Family Takes Their Sick Pup For Euthanasia, Then The Vet Does Something Totally Unexpected

Vets around the world are no strangers to difficult situations, but one of the toughest is when pet owners give up on their sick animals.

This was the case with Toby, a 7-week-old poodle mix. However, thanks to the compassion of a dedicated vet, a glimmer of hope remained.

Toby’s life had just begun, but his future seemed uncertain. He was ill, and his owners decided it was time to end his suffering, bringing him to the local vet for euthanasia.

What happened next was a heartwarming turn of events, all because of Dr. Oliver Reeve, a caring veterinarian who took Toby in at the hospital.

A thorough examination revealed that Toby was suffering from a painful congenital condition called entropion of his lower eyelids. 

While his family asked to have him euthanized, Dr. Reeve felt that Toby deserved a fighting chance. He explained in an interview:

“This is a condition where his eyelids are rolled in so that his eyelashes and fur are rubbing on the front of his eyes (cornea).”

The reason why Dr. Reeve believed Toby deserved a chance was his unwavering spirit. He added:

“Even though he was so uncomfortable, he was still so friendly and confident. He just radiated a joyful vibe. I was sure we could fix him and give him a really good life.”

Despite the vet’s optimism, the family couldn’t afford the treatment and just gave up on Toby. 

Fortunately, that didn’t stop Dr. Reeve from giving him a new chance at life. What he did next was truly heartwarming.

Dr. Reeve immediately decided to adopt Toby and start working on his treatment. He shared:

“The fix is a surgery on the eyelids to roll them out. It’s not particularly difficult, but in very young puppies, we often do a temporary fix until they mature, and their face develops before we do the permanent solution.”

After planning the surgery, Dr. Reeve operated on Toby, hoping for the best, and luckily, that’s exactly what happened.

While Toby recovered, Dr. Reeve realized that the second surgery might not be necessary. He said:

“He was comfortable pretty much immediately after that. The healing went really well, so well, in fact, that he hasn’t ended up needing the second surgery I had planned.”

With the devoted care of Dr. Reeve and his wife, Toby made a swift recovery from surgery and began to thrive, becoming a joyful pup.

Unfortunately, his happiness was short-lived as Toby encountered new, unexpected health problems that proved difficult to diagnose.

Even then, Dr. Reeve refused to give up on him. He performed many tests to understand what was happening and how he could help Toby recover again. Dr. Reeve added:

“It was a pretty good learning experience for a vet to be on the receiving end of an animals’ illness. It helps you really understand what your clients are going through.”

Luckily, Dr. Reeve worked his magic once again, helping Toby regain his strength and get back on his feet. That’s when Toby began to truly flourish.

As he grew bigger and stronger, his true personality began to shine. Toby became a healthy, happy pup, surrounded by a loving family who cherished him.

He spent his days with his human dad at the vet clinic and enjoyed park walks after the shift. His joy was priceless. Dr. Reeve shared:

“His absolute favorite thing in the whole world is playing with other dogs. Any dog, big, small, old or young, he just loves to chase or be chased. His second favorite thing is nibbling my earlobes. I’m not sure why.”

Besides getting a new chance at life and a loving family, Toby became an employee at the clinic, bringing joy to the staff and patients. Dr. Reeve added:

“Toby is now a vet’s dog, which means he comes to the clinic each day with me. He is adored at work, and the clinic staff are part of his extended family.”

Not only did Dr. Reeve give Toby a new opportunity, but Toby also reminded him of the endless joy and fun life can bring. Dr. Reeve shared:

“The thing I love about Toby is that he is such a joyful and carefree being. He will stand outside in our yard with his nose held in the air and his eyes closed, enjoying the wind in his face. He’s so happy, and it’s infectious. It’s wonderful just to be around him. I’m not religious, but he does seem like a little angel in dog form sometimes.”

From a sick 7-week-old puppy on the brink of euthanasia, Toby blossomed into a healthy, joyful dog surrounded by a loving family and full of life!