


A pooch with a penchant for alcohol has made a miraculous recovery after almost dying.
A two-year-old Labrador mix named Coco and another dog were brought to the Woodside Animal Rescue Trust in the UK after their owner died.
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Both dogs were unwell when they arrived at the shelter, the rescue group wrote in a Facebook post, and both suffered through troubling “fits.”
Coco’s canine friend eventually passed away, despite the emergency vet’s best efforts.
When Coco started to show symptoms after a month, the rescue team grew worried.
Despite receiving intensive treatment and around-the-clock care, the pup had not been getting any better and was still “seriously unwell” — with all symptoms pointing towards canine alcohol withdrawal.
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“Canine alcohol withdrawal, a first for us,” the shelter said.
Coco spent four weeks sedated to help his withdrawal symptoms and reduce the risk of further fits.
“We are so thankful that we are now out of danger and Coco is off all medication and is now starting to behave like a normal dog,” the animal shelter happily shared on Facebook. “He is not yet ready for adoption and whilst physically he seems to have recovered, mentally he is still very anxious at times.”
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To help Coco recover, the pooch was kept out of the main kennels with the other animals and instead stayed “in a more homely environment” at the trust’s Dunroamin Unit.
“This has most certainly made a difference to his recovery and overall well-being,” the trust noted. “No one knows the specifics on how these dogs got into the situation with alcohol, but we do know that without our care, Coco would likely have not survived this heartbreaking ordeal.”
The American Kennel Club noted that alcohol is toxic for dogs and that even just a small amount can cause alcohol poisoning, especially in small puppies.
In severe cases, or if the dog is left untreated or continues to drink it, alcohol intoxication in dogs can cause organ systems failure and even death.
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According to the shelter’s manager, Coco is now continuing to improve and is “well on his way to a full recovery.”
“He spends a lot of his time helping the girls in our sanctuary reception, in between playing with his toy ball of course,” Helen Lecointe told Newsweek. “A long way from the many days and long nights we went through with him so we are delighted.”