A French bulldog who was rescued by the RSPCA ‘on the brink of death’ was lucky to pull through after life-saving surgery.
In February, five-year-old Mabel was rescued by RSPCA Inspector Liz Wheeler, in Surrey, after her owners failed to get her treatment for a potentially fatal condition called pyometra.
Liz said: “Poor Mabel was so poorly when I finally managed to convince her owners that she needed urgent, life-saving treatment and they agreed to sign her over into our care.
“We try to keep dogs in loving homes where possible but, on this occasion, Mabel on the brink of death because she wasn’t getting the vet care she needed. Her life was hanging in the balance.”
Mabel was rushed to vets at the charity’s Finsbury Park Hospital, in London, where vets carried out emergency surgery.
Vet Claire Formoy said: “Mabel was very unwell when she came to us. She was quiet and lethargic, vomiting repeatedly and very dehydrated. Her blood test results were really concerning; her sodium levels were so low that I was concerned she was at risk of cerebral oedema where fluid collects on the brain.
“We rushed her into surgery and, to be honest, I was surprised that she made it through the operation. It was do or die for her but, thankfully, she pulled through; she’s very lucky to be alive. I’m so pleased.”
Cruelty hurts, love rescues
Mabel’s story comes as the RSPCA launches its Cruelty Hurts Love Rescues fundraising campaign at its busiest time, with cruelty reports spiking over the summer months.
Newly published statistics show, in June, July and August last year, the RSPCA received 6,322 cruelty calls to their emergency line; one call every 10 minutes when the line is open. In comparison the charity took 3,852 calls for the same period in 2021 – showing a massive 64% increase in just five years.
Mabel was suffering from pyometra – an infection of the uterus that is common in unneutered dogs. It can happen at any age but is most prevalent in dogs who are middle-aged or older.
Mabel had been taken to see a vet once but her owners had not sought any further treatment, as recommended, meaning she’d fallen seriously ill. Pyometra can prove fatal if left untreated.
Vet Claire added: “When a bitch is in season, the uterus lining is full of nutrients and the cervix opens slightly, which can let bacteria in, which then feeds on that lining and can cause infection. The body tries to fight this bacterial infection, which causes the uterus to become inflamed, enlarged, and full of pus (picture of Mabel’s uterus available but very graphic).
“The dog can become very unwell due to bacteria and toxins entering the blood. There is even a risk that the uterus becomes so full that it ruptures and spreads infection through the rest of the abdomen.
“I was shocked by the size of Mabel’s uterus when we operated to remove it; it was incredibly swollen and enlarged. We removed the uterus in order to remove the entire infection in one go and to prevent it from happening again.”
Mabel was kept at the hospital until she had recovered from the surgery and then moved to the RSPCA’s Leybourne Animal Centre, in Kent, where animal care assistant Emma Peto fostered her while she continued her recovery.
Emma said: “Mabel, who is now called Maple, came into foster with me for several weeks and did really well. She loved snoozing on the sofa and having belly rubs.
“We were all thrilled when she was adopted by a wonderful new family who fell in love with her. The future is bright for this sweet girl and, after everything she’s been through, she really deserves it.”
Vet Claire urged dog owners to get their pets neutered where appropriate.
She said: “Neutering our pets has lots of benefits, including preventing unwanted pregnancies and litters, and protecting our beloved pets from dangerous health conditions like pyometra.
“While there are some good reasons not to have your dog neutered, we’d urge owners to speak to their vet and look into whether it’s right for their individual pet.”