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Sophie the pot-gobbling puppyѻýs problems put in the past

B.C. dog back to her energetic self after eating discarded drugs leads to three trips to the vet
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Sophie poses for the camera before going for a walk. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Sophie is one lucky puppy.

The four-month-old Entlebucher mountain dog has made a full recovery after ingesting drugs multiple times while out on walks in Chemainus. She required emergency vet treatment in Nanaimo three times in less than a month, starting on Boxing Day evening.

The Chemainus Ball Park and downtownѻýs Waterwheel Park are now off limits, just in case.

ѻýI donѻýt go up there with her anymore, I donѻýt want to take the chance,ѻý said owner Michele Yeoman, who doesnѻýt plan on ever making a fourth emergency trip.

Sophie got into remnants of cannabis and amphetamines left on the field.

ѻýHer head started bobbing and she got wobbly on her feet,ѻý noted Yeoman. ѻýIt was actually frightening. You donѻýt know if your dog is going to live or die and how much theyѻýve ingested.ѻý

Each occurrence when Sophie showed problematic symptoms was at night.

ѻýItѻýs just a very bad experience,ѻý Yeoman indicated. ѻýFrom what Iѻýve been told by the vet three hours after theyѻýve ingested they begin to show signs.ѻý

Sophie saw three different vets during her emergency care. The presence of Benzodiazepine or Benzos, for short, was detected in Sophieѻýs system the last time she went to the vet.

One test she was given involved the injection of liquid charcoal. Once her poop came out black, it was an indication everything was functioning normally again. The charcoal was administered once at home and twice in the emergency bed.

Sophie didnѻýt eat a whole joint or anything, but it was obviously enough to cause concern and vets are seeing a rise in these cases with pot being legal.

And trips to the vet for emergencies arenѻýt cheap. Yeoman said the three treatments cost her more than $1,000 and it would have been a lot more if any overnight stays were required.

Sophie was nine weeks old when Yeoman obtained her from a breeder. The tri-coloured Entlebucher mountain dog is a medium-sized herding dog, the smallest of the four regional breeds known as herders in the Swiss Alps. The dogs are determined movers of cattle and happiest with a job to perform.

Youѻýll see Yeoman and Sophie walking downtown, at the beach or on the Cowichan Valley Trail alongside the Mount Brenton Golf Course. Yeoman walks the dog 2-3 times a day.

ѻýShe has to, she has so much energy,ѻý said Yeoman. ѻýI donѻýt see where Iѻým going, Iѻým watching her. Half the time I wouldnѻýt know if she picked something up. Puppies are so quick.ѻý

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It was quite an ordeal for Sophie, going to the vet three times in less than a month after ingesting drugs. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Sophie goes for a treat from owner Michele Yeoman. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Sophie is a curious and active puppy. (Photo by Don Bodger)


Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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