An Israeli special forces Alsatian dog blown up by a Hamas grenade is back on his feet after becoming the first dog in the world to undergo oxygen therapy.
Mikey was just weeks away from retirement when she was attacked by a terrorist in Gaza, leaving her with catastrophic injuries to her face, body and legs.
The explosives specialist from the elite canine unit Oketz was evacuated to Israel on November 12 and veterinarians fought for two weeks to save her.
But despite the operation to remove shrapnel from her eyes, ears, legs, stomach and head, the outlook was grim.
Explosive residue in her brain meant the nine-year-old may never walk again – and vets feared for her life.
With no other choice, Mikey's superiors insisted that she receive the best possible treatment and called Professor Shai Efrati at his world-leading hyperbaric medicine and research facility near Tel Aviv.
Mikey was just weeks away from retirement when she was attacked by a terrorist in Gaza, leaving her with catastrophic injuries to her face, body and legs
Mikey receives two-hour bursts of 100 percent oxygen six times a week through a face mask in a chamber that doubles atmospheric pressure
Pictured: Mikey is helped out of the chamber by technician Bari Tamam
Incredibly, the Alsatian is feeling much better after just a few weeks of treatment in the Shamir Medical Center department
While Mikey's recovery has been remarkable, she still has a long way to go given the extent of her injuries
Incredibly, the Alsatian is back on her feet after just a few weeks of treatment in the Shamir Medical Center department.
“This is even better than we thought,” Professor Efrati told the Chron. “The results are so amazing that it’s like fast forward in terms of how people respond to treatment.”
“Every session she gets is the equivalent of five human sessions.” “It’s amazing progress she’s made.”
Since she was a puppy, Mikey had served in the Israel Defense Forces' Oketz Unit and Special Independent Canine Unit.
They are dogs specialized in attacking, detecting or detecting enemy ammunition.
Mikey was an explosives detonator dog sent to search buildings for traps before Israeli forces invaded.
She was working with her handler to eradicate Hamas deep in the Gaza Strip when a terrorist threw a grenade that exploded in her face.
Mikey was an explosives detonator dog sent to search buildings for traps before Israeli forces invaded
Incredibly, the Alsatian is feeling much better after just a few weeks of treatment in the Shamir Medical Center department
Professor Shai Efrati with Mikey in her car, ready to leave after treatment
Professor Shai Efrati with Mikey in her car, ready to leave after treatment
Incredibly, the Alsatian is back on her feet after just a few weeks of treatment in the Shamir Medical Center department
Mikey is helped out of the chamber by technician Bari Tamam
Mikey receives two-hour bursts of 100 percent oxygen six times a week through a face mask in a chamber that doubles atmospheric pressure
Mikey receives two-hour bursts of 100 percent oxygen six times a week through a face mask in a chamber that doubles atmospheric pressure.
While Professor Efrati pioneered the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat blast wounds in soldiers, he hesitated when asked to use it on an animal.
“I told them I don’t treat dogs,” he said. “They explained to me that it was a special dog that was injured in Gaza while serving Israel.” I said, OK, now let's listen.
“We want to give Mikey the best care we can offer any soldier who is injured on the battlefield.”
“That's who we are in Israel, we want to give our soldiers the best.” And Mikey, she's one of our soldiers.'
During hyperbaric therapy, the blood is flooded with oxygen under pressure, so that the oxygen content increases from 100 mg per 100 ml to 1,600 mg per 100 ml.
Oxygen bypasses damaged blood vessels to stimulate stem cell growth.
Mikey receives two-hour bursts of 100 percent oxygen six times a week through a face mask in a chamber that doubles atmospheric pressure.
Incredibly, the Alsatian is back on her feet after just a few weeks of treatment in the Shamir Medical Center department
Professor Shai Efrati and veterinarian with Mikey after her treatment
While Mikey's recovery has been remarkable, she still has a long way to go given the extent of her injuries
Mikey in her cart ready to leave after treatment
Professor Shai Efrati, technician Bari Tamam and the veterinarian who transported Mikey in his car leave the hospital after treatment
Pictured: Professor Shai Efrati checks Mikey during treatment
Mikey receives two-hour bursts of 100 percent oxygen six times a week through a face mask in a chamber that doubles atmospheric pressure
While Professor Efrati (pictured) pioneered the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat blast wounds in soldiers, he hesitated when asked to use it on an animal
Although the treatment was a success, Professor Efrati said there were challenges.
“We need collaboration,” he jokes. “If she keeps a dog in the chamber for two hours, she wants to play, she wants to move, she wants to react.”
“When we started treatment she was unconscious so treatment was easy. Now she wants to move – but that’s not a big deal, so we’re treating her.”
While Mikey's recovery has been remarkable, she still has a long way to go given the extent of her injuries.
But Professor Efrati is excited to see where another two months of treatment will take her. “When she came in there was a real threat to her life.
“She's better now than we ever thought possible. “It's just amazing to see.”
However, there is a major problem in their treatment. “Based on these results, I don’t think this is the last time I’ll be asked to treat a dog,” he said.