It’s not every day that veterinarians are asked to save a police officer’s life, but a Brenham Police Department K-9 officer named Ronny is back among his human peers after the Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Small Animal Hospital took on the challenge last week.
Ronny, a six-year-old Belgium Malinois, was brought to College Station Thursday, Feb. 2 with a type of life-threatening chest infection that some working and hunting dogs are prone to because of the tasks they perform in their work. After having surgery for the infection in his lungs, Ronny had tubes attached to drain the fluid and was given oxygen. He completed a week of around-the-clock care, and was on his way back to Brenham to continue his rest and recuperation at home.
Dr. Medora Pashmakova, the senior clinician on the case in critical care, said the Small Animal Hospital cares for a dozen K9 officers per year, and each one is a humbling experience.
“I think the care of any dog, whether pet or working dog, is a substantial privilege and responsibility that we take very humbly and seriously,” Pashmakova said. “The care of working dogs, specifically K-9 officers, sometimes requires different handling than a standard pet kind of dog, but many of us in the hospital are familiar with the different predispositions and temperaments of working dogs. They most often make excellent patients.”
Pashmakova wrote to Brenham police last week that Ronny “is a stoic and strong dog, but also very gentle and an excellent patient. He has become an ICU favorite and loves to get walks, attention, and food whenever possible.”
Brenham Police Chief Craig Goodman told KWHI 1280 last week on behalf of his department they were appreciative of the care their “Ronny Boy” received.
“Ronny is an important member of our department and we want to do all we can to ensure he gets well soon,” Goodman said. “We truly appreciate the dedicated doctors and staff at both the Brenham Veterinary Hospital and Texas A&M. The care they have shown our Ronny Boy is amazing.”
Dr. Stanley Sowy and Dr. Courtney Wilson, were the residents on Ronny’s case. Dr. Lisa Howe was the surgeon.
https://today.tamu.edu/2016/05/26/happy-feet-penguin-receives-life-changing-surgery-at-texas-am-vet-med/
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Media contact: Megan Palsa, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Palsa, Megan MPalsa@cvm.tamu.edu, 979-862-4216
For more news about Texas A&M University, see https://today.tamu.edu/.
