Rescue Dog Spends Days in Hospital After Eating Rabies Vaccine Baits Found in Yard (Exclusive)

Scout is on the mend after an unusual health scare.

According to Nancy Golio Brodeur and Brian Brodeur, the owners of Scout, a 6-year-old beagle mix, found several AA battery-sized gold packets on the lawn of their fenced backyard in Jefferson Hills, Penn., on Sept. 3.

Unsure what they were, the couple looked up the text on the packets and discovered the small rectangles were rabies vaccine baits meant to be ingested by wildlife, particularly raccoons, to prevent the spread of rabies.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Wildlife Services, in conjunction with state and local agencies, including the Allegheny County Health Department, conduct rabies vaccine baiting targeting the raccoon population. As a part of this program, the agencies air-drop vaccine baits from low-altitude helicopters. Some of the baits were air-dropped into our fenced-in backyard,” Nancy tells PEOPLE via email about the discovery.

Nancy adds that her family didn’t know that the community was dropping the rabies baits, and didn’t receive any mailers about the drop. What concerned her most about the baits she found in her yard was the presence of canine bite marks on several of the packets.

“Scout was able to consume an unknown number of baits. We became aware when we found one of the chewed-up baits on our deck,” Nancy explains.

But her research on the baits quelled her concerns, as resources, including the Allegheny County government website, noted that the baits were “safe in many different species of animals, including domestic dogs and cats.”

“Eating a large number of baits may cause a temporary upset stomach in your pet, but it does not pose a long-term health risk. Do not attempt to remove a bait from your pet’s mouth; doing so may cause you to be bitten and could lead to vaccine exposure. If your pet becomes ill from bait consumption, please contact your veterinarian for more information,” the Allegheny County website says of how to handle pet ingestion of a rabies vaccine bait.

The website also notes that any baits found in an open area “where contact by pets or children is possible” should be thrown into deeper cover by an adult wearing gloves.

The Allegheny County Health Department declined PEOPLE’s request for comment. PEOPLE also requested comment from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, but has yet to recieve a response.

Appeased by the information they learned about the rabies vaccine baits online, the Brodeurs didn’t start to become concerned about Scout chewing on the baits until later in the evening.

“Scout didn’t show any symptoms for a few hours after we noticed the chewed-up bait on our deck. Shortly after, her symptoms included heaving and vomiting. The vomit was clear and a little foamy, and was less viscous than typical–almost like a watered-down gel,” Nancy shares.

With none of the other animals in their home exhibiting similar symptoms, the Brodeurs feared that Scout’s vomiting was connected to the rabies vaccine baits.

“At first, we just thought that the vomiting was an extension of the upset stomach, but the heaving and the vomiting continued. We decided to take her to the emergency vet after she vomited immediately after drinking some water,” Nancy says.

At the emergency vet, Scout had normal vitals, and the professional at first thought that the dog was suffering from only an upset stomach caused by the baits.

Scout stayed at the vet for observation, coughing and vomiting throughout the period, and had her vitals rechecked several hours later.

At that point, Scout’s oxygen level was low, so they kept her in an oxygen cage,” Nancy explains. Another check by the vet revealed that the dog had aspirated some of her vomit and was now battling a lung infection and pneumonia because of it.

The emergency vet admitted Scout to the animal hospital, where the rescue dog received oxygen, along with fluids, strong antibiotics, and an IV. Scout spent several days at the hospital receiving treatment, which she responded well to. She was released back home on Sept. 6, where she continued to take medication for several days.

It’s heartwarming to see Scout on the mend, especially because she is such a “pathetically sweet girl.”

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“We adopted Scout from Paws Across Pittsburgh Animal Rescue in September of 2019,” Nancy says. “She is the most pathetically sweet girl you will ever meet. She loves cuddles and kisses, and just being around her family. Her favorite hobby is guilt tripping you into petting her when you’re doing anything else.”

The owner adds that today, Scout is “getting close to her normal self.”

In response to Scout’s emergency, her family contacted the agencies involved in the ongoing rabies vaccine bait drops in her community.

Nancy says that the officials she spoke with at the Allegheny County Health Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Wildlife Services, like her veterinarians, were surprised to hear about such a severe reaction to the baits, but were understanding.

According to Nancy, a representative with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Wildlife Services, “confirmed these baits aren’t supposed to be dropped in backyards and was very apologetic for what we were going through.”

After enduring this ordeal, Scout and her family are sharing their story in hopes of protecting other pet parents and animals from a similar incident.

“Our situation is very unique, and hopefully, no other families have to go through. While these vaccine baits are generally safe, relatively mild side effects can sometimes lead to more serious issues. When dealing with your pet, always err on the side of caution and seek medical attention as soon as you notice something is wrong with your pet,” Nancy says about what she learned from Scout’s scare.