Winston the Wonder Dog - Miracle or Modern Medicine

Corrie & Dr. Bricker pose with Winston

shortly before he is released to go

home.

That silent communication between dog and owner came into play one Friday evening when Winston’s family brought him in to Circle City’s Emergency Hospital. Early testing revealed nothing dramatic, but intuition drove them and set them on a path where, faith, perseverance, and advanced medical treatment combined to save his life.

Winston was suffering from a septic abdomen, a deadly invasion of bacteria inside his abdominal cavity typically caused by a foreign body or traumatic injury. An ultrasound revealed diseased lymph nodes so emergency surgery to remove the tissue causing the infection was performed, and treatment to clear the infection began. Survival rates for septic abdomens are less than 50% but quick action to rid Winston of the deadly infection gave his doctors and family hope for a speedy recovery.

Winston, however, was plagued with all the complications you don’t want to happen and he spent the next week in critical care with his doctors fighting each new obstacle that came along. Once his biopsies came back it was clear that the underlying cause for his condition was cancer. At the time, veterinary oncologist, Dr. Childress, was available for consultation here and the needed cancer drugs on site so chemotherapy began immediately. Winston turned the corner in short order and was released from the hospital, returning only as an out-patient for continued chemotherapy.

Faced with such an uphill battle, everyone involved would have understood had Winston’s family decided to let him go, but somehow that wondrous non-verbal communion between dog and owner signaled them both to keep trying. Speaking with Winston’s family, and seeing how they interact with him, makes it clear that the human/animal bond enriches our world and encourages a belief in something greater.

Winston Home Again

Call it luck or divine coincidence, it is also clear that without the advanced medical treatment immediately and locally available, Winston’s chance of survival would have been slim to none. Winston was not stable enough to transfer to another facility and could not have survived further delays. He is almost finished with his chemotherapy now and enjoying life with his family for as long as he is meant to. With recent changes in Purdue University’s policy regarding outside consultations by their faculty, however, the opportunity to continue treatment for cancer patients closer to home has been interrupted. Because 15% to 20% of the cases referred into our Emergency & Critical Care Department are diagnosed with some form of cancer, we are committed to once again provide family veterinary hospitals and pet owners accessible options for treatment…and miracles.