep them updated on Stupe’s condition.
Stupe was later swallowing fluids dropped on to his tongue, he was maintaining his body temperature and he opened his eyes.
“Later, a disoriented attempt to stand up, a tail wagging, a proper bark and a reaction to a face rub were all signs that he was coming out of the coma,” said Ms Geel.
The local vet who treated Stupe contacted a professor at Onderstepoort for advice and he said each case is different and they had to wait and see what would happen.
SPCA staff kept checking on Stupe and had mixed emotions, from tears to anger and frustration.
“This was a first for us and we had discussions over whether he would have brain damage if we allow him to suffer,” said Ms Geel.
“We decided to just wait and follow the vet’s instructions.”
Stupe got up on 29 March and wanted to go outside to urinate. He drank some milk and went back to bed.
“Miracles happen, the vet was, like us, also amazed to see Stupe stand up.
“Emotions were high, we had happy tears as Stupe suddenly became Lazarus, the man who rose from the dead.
“This little dog was given no medication to stimulate his recovery. His will to live and the caring nursing by SPCA staff brought him back.”
Stupe recovered slowly, but on 4 April he was clearly not well and was confused and blind.
SPCA staff took him to Dr Corné Viljoen, a veterinarian, who examined him and confirmed he had a neurological disturbance probably still related to the medicine.
“A test revealed a very high white blood cell count and the vet gave him a jab that made him howl. She prescribed medication and he returned to the SPCA,” said Ms Geel.
Stupe was doing much better later that day and hid in his favourite spot at the SPCA under the bakkie.
Ms Geel thanked all her SPCA staff for their time and efforts and the vets for their dedication.
“We now call him Lazarus,” said Ms Geel.
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