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Retired police dog’s life saved after cut turns septic
A retired police dog who almost died after a crack in his dried skin turned septic and the infection spread through his joint is now home recovering.
German Shepherd Riley, 12, was rushed to the emergency vets by his owner, police officer Sgt Scott Riley, after a crack in his skin got infected and formed an abscess which turned septic.
When the prognosis for Riley looked bleak, we stepped in to support Scott and work with the vets to come up with a treatment plan that put Riley’s welfare first, and offered to pay the £7,000 bill.
Our Chairman Kieran Stanbridge said: “It was touch and go whether Riley would pull through.”
RPD Riley served as a general purpose dog with Derbyshire Police – where Scott is an officer – until he retired in 2022, and Scott adopted him.
Scott said: “By 2nd December Riley had gone dramatically downhill and he couldn’t eat, drink or stand. He was dying in front of us.
“We rushed him back to the vets and had a difficult conversation. I contacted the Thin Blue Paw and within five minutes there were available to help us.”
Riley had life-saving surgery on 6th December, where the wound was cleaned and flushed, and he returned home to recover and spend another, very special, Christmas with his family.
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