A Labrador dog began to wobble and was no longer able to walk on the highest mountain in Britain. Rescuers later discovered what she had eaten. (Photo courtesy of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team)
A trip to climb Britain’s highest mountain turned into a rescue mission after a black Labrador suddenly fell seriously ill and collapsed on the trail. The dog’s owner later learned that the five-year-old Labrador had likely eaten discarded grass while climbing.Tokyo, a working Labrador, was walking her owner, professional dog trainer Christina Bloom, her 17-year-old son Magnus and another dog on Ben Nevis in Scotland on July 5 when she suddenly lost the use of her legs.She was rescued by Lochaber Mountain Rescue, then made a full recovery after treatment at a nearby vet clinic.
How Tokyo collapsed
Tokyo was completely normal for most of the flight, Bluhm said. The dog was eating treats, drinking water and walking comfortably as the group climbed Ben Nevis, which is 1,345 meters high.
But about an hour before she reached the top, Tokyo began swaying and became weak in her hind legs.“At first, I thought it might be something in my spine or a slipped disc due to the climbing, but then I started drifting in and out of consciousness,” Bloom said. She added: “I was standing on this mountain thinking that this is what happened, and that I was going to lose her.”As the weather worsened with rain and falling temperatures, Bluhm realized she could not carry the 25kg Labrador down the mountain alone.
Rescue
One hiker suggested calling emergency services. Fortunately, volunteers from the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team had just finished helping another victim near the summit and were nearby.Rescuers put Tokyo on a stretcher and carried her up the steep mountain road in about an hour before transporting her to Crown Vets in Fort William.Bloom praised the rescue team, saying: “Without the amazing Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, it simply would not have been possible to get her safely off the mountain,” the BBC reported.“Their kindness, professionalism and calm support meant everything during one of the most frightening days I have ever experienced,” she added.
A Labrador retriever, recovering at the Crown Vets Center in Fort William, Scotland (Photo by Associated Press)
Suspected poisoning
Veterinarians initially considered whether Tokyo had suffered a spinal injury. However, after examining the symptoms, a senior vet suspected she had been exposed to a neurotoxin.After consulting with the poison control center, veterinarians concluded that the symptoms seen in Tokyo were consistent with cannabis poisoning.
According to Bloom, veterinarians believe the Labrador most likely ate discarded grass or edible scraps along the way.Tokyo was treated with activated charcoal and intravenous fluids. She recovered overnight and was back to normal the next day. “The next day, it was like nothing had happened at all,” Bloom said, according to the Associated Press. “She recovered very quickly,” she added.Bluhm also said the incident was a shock because she never imagined her dog would encounter drugs on a mountain road. “I really thought I was going to lose her,” she said, according to what the BBC reported, urging other pet owners to stay alert while walking.