Editor’s Note: There are times when the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital Emergency and Critical Care must turn away patients because it has reached capacity with critical cases. Hazel is one case that required a long-term stay.
Mention Hazel in the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital Emergency and Critical Care unit and a smile quickly appears on every veterinary students’ face.
That’s not quite true. A smile actually appears on anyone who assisted with Hazel’s care during her long-term stay at Iowa State.
“Hazel is a sweetheart and a pleasure to have as a patient,” a clinician wrote in Hazel’s discharge papers.
It may appear surprising at what a great patient Hazel was considering the numerous medical issues the 5-year-old Labrador Retriever faced both before and during her hospitalization.
Prior to being presented at Iowa State, Hazel was lethargic, had an increased respiratory rate, fever, and profound anemia just to name a few of her aliments. Showing signs of shock when she was admitted, Hazel was treated with IV fluids and pain medication.
An ultrasound revealed a pocket of fluid near her bladder, which upon further investigation contained bacteria.
Hazel had an infection within her abdomen.
“Septic abdomen requires surgery to remove the infectious areas harboring the infection,” said Dr. Giulia Toth, a resident in Emergency and Critical Care.
After undergoing a surgery in late September to repair a torn ureter, the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder, due to an abscess that opened in her abdomen, Hazel spent days in the ICU, endearing herself to the staff, before having to return to surgery a week later to address an ongoing infection and abscess in her abdominal muscles.
The second surgery was the charm.
“Over the following days, Hazel made steady improvements,” Toth said. “Her appetite remained high, and she was comfortable coming off of her pain medications.”
Hazel is now at home further recovering from her hospitalization.
If you and your animal need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at 515.294.4900.
October 2025