Jackson

This is the tale of two beloved dogs and their devoted owners who did everything they could to save the lives of their companions. The stories have remarkably similar beginnings and middles, but dramatically different endings that reflect the simple fact that, despite our best efforts, not all can be fixed. And sometimes, because of our best efforts, a life is saved.

Jackson came into Jackie and Adam Hutzell’s life as a bundle of the youthful energy typical of a Labrador retriever puppy. Chewing on baseboards, forgetting obedience commands, and in love with the world, his handsome features and larger-than-life personality charmed everyone. At 18 months old, Jackson and Jackie became certified as a therapy team through the American Humane Association’s Animal-Assisted Therapy program, and Jackson thrived on his “work” of bringing furry joy to others.

But in November, tragedy struck the Hutzells and then 4-year-old Jackson. A friend was caring for Jackson while the Hutzells were away for the weekend, and Jackson apparently ate grapes from an arbor. Jackson was vomiting the next morning. A call to the friend’s veterinarian resulted in a vet tech unfortunately giving the wrong advice: that there was no need for additional intervention. Jackie returned home Sunday night and by Monday morning, Jackson’s kidneys were failing. Her veterinarian told her that Jackson’s best shot at survival would be found at Colorado State University. Frantic, Jackie drove Jackson to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital where Jackson received fluids, round-the-clock care from the Critical Care Unit, and began peritoneal dialysis.

Tom Settlemire and Max

Jackson’s story is hauntingly familiar to Tom Settlemire and his partner Rich Italiano. Max was 12 weeks old and incredibly adorable, even by Border collie standards, when he was welcomed into the family last September. His affectionate nature and endearing antics helped Tom and Rich sift through the grief of the recent loss of their dog Sparky to lymphoma. But just two weeks after Max had settled into his new home, he apparently ingested grapes from a neighbor’s grapevine that had grown over the fence. Soon, Max was feeling punky and vomiting. Tom and Rich quickly brought him to their veterinarian where he too was diagnosed with acute renal failure. They were advised that Max’s chances at survival were very slim and his only option was the Critical Care Unit at the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

When Max arrived at the hospital, he was non-responsive, his kidneys had completely shut down, his potassium levels had sky-rocketed, his blood pH was low, and he was overhydrated. Mimi Elliott, a fourth-year veterinary student who was on Max’s veterinary team, imagined his chances of survival were one in a million. That evening, the veterinary team worked to stabilize Max and then placed a catheter so that they could start dialysis the following morning. Drs. Lauren Sullivan and Leilani Ireland, a veterinary resident, were part of Max’ treatment team (as well as Jackson’s) and told Tom and Rich  that two things working in Max’s favor were his age and lack of any other diseases that might compromise his ability to recover. Other members of the team included Drs. Tim Hackett and Scott Chamberlin.

Jackson, the beautiful and kind Labrador, waged a valiant battle. For nine days, his veterinary team in the Critical Care Unit worked to save his life. But his kidney values continued to decline and he developed pneumonia. When it became apparent that nothing more could be done to save the life of their beloved dog, Jackie and Adam had to say good-bye. His loss is still difficult not only for his owners but for the veterinary medical team that came to care deeply for Jackson as they worked desperately to save him.

Max spent three days on a slowly decreasing number of peritoneal dialysis rounds, where the abdominal cavity is flooded with fluids and then drained to remove toxins that the kidney can no longer process. Within 24 hours of his first dialysis procedure, his kidneys slowly began working again. As his kidney numbers improved and a kidney biopsy showed that the kidney was trying to rebuild itself, his owners let themselves have some hope that Max would survive. Six days after being admitted, Max was released home to the loving care of Tom and Rich who continued to help him through his recovery.

For the Hutzells, the loss of Jackson has created a mission of creating awareness among pet owners and the veterinary community of the dangers of little-known toxins, including grapes and raisins, which can be life threatening for dogs. They also made a gift to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital that they hope will help other dogs avoid Jackson’s plight – and might have saved Jackson’s life. The Hutzells have gifted to the hospital equipment and training to establish a program in continuous renal replacement therapy, also known as CRRT. CRRT is particularly effective in the treating acute kidney failure that often accompanies toxic ingestions, including grapes and other toxins such as antifreeze, as well as treating kidney failure from bacterial infections such as leptospirosis.

Drs. Ireland and Sullivan will receive training in CRRT in February – a few other CSU clinicians have already received some introductory training – and additional veterinarians and nurses in the CCU will undergo training this spring. The CCU hopes to offer CRRT by early this summer, joining just a handful of veterinary hospitals nationwide offering this lifesaving option for companion animals with acute kidney failure. Max, said student Mimi Elliott, is “one lucky dog” who survived his ordeal, but most dogs in his condition might have a better shot at life with CRRT. And, for the Hutzells, even though Jackson is gone, his “work” continues as a fund has been established in his memory to continue the establishment and development of the new CRRT program.

If you would like to support the CRRT program, please consider making a donation to the In Memory of Jackson fund at Colorado State University. For additional information visit the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Office of Development; or contact Paul Maffey, Director of Development, (970) 491-3932; or Judea Franck, Associate Director of Development, (970) 491-2351.