At just four years old, Sprig—a vibrant, hardworking Labrador retriever—found himself in the fight of his life. A loyal hunting companion and farm dog, Sprig loves roaming wide open spaces and living life at full speed. But things took a frightening turn when his owner noticed he was struggling to breathe. By the time Sprig arrived at our hospital, he was in critical condition.

Sprig was immediately triaged upon arrival, his respiratory effort labored, his gums pale, and his body weak. Radiographs from his referring veterinarian revealed a pleural effusion—fluid around the lungs. Our ER team quickly tapped his chest and removed nearly 750 milliliters of bloody, purulent fluid, offering temporary relief. But it was clear: Sprig was suffering from pyothorax, a life-threatening infection in the chest cavity.

A Surgical Lifeline

Board-certified surgeon Dr. Dave Allen, along with residents Dr. Connor Pyne and Dr. Brandon Pate, performed an emergency median sternotomy, a high-risk thoracic surgery. They removed necrotic lung tissue and portions of the left lung lobe, placed bilateral chest tubes, and submitted samples for culture and histopathology to guide ongoing treatment. During surgery, over 2 liters of purulent fluid was removed from Sprig’s chest cavity. The infection had significantly damaged his lungs and coated his thoracic walls with fibrinous adhesions.

This was a complex, delicate procedure—but it wasn’t just surgery that saved Sprig.

The Heroes that Make a Difference: Anesthesia and ICU Support

Sprig’s anesthetic event was anything but routine. He was classified as ASA V-E—a patient at extreme risk of death even with surgery. That’s where Dr. Charlotte Marquis, our board-certified anesthesiologist, stepped in.

Dr. Marquis, alongside technician Kat, managed Sprig’s fragile cardiovascular and respiratory systems throughout the entire surgery. He required:

A central line and arterial catheter

Mechanical ventilation with frequent recruitment maneuvers to keep his lungs functioning

Continuous infusions of fentanyl, lidocaine, norepinephrine, and dobutamine

Five double units of plasma to address clotting and volume loss

Multiple interventions to stabilize blood pressure and oxygenation, including a lifesaving dose of epinephrine during a period of dangerously low blood pressure

Despite facing hypotension, hypothermia, hypoxemia, and suspected sepsis, Sprig pulled through surgery with the expert support of the anesthesia team and was transferred to our 24/7 ICU for around-the-clock care.

24/7 Critical Care and Monitoring

Following surgery, Sprig was placed on nasal oxygen cannulas and monitored closely in our ICU. Our dedicated nursing staff and emergency doctors never left his side.

That first night, he remained dull but responsive, wagging his tail and lifting his head to greet his care team. He was successfully weaned off of norepinephrine and began breathing on his own. By post-op day 2, he was off IV opioids and oxygen support, eating on his own, and showing steady improvement.

Why 24/7 Multidisciplinary Care Matters

Sprig’s story reminds us why specialized, continuous care from board-certified specialists and trained staff can make all the difference. From the moment he walked through our doors, the coordination between emergency medicine, surgery, anesthesia, and intensive care nursing gave him a chance.

Our board-certified anesthesiologist’s expertise helped navigate some of the most perilous moments of Sprig’s procedure. Our surgical team worked tirelessly to remove infected tissue and restore his breathing capacity. And our ER doctors and ICU nurses remained by his side every hour, managing his recovery with vigilance, compassion, and skill.

Healing at Home: A Remarkable Recovery

Just over a week post-op, Sprig is back home and recovering well.

On his fourth day post-surgery, his chest tube output had significantly declined, and he continued to do great in the hospital, eventually returning home to his loving family. Exactly one-week post-op, he returned to OPVES for bandage removal and reported being bright, alert, and eupneic (normal, unlabored breathing). His incisions are healing appropriately, and his lungs sounded normal on auscultation. Dr. Pyne performed his recheck exam and noted no concerns—Sprig’s progress has been exceptional.

Even more heartening, his owners report he’s doing wonderfully at home, with no issues. It’s an incredible turnaround for a dog who just days earlier faced a life-threatening infection and severe respiratory distress.

Sprig’s recovery is a testament to the power of veterinary teamwork and the strength of one incredible dog. To his family, thank you for trusting us with sweet Sprig’s care. We’re so grateful to have been a part of his journey and thrilled to see him back doing what he loves most.

Stay tuned for more stories like Sprig’s—because every patient matters, and every victory is worth celebrating.