Posted on 07/10/2012 5:11:38 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack
A WOMAN’S life was saved by a dog when she slipped into a coma while home alone.
Blind diabetic Suzanne West, 42, would have died when she fell into a six-hour-long diabetic coma if her partner’s guide dog Herbie hadn’t licked and cuddled her to keep her alive.
Miss West came round covered in dog hair and saliva on her bed at home in Creekmoor, Poole, at around 11.30pm on Wednesday with the faithful pooch by her side.
Woozy, she managed to crawl over to pull her life line and call for help.
And when paramedics arrived, Herbie, a seven-year-old black Labrador, was there to greet them.
Miss West, of Larch Close, said: “If it wasn’t for Herbie, six hours later into the coma I would have died.
“He literally saved my life. It was all really, really scary.
“I’m still very shaken.”
Her partner David Colclugh, 43, had gone away for the night on a fishing trip with pals from Poole Town Anglers club, leaving Herbie behind.
Miss West says after having dinner and taking a “perfect” blood sugar reading she went upstairs to watch television at around 6pm.
“I was in a coma for probably six hours,” she said.
“I came round and it felt like someone was wiping my face and nudging me. I was very disorientated and absolutely covered in dog hair.”
The lifesaving pooch refused to leave her even after the ambulance and her mum Margaret West had joined in the rescue.
“He never left my side except to wait at the top of the stairs for the paramedics,” Miss West added.
“He frightened them to death as they came across this big black dog in the dark.”
Miss West, who was diagnosed with diabetes aged four, usually relies on Mr Colclugh, who has some sight, to notice when she’s about to have a hypo and to rub glucose gel on her gums.
She rarely had them until last November, when, after a 16-day hospital visit she was put on the list for a pancreas transplant.
“They are as rare as hen’s teeth,” she said. “While I’m waiting for an operation the extra medicine I have to take affects my blood sugars.”
I admit to nothing, but with you, I don’t have to. ;^)
As the partial owner (No one owns a BC,they own you) of two border collies (one under a year old and a more mature gal) who herd “dad” and have more then once come to get me when he needed help...Please tie me to the end of that dog thread.....
A big wooof and a yippeee (she’s just finding her big girl voice)
When I came home from my first cataract eye surgery, my Yorkie lay down in front of my chair and stared at me all day. She would eat and drink which was close by and assume her position again.
I wasn’t allowed to bend my head over that first day, so I couldn’t pick her up. By the next eye surgery, she had learned to jump up into my chair (she was just 7 mths. old and naturaly small so that was a high distance for her to jump).
Dogs are so smart they know what’s happening to their loved ones.
Love it!
An aquaintance of mine took care of her elderly father. He had a Schipperke as a service dog. The father had been a farmer, and although they leased most of the farm at that point, he still liked to drive a small tractor out to mow one of the pastures. He had a diabetic incident and fell off the tractor. The dog came in from the fields and barked until they went out to him.
The dog also pulled the covers off him every morning to make him get up and barked if he didn’t fix breakfast and eat.
Good boy, Herbie!
Who’s a good boy? You’re a good boy. That’s a GOOD BOY! How about some steak, boy, huh? Steak for such a GOOD DOGGIE!
I hope the word “my” wasn’t a typo.
My little black pug used to suspiciously sniff my right side, and seem bemused, and would sniff again, like they do when you’ve run into another dog when you’re out. I thought it was cute. Turned out it was cancer. And pugs don’t have much to sneeze with in the nose department! But my little boy stuck like glue to me all through the cutting and pasting me back together.
I love reading these good dog stories and I love reading the doggie tales posted by FReepers......
I write this as our newly acquired 8 yo Westie rescue lays by my side......and my sons squirrelly and very entertaining rescue from the streets of Dallas is trying to get the chew bone out from under the coffee table that he once again flipped under there......love ‘em both
I love reading these good dog stories and I love reading the doggie tales posted by FReepers......
I write this as our newly acquired 8 yo Westie rescue lays by my side......and my sons squirrelly and very entertaining rescue from the streets of Dallas is trying to get the chew bone out from under the coffee table that he once again flipped under there......love ‘em both
A Jack Russell Terrier would’ve started an IV and adjusted her meds.
Congratulations and thank you for adopting an older dog! We rescued a 9 yo Aussie mix last year and he's the best dog. He's quite the big brother and calming influence on the fearful 2-3 yo setter/pointer female we adopted at the same time.
“A Jack Russell Terrier would’ve started an IV and adjusted her meds.”
Forgive me, but I think the Jack Russel Terror would have seen the opportunity to terrorize the neighborhood, bite a few kids and chase some rats.
Jack Russells are like ER physicians - geniuses with ADHD.
Jack Russells are like ER physicians - geniuses with ADHD.
You must have a mutated one ;) When I lived in New Zealand, I knew a few JRTs. They were so totally different than the ones I’ve known in the U.S. Hard to believe they were the same breed. My sister has owned JRTs and I’ve gone with German Shepherds. JRTs are just too high maintenance for me.
Ain’t that the Truth!
“One of mine is a Certified Therapy Pet with Faithful Paws. He could calm the patient just by being there.”
That’s really awesome, by the way. I love JRTs, but I’m too old for any terrier. I had a neighborhood terrier that used to come visit because dog lover me would give him attention. My husband and I still joke, “Throw the ball, throw the ball, throw the ball.” The dog wore us out.
They have a calmer personality along with looking different. You can go to their website and see for yourself. www.butterballkennel.com (I think that is it)
I gave my husband a typical shorthaired JRT for his 72 birthday and that little scamp wants to play ball until he passes out. :D
My Therapy Pet and I are going to start visiting a 2nd convalescent home on Saturday. The people and staff in those places love our visits and beg us to come back again and again.
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