Abandoned dog Mia gets a second chance thanks to rescue team’s loving care

An emaciated dog found roaming in fields has been given a second chance by Manchester Dogs’ Home, with specialist heart tests bringing welcome news after eight weeks of care.

Mia, a Dogue de Bordeaux thought to be three or four years old, arrived at the rescue desperately underweight and believed to have been abandoned. 
 
Two vets at the home detected a heart murmur, prompting further investigation as staff worked to help her regain weight. 
 
Registered veterinary nurse Rachel Bean from Oldham, who works at Manchester Dogs’ Home, played a key role in arranging a full cardiac assessment through Cheshire Cardiology, which offered the examination at a heavily discounted rate. 
 
Now, following eight weeks of feeding and care, Mia has reached a healthy weight. Her cardiac assessment found that her heart is healthy, giving the team renewed hope for her future. 
 
Rachel said: “Mia came to us terribly thin and it was heartbreaking to think of her out there alone. Seeing her reach a healthy weight and getting such reassuring news about her heart has been wonderful. 
 
“She deserved the chance to recover and everyone involved has helped give her that chance. That is what makes this work so special: knowing that a dog who arrived in such a vulnerable state can have a brighter future. 
 
“I’m so grateful for our team at Manchester Dogs’ Home and to Cheshire Cardiology for helping us get the answers Mia needed. We can now look forward to her next chapter, and hopefully a loving home where she will be safe and cherished.” 
 
Mia’s recovery highlights the veterinary investigation, sustained care and collaboration needed to help vulnerable dogs back to health. 
 
Cheshire Cardiology’s discounted assessment enabled the team to investigate the murmur thoroughly and make informed decisions about her care. 
 
For Rachel, who lives in Oldham, the case also reflects the practical nursing work that underpins her international teaching career. 
 
A qualified registered veterinary nurse and the UK’s leading canine first aid teacher, she combines her work at Manchester Dogs’ Home with travelling across Britain and around the world to teach owners and animal professionals how to respond when a dog needs urgent help. 
 
She wrote the canine first aid qualification she teaches, the only Ofqual-regulated qualification in the subject. 
 
Her involvement in Mia’s care brought that experience back to the rescue, helping coordinate the specialist work-up that offered reassurance about the dog’s future. 
 
Mia still needs time to recover from her procedure before the next stage of her rehabilitation. But the once-emaciated stray is now a healthy weight.  
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