12-year-old Husky’s ‘heart stopped’ on the way to the ER. But one vet refused to stop CPR and pulled off a miracle

'It was one of the most dramatic days of my career—and it’s not a day I’m going to forget in a hurry,' said Susana.

PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO

(L) Young woman using laptop at home while sitting on the sofa beside her Siberian husky pet dog, (R) A husky getting treatment at vet clinic. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Slavica, (R) koldo studio)

Some stories of survival feel almost impossible, and this one is no exception. On what should have been a quiet Mother’s Day in 2024, one woman faced a heartbreaking moment when her beloved dog collapsed without warning. What happened next was something no one could have predicted, turning an ordinary day into a life-or-death emergency. When the pet owner's beloved Husky lost all signs of life on the way to the emergency clinic, one determined vet kept going and performed nothing short of a medical miracle.

Woman crying with her head in her hands. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Witthaya Prasongsin — Woman crying with her head in her hands. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Witthaya Prasongsin)

As reported by Vets Now, the then 12-year-old Husky, Heidi, suddenly fell ill at home and became unresponsive. Her owner, Rachel Armstrong, rushed her to the pet emergency clinic in Hull, just ten minutes away. But by the time they arrived, Heidi had stopped breathing and had no pulse. Rachel shouted for help, and principal vet Susana Jauregui immediately came outside in full PPE. Right there in the back of the car, she began CPR, performing three rounds of chest compressions. There was no response at first, but Susana didn’t give up. On the final try, she found a faint heartbeat.

A dog getting treated at a vet clinic. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Manu Vega)

With the help of veterinary nurse Emer Holtby, Susana carried the 32-kg Husky inside the clinic while onlookers watched in silence. Once inside, the team inserted a breathing tube and connected Heidi to oxygen. Another round of compressions was performed, and finally, Heidi began breathing on her own. Tests later revealed she had likely suffered a cardiac arrest due to hypocalcaemia, a severe calcium deficiency that can cause tremors or even collapse. After receiving calcium treatment and oxygen support, Heidi slowly began to regain consciousness.

Woman playing with a husky | (Image Source: Pexels | Kaboompics.com) — Woman playing with a husky. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Kaboompics.com)

Rachel called it the “longest 24 hours” of her life. She said the timing made it even more emotional, as it was her first Mother’s Day with her baby daughter, Hannah. “I’ve had Heidi since she was four when I adopted her from the Siberian Husky Welfare Association, and the fact she’s a rescue dog makes me care about her even more,” she said. “So until Hannah came along, Heidi was my baby. And now Hannah’s here, Heidi watches over her like she’s her protector. It’s like the two of them have got a [sic] bond together.” While Heidi still had follow-up tests ahead, she made a full recovery with no signs of brain damage.

White and Black Siberian Husky on Green Grass Field. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Julissa Helmuth)

Rachel further shared, "I was warned there was a high chance of possible brain damage to Heidi because her brain had been without oxygen — but luckily that’s not happened." She credited Susana’s quick actions for saving her dog’s life. “But the main thing is that she’s totally fine, and that’s because of Susana, who did such an amazing job bringing Heidi back to life," she said. "Thank you, Susana, if it wasn’t for you, Heidi wouldn’t be here today,” she further expressed. Susana added, “We’re so pleased Heidi has recovered totally from her ordeal. It was one of the most dramatic days of my career—and it’s not a day I’m going to forget in a hurry."