A COCKER spaniel has received life-saving surgery after swallowing a kebab skewer, making a full recovery.
The stick had passed through the dog’s digestive system and punctured the stomach wall and diaphragm, causing a leak and leaving Arthur, who belongs to Basingstoke resident Abigail Yates, in agony.
It took almost a week for Abigail to discover what was wrong with Arthur, after her usual vet diagnosed him with a sprained neck and sent her home with painkillers. When Arthur still wasn’t his usual self a few days later, Abigail sought a second opinion, and was immediately referred to Linnaeus-owned Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists (AMVS) in Winchester.
Once the skewer and resultant damage had been identified via a CT scan, specialist surgeon Catrina Pennington and her team were able to operate the same day.
Abigail has praised the treatment Arthur received at the award-winning hospital, especially Catrina.
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She said: “She was amazing from the moment we arrived. She was very calm, reassuring and informative but also very direct and realistic – exactly what you need in that situation!
“We couldn’t believe the extent of the surgery that was required. We were really worried. Obviously the delay in diagnosis had caused further complications but, thankfully, Arthur has now made a full recovery and is completely back to his usual self. We’re so grateful. I would definitely recommend Anderson Moores, and especially Catrina.”
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The surgeon herself emphasised that it was important to work quickly to prevent the skewer from causing further damage or an infection.
Catrina explained: “On examining Arthur, we could feel a firm swelling between his ribs on the left side which was consistent with the point of the skewer. He had a high temperature of 40.1 degrees, abdominal pain and blood tests revealed increased white blood cells – often a sign of infection/inflammation.”
It was clear to Catrina that Arthur needed immediate surgery, so assisted by surgical resident Juan Carlos, she made an incision along the middle of the abdomen which allowed her to retrieve the skewer. The puncture wound to the chest wall was made slightly wider, allowing the chest to be flushed before the stomach and diaphragm were repaired.
Arthur came round quickly after surgery and was able to go home two days later, fully recovered.
- This article was written by Flora Symington
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