Severely Burned Dog Recovering With The Help Of Hyperbaric Chamber

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A beagle mix named Lily was left fighting for her life after about 40 percent of her body was badly burned. But thanks of treatment in a hyperbaric chamber, Lily has come a long way.

After hours inside the hyperbaric chamber, where the air pressure is raised up to three times higher than normal air pressure, Dr. Ronald Lyman said that her healing process was just short of a miracle.

Lily was cared for at the Animal Emergency and Referral Center in Fort Pierce.

"I'm always amazed at what the chamber can do, but this oxygen chamber can make medicine a whole new thing," said Dr. Lyman.

Lily was surrendered to Miami-Dade Animal Services back in July and was rescued by the Miami group Paws4You.

What caused Lily's suffering still isn't clear.  Animal Services said she was surrendered by an owner who had taken her to a vet but couldn't afford to care for her.  That owner was cited for animal abuse/neglect and fined $500, according to Miami-Dade Animal Services.

Veterinarian Maria Oliveira, when Lily was first brought in, said the burns appeared to be a chemical burn.

Lily had to be on antibiotics and pain medication as doctors tried to not only heal the dog, but also prevent infection.

"I was appalled.  I had never seen something like this," said Dr. Oliveira. "The amount of tissue damage she has, the amount of tissue loss she has, the amount of necrotic tissue she has in her body is something I've never seen before."

Lily was treated for 3 months in Ft. Pierce.  She started out with treatments twice a day inside the hyperbaric chamber.  During her treatment, Lily had to wear t-shirts to protect her open wounds. She received T-shirt donations from people who heard about her and wanted to help.

Carol Caridad of Paws 4 You Rescue said, "We had T-shirts and toys being shipped from all over the U.S. South Florida really had their heart out for Lily."

Despite Lily's injuries, her tail rarely stopped wagging.

Lily will continue to wear the T-shirts and spend an hour a week in the chamber until her wounds completely heal.  She's currently staying with a foster family.

Caridad said, "It's sad to think about what she went through, but now all we have to look to is the future and her new forever home which we hope to place her in soon."

For more information about Lily, you can write info@paws4you.org or click here.