Family dog's alert behaviour saves baby's life from heart condition

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 18:20 · Archive

A family dog's unusual behaviour alerted her owner to her six-month-old baby's dangerously fast heart rhythm.

Kim Reynolds' pet Doberman Saraya became unusually clingy and distressed around six-month-old Alexander one morning, refusing to leave his side and crying whenever he was taken away from her. Concerned by the dog's behaviour, Reynolds took Alexander to Royal Bournemouth Hospital's A&E department when he also became upset and looked unwell.

Doctors discovered Alexander was suffering from a dangerously fast heart rhythm, at 280 beats per minute. Two days later, he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Reynolds, a former canine hydro-therapist and first-time mother from Shepton Mallet, Somerset, said she initially had no idea anything was wrong. 'Saraya knew his heart rate was higher than it should've been. She sensed it,' Reynolds said. 'I dread to think what would have happened if I just put him in the cot and walked away.'

To restore Alexander's heart rhythm to normal, doctors used a technique sometimes called the 'diving response', placing him in a large bucket filled with cold water and ice. Reynolds described the experience as distressing, saying the scream was 'horrific'.

How it is being reported

• Baby’s life saved after family dog detects racing heartbeatMom Kim Reynolds, 41, was confused by her pet Doberman Saraya's unusual ''needy'' behavior around six-month-old Alexander.New York Post · 30 Oct, 18:11
• Baby's life saved after racing hearbeat detected by 'needy' family dog who wouldn't leave his sideKim Reynolds' pet doberman Saraya was clearly concerned about six-month-old Alexander and before long the infant was rushed to hospital where doctors delivered some bad newsThe Mirror · 30 Oct, 13:51

In this story: Kim Reynolds · Alexander · Saraya · Royal Bournemouth Hospital · Shepton Mallet · Somerset

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log