Charlotte's Recovery: Emergency Veterinary Care

Meet Charlotte! Charlotte is a 3-year-old, intact female Australian Shepherd who was referred to us by one of our incredible local veterinary teams after suffering peracute penetrating chest trauma and pneumothorax—caused by an attack from three dogs. When Charlotte arrived at Rogue Valley Veterinary Emergency, she was in shock. Her breathing was labored due to air accumulating in her chest, and her blood pressure and body temperature were too low to register. Our team immediately administered pain control, IV fluids, and cardiovascular support. Despite this, her blood pressure remained dangerously low, and we grew concerned about SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), a serious condition that can lead to clotting issues. Thankfully, our hospital keeps canine plasma on hand—rich in essential proteins and clotting factors. After receiving plasma, Charlotte’s blood pressure quickly stabilized, and she began to improve. She was hospitalized with us for 48 hours, and we are thrilled to report that she was soon walking and eating like her old self again! A huge thank you to the referring veterinarian for their swift action and stabilization—Charlotte had the best possible chance because of your care.