The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:
On 10-19-20 at approximately 9:30 AM, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office K9 Ruddick and his handler were off duty.
The handler noticed K9 Ruddick was having breathing difficulty and decided to immediately seek medical examination.
Yokayo Veterinary Center staff was able to detect fluid in K9 Ruddick’s lungs and referred the handler to VCA PetCare East Veterinary Hospital in Santa Rosa for emergency care.
The handler rushed K9 Ruddick to the VCA Petcare East Veterinary Hospital where he underwent treatment to stabilize him for surgery, which was performed on 10-29-20.
Doctors were able to locate a foreign substance in K9 Ruddick’s lung which was believed to be a foxtail (grass). The damaged lung was surgically repaired.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the staff at VCA PetCare Veterinary Hospital for their warm caring personalities and high level of professionalism.
K9 Ruddick is in recovery at this time and hopefully can return home to his handler in the coming days.
Sheriff Matthew C. Kendall would like to thank those community members/groups who support the Sheriff’s Office K9 Program.
