Last week in Austintown, Ohio, a Doberman pinscher named Trooper suffered a severe reaction to anesthesia during a medical procedure at the Austintown Veterinary Clinic.
Trooper had visited the vet to be neutered when he unexpectedly experienced an “opioid emergency.”
The police were called, and Sergeant Rick John rushed to the scene with a dose of naloxone (also known as Narcan), a medication that reverses the effects of opioids. He administered the life-saving medication and quickly revived the dog. According to the police department, the naloxone worked within seconds.
Trooper’s owner, Colleen Bolha, didn’t know that naloxone could be used on animals. “But I’m so glad that they knew and they were able to react and do that,” she says.
The Austintown Veterinary Clinic doesn’t currently stock Narcan, but an employee has stated plans for them to start doing so.
Thanks to the swift efforts of the Austintown Police Department and Sgt. John, Trooper is going to be just fine!

Yes; a very big thank you!
OMG! Thank you for coming to Trooper’s rescue, you are a true hero!!
Thank you so much.
Thank you super for your knowledge of where to show these beautiful animals safe and in trouble. Your pictures are great and publicity will, I believe, help those animals in trouble.
Your knowledge and compassion is respected and Thank you.
The Galarneau family
Sergeant John, you are a true hero!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HUGE HEART IN SAVING THIS BEAUTIFUL DOG. YOU ARE A TRUE MAN AND HERO.
Well Done Officer, and bless your heart for swift thinking and love of animals, our friends.
Well done, Rick. Great work!
Good on you Rick. What a man. There are still people that’s willing to help animals.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WHERE YOU COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THIS DOG. BRAVO!
THAK YOU FOR SUCH QUICK THINK AND A GREAT RESCUE, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU OFFICER.
Bless you Sergeant Rick John. You sir are my hero.
Giant Breed dogs have special anesthesia needs and it takes them a long time to go under the influence of the pre-op medications & often times the clinic gives them more. Then when they go under they are way down for a really long time. Giant Breeds are very sensitive to the medications but lots of clinics don’t know any better & it’s a recipe for disaster. And, clinics needs to be well stocked for emergency situations.
First of all it is not uncommon for small traces of this drug to be in the med used to anesthetize an animal but like I said Small doses next All vet clinics Should have the meds given to reverse the anesthesia! So my question is how did they screw up the amounts of this drug and/or 2 why did they Not have the med in office to reverse it? I’m so glad my vets aren’t complete Idiots like some such as these I read about! So glad Trooper is gonna be Ok!
Fucking drugs!!!