Archive: Apr 2019

1. Sweet Peggy

   April 28, 2019

   This past month, the practice had a terrible week for emergencies. In only 3 days we had 6 emergencies; the majority were unfortunately hit by cars. However, out of this week came one particular patient that has warmed all of us at the clinic: meet Peggy!

   

   She arrived at 8 pm on a weekday in a lot of pain and severe shock from a car hit. The team kicked into gear and she was immediately placed on a drip with a combination of pain relief and muscle relaxants so we could examine the damage.

   

   Peggy stabilized over the evening and we were able to identify that there was one major concern: she had a very swollen right back leg that was very painful. We suspected she had a fracture.

   The next day, the care takers of Peggy and our team discussed a plan forward. We needed to know more information and agreed that an x-ray of the leg would provide us with exactly that. Here on the Galapagos, our diagnostic equipment is very limited so we found a local clinic where we could take Peggy for some imaging.

   

   Rightfully so, we found a very impressive femoral fracture. Poor girl!

   

   Without much surgical equipment to correct this fracture, we decided to anaesthetize Peggy and tried to manipulate the bone into the right position and then splinted the leg with a special type of bandage called a ‘Robert Jones’ Bandage.

   

   Every 5 days Peggy returned to get this large bandage changed, and after 3 weeks the fracture had stabilized and she was able to use it again.

   

   Peggy has a long way to go yet before the leg will work the way she needs it to, but the fact that she has made it this far is what our team are delighted in!

   

   

   Our clinic is able to treat animals such as Peggy due to your continued support. Consider contributing today!!

   Leave a Comment

2. Colorado’s Recovery

   April 24, 2019

   Meet Colorado, a bright and energetic 7 year old, who turned up at the practice as an emergency last month. He had been run over by a car that left the lower part of his back right leg mangled and completely broken. There was no way his leg could be saved.

   

   The owners wanted to do their best for him and we all decided together that amputating the limb gave him the best chance of a good quality of life. And so, with careful preparation, Colorado underwent surgery that same day.

   After 3 hours under anaesthetic, Colorado eventually woke up to find the whole team working around him to make sure he was calm and ready to acknowledge what had happened. The team were thrilled to see that even that evening he was looking to get up. After another day in practice he returned home, coming in for regular health and post-op checks.

   

   As was a risk that we anticipated, Colorado did develop a bed sore that started to ooze and become incredibly sore. With fantastic commitment from both the DAD team and the owners, who themselves nursed him at home, Colorado’s wounds have since healed up perfectly. He came in for his last check yesterday.

   Only 18 days after such a life changing operation, Colorado is now running around at home, playing with the other dogs, and all the wounds and sores have since healed.

   

   These particular cases are what the DAD team out here strive to achieve, and we are incredibly proud of how Colorado has faced his biggest challenge.

   If you enjoyed reading about Colorado’s Story, please consider making a small contribution to Darwin Animal Doctors. We are completing life-saving surgeries every day due to your continual support.

   Leave a Comment