Exploratory laparotomy – foreign body Ernie was presented as an emergency, as he was vomiting blood. It was suspected that he had a foreign body. The term foreign body refers to any non-food object located within the digestive tract of a dog or cat. Pets have the tendency to play with or chew on non-food objects and, in the process of doing so, these objects can be inadvertently ingested. An…

Laser therapy Laser therapy involves directing infra-red radiation into inflamed or damaged tissues to accelerate the body’s natural healing process. The laser is placed in direct contact with the skin which enables light photons to penetrate the tissue. Laser helps to create an increased local blood supply, a reduction in inflammation and an increase in the speed of tissue repair. What are the benefits? There are many benefits to laser…

Achilles tendon Indi was presented to surgeons Dr Pierre Barreau and Dr Maria Bovis with hind limb lameness. Indi was diagnosed with having Achilles tendon weakness, which was causing the lameness. Surgery was recommended. During surgery, Pierre and Maria tightened the Achilles tendon by placing sutures, and then placed an external fixator to prevent movement of the tarsus. The external fixator will stay in place for 6-8 weeks and may…

Venereal Transmissible Tumour Dylan was presented to Medic Dr Azzurra Naso for treatment of a tumour in a difficult position. A FNA was taken of the tumour to confirm diagnosis of Venereal Transmissible Tumour! Dylan’s tumour can be treated with an injectable chemotherapy that is administered weekly. Dylan is very well behaved for his chemotherapy (as you can see!) and loves all the fuss he gets! His tumour has responded…

Intervertebral Disc Herniation Dolly was presented to Medic Dr Azzurra Naso with extreme pain. Dolly had paralysis and severe rigidity of all 4 limbs, suggesting a slipped disc in her neck. She was admitted for strong pain relief, stabilisation and a CT scan to find out what was causing her discomfort. The CT images showed Dolly had C3-C4 intervertebral disc herniation, which required immediate surgery. Surgeon Dr Pierre Barreau performed…

Luxating Patella Poppie was presented to surgeons Dr Pierre Barreau and Dr Maria Bovis for luxating patella surgery. The patella (kneecap) is a small bone that is positioned immediately above the tendon of insertion of the quadriceps muscle group onto the top of the tibia. The patella acts as a fulcrum during normal extension of the knee joint. It glides up and down within a groove that forms on the…

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) Maggie was presented to surgeon Dr Maria Bovis for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) surgery. This condition refers to the range of breathing problems brachycephalic breeds suffer with, mainly referring to comprised air movement through the upper airways. BOAS is the result of multiple factors affecting the dogs airflow in to the lungs. These problems can be caused by the following factors: – Stenotic nares…

Lymphoma Freddie is a regular visitor, he is under treatment with our medic Dr Kaye Gugich as he has canine Lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes and lymphatic system. This cancer may be localized to one particular region, or may spread throughout the entire body. Lymphoma is treated with chemotherapy. There are a variety of procedures used, but most consist of a variety of injections or tablets.…

Perineal herniation A perineal hernia is a condition seen in dogs and cats, in which the pelvic diaphragm becomes weakened. This results in displacement of pelvic and abdominal organs (rectum, prostate, bladder, or fat) into the region surrounding the anus. Surgery is required to fix the herniation. An epidural injection is performed for pain control during the procedure and immediate post op. An insicion is made over the hernia area,…

Oral abscess Murphy was presented to surgeons Dr Pierre Barreau and Dr Maria Bovis for pain when opening his mouth, that has been ongoing since July. He had puncture wounds seen in the mouth during previous examination by the referring vets. Examination of the oral cavity was performed under sedation. Swelling and a healed puncture wound was present on the right side of the mandible. Another healed wound on the…