Doberman's behaviour leads mother to discover baby's heart condition
A six-month-old baby in England was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome after his pet dog acted unusually.
In September, Kim Reynolds, a 41-year-old mother from Shepton Mallet, Somerset, sought medical help for her six-month-old son, Alexander, after her Doberman, Saraya, behaved unusually. The dog repeatedly cried and refused to leave the baby alone.
Upon examination at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital emergency department, doctors found Alexander's heart was beating at 280 beats per minute. He required immediate treatment to control his heart rhythm.
Medical staff first attempted to slow the heartbeat using cold water and ice, but the procedure failed twice. Alexander was eventually given three intravenous doses of medicine, which brought his heart rate down.
Two days after the emergency visit, doctors diagnosed Alexander with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a condition involving an extra electrical connection between the heart's chambers. He now takes propranolol three times daily to control his heart rate.
Later that month, Saraya's unusual behaviour prompted Reynolds to take Alexander to the hospital again. Doctors determined he had bacterial tonsillitis rather than a heart episode and prescribed penicillin.
Reynolds, a former canine hydrotherapist, noted that Saraya is not a trained assistance dog. However, the incidents have caused her to monitor the dog's behaviour closely around her son.