Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Rescue dog helps save her diabetic owner
Looby Loo with Toby
"If it wasn’t for Looby Loo waking Mary, I hate to think what would have happened to me," Toby admits.

Looby Loo presented with a PDSA commendation

A heroic German shepherd who helped save her diabetic owner has received a PDSA Commendation. The award recognises outstanding acts of devotion by pets.

Rescue dog Looby Loo became frantic when her owner Toby Snow began to slip into a diabetic coma. She managed to wake her other owner, Mary, by barking and whining next to their bed.

Mary realised immediately that Toby was slipping into a hypoglycaemic coma and dialled 999 whilst trying to boost his sugar levels with fizzy drinks and glucose tablets.

“Throughout the whole episode, Looby Loo didn’t leave Toby’s side," she says. "She was desperately nudging his arms and legs and licking his face. She knew that he was in danger and was trying to help him as best she could.”

Toby says he knew he was in deep trouble as he started to slip into the coma but was unable to call for help. "If it wasn’t for Looby Loo waking Mary, I hate to think what would have happened to me," he admits.

“I will be forever grateful to our wonderful dog for what she did that night – she was a true friend and her actions definitely helped me out of a very sticky spot.”

Toby usually controls his fluctuating blood sugar levels with insulin injections and tablets, but he had just returned home after a period in hospital for an infection. He says he was very weak and was receiving antibiotic treatment which interfered with the insulin's ability to work.

Mary Friend adopted Looby Loo, now aged nine, back in 2007. Two years later, she met Toby and it was certainly love at first sight for Looby Loo.

The pair formed an "instant and unbreakable" bond, according to Mary, who says Looby Loo "wouldn't take her eyes off Toby and wanted to be near him at all times."

Looby Loo was presented with her award at PDSA's Brighton Pet Hospital by Richard Hooker, the charity's director of veterinary services.

He commented: "It is amazing that a pet with no formal medical assistance training detected a potentially dangerous situation, like Looby Loo did here for Toby. Her PDSA Commendation is very well-deserved.”

Image courtesy of the PDSA

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.