A Shepton Mallet mum has credited her family dog with helping raise the alarm before doctors discovered her baby's heart was beating at 280 beats a minute. Kim Reynolds, 41, said her Doberman Saraya became unusually clingy around Alexander and cried whenever he was taken away from her.

When Alexander later became upset and appeared unwell, Kim took him to Royal Bournemouth Hospital's emergency department. By the time they arrived, he had stopped crying and she wondered whether the trip had been necessary.

But doctors discovered his dangerously fast heartbeat and began treatment. After attempts to slow it with cold-water techniques, intravenous medication brought his heart rate down and he was transferred by ambulance to Poole Hospital.

Kim stayed with Alexander for two nights while doctors investigated. He was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and now takes propranolol three times a day to help control his heart rate.

The first-time mother, who previously worked as a canine hydrotherapist, believes Saraya's behaviour helped persuade her to seek medical attention. She told SWNS: "It certainly added to my concern and made us go in to get checked."

Saraya's behaviour worried Kim again on another occasion, when the dog stayed beside Alexander's bouncer, licking his hands and looking towards her. Kim checked him and sought medical help, with doctors diagnosing bacterial tonsillitis.

Saraya has not been trained to detect medical conditions and is not a registered assistance dog. But Kim says she now pays close attention when the Doberman behaves differently around her son, adding: "I 100% trust Saraya."

According to the NHS, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome can cause sudden episodes of a very fast heartbeat lasting from seconds to hours. It is not usually serious, although in rare cases it can cause a life-threatening heart rhythm.

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Kim and her sister Francine also took on a 100-mile fundraising challenge in October for Tiny Tickers. The charity helps improve the detection, care and treatment of babies with serious heart conditions and supports their families.

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