A dog which nearly died from a rare blood disorder has been saved by pioneering hi-tech treatment.
Riley, a one-year-old Springer spaniel and border collie cross, was rushed to vets by his concerned owners after his temperature sky-rocketed, he became lethargic and he started shaking uncontrollably.
The pup was then taken to specialists in Edinburgh after staff suspected he was suffering from a highly aggressive form of anaemia.
Tests confirmed he had immune mediated haemolytic anaemia - a potentially fatal condition which leads to reduced oxygen supply to the brain and organs.
Riley's owners were urged by vets to consider a trailblazing procedure called therapeutic plasma exchange. The extremely complex process sees blood extracted and then piped through a purification machine before being pumped back into a patient.
Pooch Riley was brought back from the brink thanks to the treatment, and has made a full recovery six months late. Owner Lisa Gregory from Perth, Perth and Kinross, said: "He's really a very lucky dog - and he's brave too.
"He was so well behaved and tolerant of all the procedures. In the end, he didn't need sedating for the plasma exchange but did need a large cannula in his neck just in case of any issues.
"And the amazing thing is to look at Riley now, it's as if nothing ever happened. He's back to opening the treat cupboard with his nose."
Medics conducted several blood transfusions in a bid to salvage Riley's grave health, and he spent eight days in intensive care at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Hospital for Small Animals, part of the University of Edinburgh in March.
Despite aggressive immune suppressive treatment and nine blood transfusions Riley's condition continued to worsen.
It was thought the therapeutic plasma exchange was only available in London until Vets Now's 24-hour emergency hospital in Glasgow offered to do the plasma exchange.
Mum-of-two Lisa said: "We spoke with the Vets Now team on the phone and they were very honest with us.
"They explained that there were no guarantees whatsoever but they believed Riley had a chance of recovering if the plasma exchange was carried out.
"For Riley's sake we decided we had to give it a try. We've had him since he was tiny, he instantly became part of our family and we just couldn't imagine life without him. We collected him from Edinburgh and drove him across to Glasgow."
Emergency and critical care specialist vet Neus Elias, at Vets Now, carried out the ground-breaking treatment on Riley. And Lisa and husband Phil were astounded when Riley was ready to head home just five days later.
Neus said: "Therapeutic plasma exchange is a technique where a patient's blood is processed to separate the components of the cells from the plasma so as to remove the harmful components.
"This technique has only been used twice before in Scotland for this disease, and once before for a different disease. Over the course of six hours, we slowly processed three pints of Riley's blood.
"The watery portion of the blood was discarded, and Riley was then transfused with an equal volume of plasma products to replace this from healthy dog donors. The washed-out cells were then transfused back to him.
"We all remember Riley, he was such a loveable character and such a challenging case. We're just so delighted he's made such a great recovery.
"His case really does show that even in the bleakest of situations there can often be hope for your pet." Riley has just finished his final round of medication but still needs ongoing blood checks.
Lisa added: "Poor Riley had been so ill for so long that it seemed almost impossible to have him back to any kind of health. To see him walking out on his lead was a really emotional moment.
"Neus and the team at Vets Now were brilliant - they kept us informed at every stage. We're just very grateful to them and also to the all the staff at Tay Valley Vets in Perth and at the Dick Vet.
"Riley's had the most amazing care from everyone, and the Dick Vet even arranged a wee first birthday party for him to cheer him up."
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