A dog in Philadelphia was revived with Narcan after it was found unconscious next to its owner last week, both likely suffering from an opioid overdose.
A poodle named Toodles is now recovering under the care of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty (PSPCA) after veterinarians revived him on April 17.
Both Toodles and his owner were found unconscious earlier that day in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood.
Police at the scene treated Toodles’ owner, while he was rushed to BluePearl Emergency Pet Hospital.
Once there, veterinarians treated the dog the same way first responders frequently treat humans suffering from drug overdoses – with the drug Narcan.
Narcan, the brand name of the drug naloxone, is a anti-overdose medication that works to counteract and block opioids, including heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone.
‘Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose,’ the National Institute on Drug Abuse said.
It has no effect on a person with no opioids in their system.
Toodles was then taken to the PSPCA, who are currently investigating how the dog ended up ingesting the drugs.
‘It was discovered that the person who owned the dog had not only been taking drugs himself, but also according to witnesses previously claimed to “share” drugs with the dog,’ the organization said in a post on Facebook.
Toodles has since made a ‘miraculous’ full recovery, the PSPCA said.
‘He is just about the sweetest pup around. Everyone loves him. But our hearts still break for all that he has been through,’ the PSPCA said.
The organization has since received ‘hundreds’ of calls inquiring about adopting Toodles.
‘Toodles will be adopted this afternoon, we had so many folks calling in we expect him to go to a home,’ PSPCA’s CEO Julie Klim told Fox 29 Philadelphia on Monday.
‘If every person who called in about Toodles would come in and adopt a dog we could clear out that kennel this afternoon,’ she told the local station.
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
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