Sick Poodle-Mix Pup Escapes Euthanasia Thanks To The Vet’s Act Of Love

Vets around the world constantly face numerous challenges, but the most heartbreaking part is when pet owners decide to give up on their sick animals.

That’s exactly what happened to Toby, a 7-week-old poodle-mix pup. However, a compassionate vet proved that even in the darkest times, there’s still hope.

Toby had just started his life, but his future didn’t seem bright. He was sick, and his family wanted to end his suffering, so they brought him to the local veterinary hospital to be euthanized.

But, what happened next was nothing short of heartwarming, thanks to a caring vet, Dr. Oliver Reeve, who welcomed Toby into 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.”

Thanks to Dr. Reeve and his wife’s devoted care, Toby quickly recovered from surgery and became a happy pup starting to thrive in life.

However, the happiness didn’t last too long, as Toby faced unexpected health issues that were hard 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.”

Fortunately, Dr. Reeve succeeded once again and helped Toby get back on all fours. That’s when he truly began to thrive.

Toby started growing bigger and stronger, and his true personality completely blossomed. He became a healthy pup with a loving family by his side.

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 pup facing euthanasia, Toby transformed into a healthy, happy dog with a loving family and so much to give!