Dog Wakes Up from Life-Saving Surgery, Tears over Reunion with Owner
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A dog waking up from emergency surgery and immediately giving his owner kisses and cuddles has left the internet fighting back tears.
After going out for a walk with his owners, Zeus the pit bull suddenly became sick and could barely move. It was a terrifying experience for his owner Liliana Mejia, 22, who noticed how scared he looked.
Zeus was breathing heavily and his eyes were wide. Before long, his back legs stopped moving, as Mejia of Austin, Texas, told Newsweek that it seemed like his "body was giving out beneath him."
Mejia and her fiancé got Zeus home safely and tried to ease his pain.
"His stomach looked painfully bloated and he couldn't lie down without being in discomfort," Mejia said. "Every time he did, he'd let out this heartbreaking grunt before getting up to pace. We offered him his favorite treat, but he didn't even look at it. That's when we knew something was seriously wrong."
Zeus the pit bull after waking up from emergency surgery to treat bloat.
Zeus the pit bull after waking up from emergency surgery to treat bloat.
@lilimejia21 / TikTok
Whenever Mejia moved, Zeus would follow her and stare at her directly. She felt as though he was warning her that something was wrong. It was heartbreaking for Mejia, who said she could "feel his fear and pain" in that moment.
Zeus was rushed to the vet where he was diagnosed with Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), otherwise known as bloat. He was taken for an emergency gastropexy to prevent the stomach from twisting.
GDV is a life-threatening condition in which the stomach becomes dilated with gas and/or fluid, and it becomes twisted. This prevents the gas or fluid from escaping, causing rising pressure in the stomach, while also decreasing blood flow to the stomach tissues.
"This was an incredibly emotional moment. We were faced with the heartbreaking possibility that we might have to say goodbye, as GDV can rapidly become fatal. We didn't fully understand the complexity of this surgery, so our hearts felt shattered, filled with fear and uncertainty about the outcome for our beloved boy," Mejia said.
Fortunately, Zeus pulled through and was reunited with his owners after waking up from surgery. Although he was groggy and weak, Zeus made sure to shower his owners with love and affection as soon as he awoke.
For Mejia, that was a heartwarming reminder that she is Zeus's entire world, and they have such an extraordinary connection.
"Even though he was barely aware of his surroundings because of all the medication, he still recognized us—and that was incredibly moving. Being there with him in that moment, offering comfort and love, felt like the most precious gift we could give."
Mejia was able to visit Zeus on multiple occasions before he was discharged from hospital. For every moment of those visits, she said his "affection never faded."
She captured an adorable clip showing just how loving he was with her following his surgery and shared it on TikTok (@lilimejia21). The clip has melted plenty of hearts online, leading to more than 1 million views and over 255,900 likes at the time of writing.
Zeus is back home now and recovering gradually. He's still taking medication and will need to have his stitches removed in the coming days, but he's acting more like himself.
For Mejia, she'll never forget how trusting he was immediately after surgery.
"Despite the pain and the fog of medication clouding his mind, he kept showing his love in every gesture. Even in his most vulnerable state, he found the strength to reach out and remind me that our connection is unbreakable," she told Newsweek.
"Sharing his journey felt important—not just to connect with others, but to raise awareness about how quickly GDV can strike. I am forever thankful for all the kind words from everyone. I firmly believe that without all the prayers and positive thoughts, his outcome might have been very different," Mejia continued.
Social media users have been incredibly moved by the video of Zeus after waking up from surgery, leading to more than 3,300 comments on the post so far.
One comment reads: "The way he's staring at you and smiling in the beginning."
Another person wrote: "He looks so happy to have you there with him."
While another TikTok user replied: "So happy to see this. Feel better Zeus."
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