Purple Dog Defies Death

Billie, an 8-year-old bulldog was adopted from Orphans of the Storm, by her forever family in November of 2020. Shortly thereafter, she was diagnosed with congenital methamphetamine, a condition that limits the oxygen-carrying capacity of her blood, causing it to be purple in color. Consequently, the decision was made to avoid performing ovariectomy.

The morning of June 18, 2024, began like any other, with Billie taking a walk with her dad. After arriving back at her home, however, she suddenly collapsed. Her parents rushed her to the Animal Medical Center, where she presented, unresponsive, with a temperature of 107.

The skilled technicians immediately performed shock treatment and worked to reduce her temperature. An abdominal ultrasound scan revealed that Billie had a pyometra (toxic uterine infection) with some free fluid on her abdomen.

Despite her purple blood condition, her parents authorized an emergency operation to explore her abdomen because without it Billie’s death was a certainty.

The team of doctors and technicians took Billie to the O.R., where they found that one of her uterine horns had ruptured, spilling the infection into her abdomen. The infected uterus was removed, and then her remaining organs were washed.

With some help from her parents, and the staff at AMC, Billie not only evaded death, she came in for staple removal on July 1st. According to her parents, Billie, the purple dog is back to herself, enjoying the daily routine.