There are times when the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital Emergency and Critical Care must turn away patients.
“Redirecting a client and their pet is a decision made only as a last resort, and only when our medical team determines that we are unable to provide safe and effective care due to capacity constraints,” said Karen Durbin, client relations manager. “This decision is made solely in the best interest of the patient’s well-being and is never a reflection of unwillingness to help.”
Unfortunately this happened this week when the hospital’s ICU had met its capacity with critical cases. Otto was one of those cases.
Otto, a six-year-old Weimaraner, was admitted in the middle of the night on Friday. Otto’s owner, Lindsey Horner drove her dog up from their Des Moines home. She knew how serious Otto’s condition was and used the drive to “spend a little bit of time with him.”
“After taking him to a clinic in Des Moines, I knew Otto’s odds of making it were not so good,” Horner said. “I wanted to get him to Ames as quickly as possible, but I also wanted to spend time with him because I didn’t know when, or if, I would see him again.”
Otto has beat those long odds.
The dog was suffering from gastric dilatation volvulus or “bloat.” This is a life-threatening condition in dogs where the stomach fills with gas, food or fluid, and then twists on itself. Dr. Meredith ‘t Hoen, clinical assistant professor, said Otto underwent emergency surgery to reposition his stomach and remove the unhealthy part of his stomach.
“Without the surgery, Otto would have died,” ‘t Hoen said. “Now just a few days later, we’re optimistic about his eventual recovery.”
Horner is also optimistic and saw first-hand Otto’s first steps to the road to recovery on a visit to the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital Tuesday evening.
“His tail is a dead giveaway that he is getting better,” she said. “Otto has received amazing care here.
“The team at Iowa State has kept me informed all along the way of his progress. I’ve gotten three calls a day giving me updates, being up front with me on his odds of recovery, and the road he has in front of him.”
July 2025