Dog Struck by Vehicle Survives Thanks to Lifesaving Care

PORTLAND, OR – A 4-year-old dog named Roxy is back home recovering and surrounded by her family after surviving a devastating, life-threatening accident involving an ATV.

In the moments after the collision, Roxy collapsed and was fighting for her life.

She was initially evaluated at a local veterinary clinic before being transferred to DoveLewis 24/7 Animal Hospital for advanced emergency and intensive care.

When she arrived, Roxy was in critical condition. She was in shock, her blood pressure was dangerously low, and she was suffering from significant internal bleeding into her abdomen. Trauma from the impact had also caused bruising to her lungs, a small amount of air around her lungs, unstable heart rhythms, and multiple deep wounds across her legs.

Her body was overwhelmed, and the DoveLewis team moved quickly to give her the best possible chance.

She was placed on oxygen to help her breathe and given IV fluids to help stabilize her blood pressure and support circulation to her vital organs. Because she had lost a significant amount of blood, she required both plasma and red blood cell transfusions to help restore her strength and support her recovery. In a carefully controlled autotransfusion procedure, the team was able to recover the blood that had pooled in her abdomen and return it to her body, helping stabilize her condition.

Through it all, Roxy was kept as comfortable as possible with continuous pain management. She received medications to support her heart and blood pressure, along with treatment to stabilize her irregular heart rhythm. Her care team stayed at her side around the clock, watching every change closely as her body began the long fight back.

Slowly, things began to turn.

Her internal bleeding began to stabilize without the need for surgery. As her lungs healed, she was able to breathe more comfortably on her own again. Her heart rhythm steadied, her blood pressure normalized, and she grew stronger with each passing day. Her wounds were carefully treated and closed once her body was ready.

Little by little, Roxy started to come back. She lifted her head, recognized voices, and found the strength to eat on her own again. At one point, she gently rested her head in a veterinarian’s lap for comfort—a simple moment that told her care team she was going to be okay.

Just five days after fighting for her life in the ICU, Roxy was strong enough to go home.

Today, she’s back to playing fetch, a small joy that feels enormous after everything she’s been through.

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