Motherwell dog almost bleeds to death after being struck by mystery illness

Mac, a three-year-old neapolitan mastiff, was left fighting for his life after bleeding internally from an unknown condition.

His owner Sue, whose name has been changed to protect her identity due to personal circumstances, relies on the pet to help her cope with her PTSD and was shocked when he suddenly became unresponsive and collapsed.

The 30-year-old, from Motherwell, rushed him to Vets Now for emergency surgery and credits their dedicated team for saving her best friend's life.

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She told the Glasgow Times: “I was absolutely heartbroken because Mac has only just celebrated his third birthday.

“Mac is not a formal service animal but I have PTSD and he helps me with symptoms and reassurance.

“The wait was agonising. I was expecting a call every minute to say he had passed but it never came.

“I am so grateful that Vets Now is where we ended up as I feel they are the only team in Scotland who could have saved him and let me bring my best friend home.

“He never had any cancers or bleeding disorders in the end and his diagnosis is still somewhat a mystery.

“It's been a hard road for my dog but I think we have turned a corner and are over the worst of it now.”

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Sue first noticed Mac was ill after discovering he had a very swollen scrotum at the end of August and took him to the vet.

He was prescribed antibiotics and painkillers but continued to swell, so was taken to an emergency appointment where he had a scrotal ablation.

This meant surgery to remove his scrotum and testicles but when he returned home he remained tired and dizzy.

Then he suddenly collapsed and became unresponsive before Sue sprang to action and rushed him to Vets Now in Glasgow.

Staff raced to meet the dog outside and carried him in on a stretcher then immediately took him back into surgery.

It was confirmed he was bleeding internally and medics were unsure if Mac would make it, leaving Sue devastated.

Thankfully he survived the night and was taken to the intensive care unit to recover before going home three days later with painkillers.

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Sue said: “I am eternally grateful to the Vets Now team as they have given me back my best friend.

“He has been through the mill, but is improving every day thankfully.

“Mac had the best care anyone could ever ask for and although it was a horrendous time waiting for news and recovery, I felt Mac was cared for with so much empathy and love.

“Everyone from receptionist to surgeon is absolutely fantastic at their jobs there and the skill of Lara as a surgeon and the anaesthetist is phenomenal.”

Lara Wilson, lead out of hours veterinary surgeon at Vets Now emergency hospital in Glasgow, and her team looked after Mac.

She said: “Mac was a lovely big boy who came in to us collapsed and pale after having an abdominal bleed following emergency surgery to his scrotum.

"His abdomen was filled with blood and his blood pressure very low. 

"We were able to take blood from his abdomen, filter it and replace it into his circulation and we were delighted to see he made a slow but steady recovery. 

"I am very glad to hear Mac is continuing to do well. Seeing our patients make a recovery and knowing the owners will have longer with them is the great reward of this job.

“At Vets Now we have teams of emergency vets and nurses ready to provide care to critically ill animals.   

"Due to the increase in pet ownership during the pandemic we are very busy so patients are triaged so the sickest ones like Mac can be cared for first. 

"This can mean other patients may have to wait whilst life-saving procedures are carried out.”