A chocolate Labrador retriever who spent 27 days trapped in a well in southern Saskatchewan is heading home.

The seven-year-old dog, Bruno, was released from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon on Thursday after nearly 22 days in the college’s Veterinary Medical Centre.

“We’re so excited,” said Bruno’s owner, Cindy Billesberger, in a media release.

The dog, who was missing for nearly a month, was found Oct. 14 trapped in a well near the Billisberger’s Estevan-area farm.

He had lost half his body weight and was barely alive, and spent several days in the care of the family’s local veterinary clinic, Prairie Animal Health Centre, before Billesberger brought the dog to Saskatoon.

“You’ve got such a feeling of helplessness when you pull an animal out like that, and they’re suffering and there’s nothing you can do. There was no way we could take care of him,” Billesberger said.

Bruno, because he had spent so much time sitting in water and had attempted to claw his way out of the well, was suffering from wounds and sores on his paws when he was brought in to the veterinary centre at the University of Saskatchewan campus. He was also diagnosed with a condition known as refeeding syndrome, which occurs when an animal that hasn’t eaten for a long time is suddenly given food.

“When he came in, he was barely walking. He was miserable. The only time he would look at us is when we had food,” said Dr. Alison Khoo, a small animal internal medicine resident.

“Now he’s like a different dog. He loves going outside. He’s still very food-motivated, but he’s got a lot of energy back and he’s starting to show more of his personality.”

The dog was monitored 24 hours a day by clinicians in the veterinary centre’s intensive care unit. His paws were treated with cold laser therapy, and his electrolyte levels, which were affected because of refeeding syndrome, were constantly monitored and supplemented intravenously.

“We could do this because we have 24-hour technical support,” said Dr. Sue Taylor, an internal medicine specialist and professor who oversaw Bruno’s case alongside Khoo.

The veterinarians, alongside Dr. Tammy Owens who assisted in treating Bruno’s refeeding syndrome, plan to publish a case report documenting the dog’s recovery.

“I don’t think many dogs would have survived this,” said Khoo. “To continue to see him improve has been so rewarding.”