DocM Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 http://www.pawnation.com/2013/10/08/rescued-pit-bull-saves-4-year-old-boy-from-blood-sugar-crash/ After a Minneapolis family rescued him, it didn't take TaterTot the Pit Bull long to return the favor. According KSMP-TV, the dog detected a drop in his new owner's blood sugar only a week after arriving at his new home. Christi Smith adopted TaterTot from a local shelter and brought him home as a friend for her 4-year-old son, Peyton. Peyton and TaterTot bonded instantly, playing together from the moment the dog walked in the door. Their bond was proven when TaterTot detected something odd happening to Peyton less than a week after arriving at the Smith house. "He just seemed kind of weird," Smith recalled about Peyton's behavior. "He wasn't really coherent - deliriously tired." TaterTot somehow knew it wasn't just a passing sickness. The 10-month-old dog began jumping on and licking the boy when he wouldn't wake up. Concerned by the dog's unusual behavior, Smith checked on her son. "He kept on whining and barking and running between the two of us," Smith told KMSP. "I checked on him, and he was barely breathing." Peyton was rushed to the hospital where his blood sugar was found to be dangerously low. Doctors said that without immediate medical attention, Peyton could have been seriously injured. They are unsure what caused the drop in blood sugar, since Peyton tested negative for diabetes, but they were able to get the boy stabilized and healthy. Vets say that TaterTot might have detected ketones that Peyton was producing because of his low levels, or the dog might have sensed a change in the boy's electrical activity, similar to how dogs detect seizures. Either way, Smith is certain that TaterTot saved her son. She originally planned to only foster TaterTot until she could find him a loving home, but after the Pit Bull's heroic actions, he is staying with the Smiths for good. "I could have been one of those moms sitting there telling people how I lost my son," Smith said. Instead, she is a relieved mother and now the proud owner of a hero dog. Bryan R. and NeoTrunks 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fusi0n Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 awesome story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firey Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Epic Pet name is Epic. I kept laughing when I would read "TaterTot" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoffel Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Nice story, it's good to put pit bulls in the spotlight for something nice for a change! They are not the bloody killing machines people expect them to be. We have a pitbull here on the island called 'Brad Pittbull', that made me laugh so hard the first time I heard that one Kondrath 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted October 9, 2013 Member Share Posted October 9, 2013 Awesome story about an awesome dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blade1269 Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Epic Pet name is Epic. I kept laughing when I would read "TaterTot" +2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzdawg Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Nice story, it's good to put pit bulls in the spotlight for something nice for a change! They are not the bloody killing machines people expect them to be. We have a pitbull here on the island called 'Brad Pittbull', that made me laugh so hard the first time I heard that one agreed, they get a bad reputation because of bad owners. They are a strong and aggressive breed and this usually leads to them being the "pets" of many undesirables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kriz Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Awesome story, Pitbulls have such a bad reputation - I have never ever come across a mean or nasty one, love them :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 13, 2013 Author Share Posted October 13, 2013 I know one that's the biggest friggin' BABY you ever saw. Big male, looks vicious as hell, but he's a world-class face slobberer who loves his belly scratches. Downright pitiful ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francescob Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Plot twist: it just wanted to keep a snack for later. :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingCracker Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Pitbulls are loyal dogs, me and my uncle got into a little argument and things got a little loud and my pitbull started acting aggressive towards him. Afterwards every thing was cool. My pitbull is the nicest dog you'll meet until you threaten his master :p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insomniac9 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 When I first read the title my instant thought were that it was Pitbull the singer :blush: Great story and I love the name TaterTot. I think that name comes from a Ron White stand up show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User6060 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 so the mother did not notice the deteriorating health of her own child over a week...and the fact she didn't notice her child was almost unconscious or unable to wake up and that he was barely breathing before the dog noticed the child has been producing ketone bodies to use as fuel because the blood glucose had dropped so low. (this is usually done in a fasted state so the boy might not have been eating enough (feeding it to the dog) or had been in a state of starvation for days (how do you not notice) ....and the dog is the hero. maybe the news story isn't that the dog saved the boy but that the mother is unfit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 13, 2013 Author Share Posted October 13, 2013 The kid not being a known diabetic gives her some slack as many 4 y/o kids with a viral infection will appear down for the count for a few days. If anything she'll be an overprotective PITA from here on. The important thing is that it all worked out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiagosilva29 Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Co_Co, stop being rational. Look at the pretty puppy. Then again, I have a months-old daughter and I sort-of instantly know when something is wrong with her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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