Nutmeg, a Boykin spaniel mix known to her family as a “wild child,” is back to her energetic self after a life-threatening case of poisoning. Nutmeg, a Boykin spaniel-mix that accidentally ingested charred animal protein, is treated at the Virginia Tech Veterinary Teaching Hospital for pentobarbital poisoning. Photo by Madison Brown for Virginia Tech Following the death of a family goat, owners Dirk Martin and Molly Cobbs faced a dilemma: the property’s solid limestone base made traditional burial of the animal impossible. Believing cremation would safely incinerate the remains, Martin burned the goat remains on the farm. Ten days later, while the couple hosted friends, Nutmeg reportedly wandered to the burn pile. The next day, Cobbs and Martin noticed Nutmeg showing neurological symptoms. However, they did not see the dog come to the burn pile and did not initially connect the symptoms to the burn site. After visits to local emergency clinics, Nutmeg was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. By the time she arrived in Blacksburg, Va., Nutmeg was unresponsive. Assistant professor of emergency and critical care, Michael Kato, DVM, DACVECC, and his team relied on a crucial clue: a bagged sample of Nutmeg’s vomit saved by her owner. Testing confirmed pentobarbital toxicity, and the team quickly administered intravenous lipid emulsion therapy, which binds toxins in the bloodstream. “We would not have been able to get to this diagnosis if the owners had not volunteered that information,” Dr. Kato says. “It shows how important these conversations are with the families. The more helpful information they can give us about their pets, the quicker our team can steer treatment in the right direction.” Within hours, Nutmeg began showing signs of improvement. Just 30 hours after arriving unresponsive, the dog was awake, eating, and regaining her playful energy. Photo by Molly Cobbs Veterinarians emphasize the importance of safe disposal of pet remains to prevent accidental poisoning of pets and wildlife. Nutmeg’s recovery stands as a testament to attentive veterinary care—and a timely cautionary tale. For more information, read the full report by Marjorielee Christianson on the Virginia Tech News website.
