Vets scramble to save two dogs hooked on booze left out by dead owner

An ‘alcoholic’ Labrador became the first dog to be treated for alcohol addiction after vets rushed to save him and another dog addicted to booze left out by their deceased owner.

A male puppy named Coco came to the Woodside Animal Welfare Trust suffering from canine alcohol withdrawal, which the animal shelter said was “a first” for them.

The Animal Rescue Service in Plymouth, Devon added that Coco, a two-year-old Labrador cross, has been with them for over a month and has required intensive care since his arrival as part of his ‘tragic’ journey.

Coco arrived at the shelter with another dog after their owner passed away, but both soon became unwell.

The other dog passed repeatedly, and soon after, Coco began to pass as well.

A vet on scene at the time did his best to save both dogs, but the second dog died and Coco remained “seriously unwell,” the shelter wrote on Facebook.

The brown Labrador then required 24-hour care and his symptoms indicated that he was in withdrawal.

That’s what the staff of the rescue center told Telegraph that the dogs became dependent on alcohol when their owner left out drinks before going to sleep.

The dog spent four weeks sedated at the shelter to help with his withdrawal symptoms and reduce the risk of further seizures.

The treatment has worked and the puppy will soon be ready for adoption: ‘We are so thankful that we are now out of danger and Coco is off the meds and is now starting to act like a normal dog.

“He’s not ready for adoption yet and although he seems to have recovered physically, he’s still very anxious at times mentally.”

The shelter added that the Dunroamin Special Care Unit, which means Coco can be cared for in a more homely environment and away from the main kennels, has “definitely made a difference to his recovery and general well-being.”

The shelter said without their concern ‘Coco probably would not have survived this heartbreaking ordeal’.