The Dachshund Doc

The workday was long and busy.  He was exhausted and happy to be home with his family...until he got the call.

John Simmons is a veterinarian by profession with specialty in canine health.  He brings his trusted pup, Murphy, with him to work every day.  The staff loves little Murphy and all of the dog patients take to him.  Murphy is a purebred Dachshund and is called Murphy, the Dachshund Doc at Paw Five Hospital.  He feels rather important with this title.

Murphy has an unusual instinct when he meets the dog patients.  In fact, his human dad - John - and all of the hospital staff rely on his sixth sense nature, if you will, with difficult cases.

You see, Murphy was born with a medical condition that caused his little body to swell from a low thyroid.  He was not expected to survive after birth because his infant body was so unnaturally large, putting dangerous pressure on his heart and lungs especially.  He was kept in the hospital for observation and treatment.  When he responded to the treatment the very best way he could, he became available for adoption.  His forever home was none other than that of the doctor who saved him - John Simmons.  He takes medication every day now and enjoys his required long, brisk walks with John daily to keep his illness under control.  Six years later, he has a good bill of health.

Murphy's unusual instinct is based on his own health.  From dog to dog, he can tell just how unwell a patient is before John examines the patient.  Murphy will play with a dog just in for an annual visit.  Murphy will lend a paw to a dog with a simple cold.  Murphy will bark when he senses distress.  These are the difficult cases.

And then the call.

"Hi, Dr. Simmons.  We have an emergency case that just arrived.  The patient is a ten-year-old female German Shepherd with suspected signs of cancer.  She is crying profusely and appears to be in a great deal of pain.  Please come in a.s.a.p."

"I'll be there soon."

John quickly grabbed his wallet and keys.

"Murphy, come on.  We have an emergency!"

Murphy barked in agreement and raced his dad to the car.

When they arrived, John went into emergency room-type mode.

The vet assistant walked the patient to an exam room where John and Murphy were waiting.

The assistant and John lifted the German Shepherd onto the table.

"What is her name, Lacey?"

"Godiva."

"Hi, Godiva.  My name is Dr. Simmons and this is my doggie assistant, Murphy.  He and I are going to take excellent care of you, okay?"

Godiva whimpered in pain.

Murphy pressed his little Dachshund body against Godiva's large German Shepherd body in reassurance that she would be okay.

After several hours of examination, testing, and pain control, John halted his efforts.  There was nothing else he could do...but Murphy never barked.  He knew what John didn't.

Godiva would be okay.  Yes, she had cancer.  Yes, she too would be on medication.  Yes, she would be a frequent patient for observation and testing.  But she would be okay because Murphy's instinct just knew.  He did not want her to be a lost cause the way John thought he might have been so long ago.

When Murphy reached out his paw to touch John, John then knew as well.  He went into the waiting room to talk with Godiva's family and they cried in great relief.

"Thank you, Dr. Simmons.  Thank you so, so much."

"You are more than welcome.  You can come on back if you want."

Yes, they did.  When they entered the exam room, they saw Murphy still close to Godiva.

"Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, I would like to introduce to my dog, Murphy.  He is adored by the hospital staff and the patients.  We suspect he has a sixth sense with sick dogs because he tends to bark when there is an emergency.  We lovingly call him the Dachshund Doc.  Interestingly, he never barked when I was working with Godiva.  I truly think he knew she would be okay."

In slowing tears, both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas thanked Murphy for somehow saving their girl.

The Dachshund Doc