Immediate Response

When Yeti arrived at the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital recently, the seven-year-old French bulldog did not have a pulse and wasn’t breathing.

The Emergency Services team immediately went to work on Yeti.

“CPR was initiated in reception as soon as we recognized the absence of a pulse and breathing,” said Dr. Giulia Toth, emergency and critical care resident. “At the same time, we transported him to the ICU.”

In the ICU, the ECC team placed an intraosseous catheter during CPR. This allowed medications to be administered more effectively.

The results were also immediate.

“Yeti regained spontaneous circulation quite quickly and was eventually extubated and transitioned to a normal intravenous catheter,” Toth said. “He was then placed in an oxygen cage, where he continued to breathe comfortably and maintain good oxygen levels”

Yeti’s recovery was surprisingly just as quick. After an overnight stay in the ICU’s oxygen cage with anti-inflammatories, nebulization, antinausea, sedatives, fluids, pain medications, fluid therapy and supportive care, he was ready to be discharged.

“Typically, a patient that experiences a cardiorespiratory arrest needs more time to recover,” Toth said. “We think based on history and presentation that he might have suffered from brachycephalic obstructive syndrome (BOAS) crisis.

“Dogs with milder forms of BOAS can often live normal, healthy lives with a typical life expectancy,” Toth said. “However, dogs with more severe cases require surgery to improve their breathing and overall quality of life.”

“We can’t thank the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital enough,” his owner Alexa Mitchell wrote. “We have a huge profound gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Toth and her team that saved our boy.”

November 2026