Daily Read: Wildlife
Doberman Detects Baby’s Fast Heartbeat, Saves Life
A six‑month‑old boy named Alexander from Somerset, England, was saved when his family Doberman, Saraya, noticed his unusually rapid heartbeat and refused to leave his side. The mother, Kim Reynolds, drove Alexander to a hospital after he appeared unwell, where doctors recorded a heart rate of 280 beats per minute. The child was diagnosed with Wolff‑Parkinson‑White syndrome, a potentially deadly condition that can be treated if identified early. Three doses of medication lowered his heart rate, and he was transferred by ambulance to a specialist hospital for further care. Alexander is now on a daily regimen of the beta‑blocker propranolol, which he takes by syringe with ease. In a later incident, Saraya again sensed something wrong, noticing a red throat and prompting a visit to the hospital where Alexander was treated for bacterial tonsillitis with penicillin. The family credits Saraya’s instincts for preventing a serious health crisis and stresses the importance of awareness for parents of infants with similar conditions.
The essential points
- 01Doberman Saraya detected Alexander’s 280‑bpm heartbeat, prompting immediate medical attention
- 02Alexander was diagnosed with Wolff‑Parkinson‑White syndrome, a treatable but potentially lethal arrhythmia
- 03He is now on a daily propranolol regimen, taking medication independently
- 04A second health scare revealed bacterial tonsillitis, again identified by Saraya’s vigilance
The full brief
A six‑month‑old boy named Alexander from Somerset, England, was saved when his family Doberman, Saraya, noticed his unusually rapid heartbeat and refused to leave his side. The mother, Kim Reynolds, drove Alexander to a hospital after he appeared unwell, where doctors recorded a heart rate of 280 beats per minute. The child was diagnosed with Wolff‑Parkinson‑White syndrome, a potentially deadly condition that can be treated if identified early.
Three doses of medication lowered his heart rate, and he was transferred by ambulance to a specialist hospital for further care. Alexander is now on a daily regimen of the beta‑blocker propranolol, which he takes by syringe with ease. In a later incident, Saraya again sensed something wrong, noticing a red throat and prompting a visit to the hospital where Alexander was treated for bacterial tonsillitis with penicillin.
The family credits Saraya’s instincts for preventing a serious health crisis and stresses the importance of awareness for parents of infants with similar conditions.