A FAMILY pet is back on her paws thanks to the quick action of a Leicestershire veterinary team after she suffered a horrific injury when she ran into a hidden tree stump.
Maggie, a four-and-a-half-year-old Cocker Spaniel, is recovering after the freak accident in her own garden left her with a serious wound.
Maggie was playing in her owner’s garden when she bounded into a tree stump that had been hidden beneath the shrubbery for more than 20 years. The impact ripped open the skin on her right side, leaving a huge 15cm-wide, triangular-shaped flap.
Her owner rushed Maggie to the Broughton Astley clinic of Broughton Veterinary Group, where the team set about treating the unusual and challenging injury.
She was immediately given painkillers and fluids to stabilise her, because she’d gone into shock.
She was then anaesthetised, to allow vet Belinda McGrane to repair the wound, which she said is one of the biggest she’s seen during her veterinary career. She cleaned it thoroughly to reduce the risk of infection and removed any ragged edges before reattaching the skin flap.
Belinda said: “Maggie had suffered a significant wound which needed immediate attention. It was particularly challenging because it was important to make sure the blood supply to the flap of skin wasn’t compromised, or there was a risk it could die away. I sewed it back in place very carefully, and used internal sutures to anchor it, as well as external sutures to close the wound.
“We put a pressure bandage around Maggie’s middle to to help reduce the risk of swelling, and she came back to the practice for a check-up the following day. She then popped in routinely over the following weeks to ensure the wound was healing properly.
“We were delighted that the wound healed well without any complications and we were able to sign her off four weeks later. Her owner did a great job keeping her as calm as possible at home, as moving around too much could have delayed her recovery.
“Because Maggie was so brave, we decided she was a worthy winner of one of our special Braveheart Awards, which celebrate pets that have displayed courage or resilience. She came back into the practice to receive a certificate, a special Braveheart blanket and some treats.”
Owner Michelle England, who rehomed Maggie two years ago, said that her pet had been playing in the garden when the accident happened. Maggie chased her ball into the shrubbery, then a few seconds later came out of the bushes and stood very still.
As this seemed unusual behaviour for her usually lively pet, Michelle walked over to Maggie and was horrified to see the flap of skin.
Michelle said: “It was awful and so frightening because it looked like half her side was ripped away. I called Broughton Vets and they said to bring her in straight away. They were so lovely and Belinda the vet was really kind, telling me what she could do for Maggie, but explaining that with serious wounds there can be complications. They were wonderful and the repair Belinda did was phenomenal, and I can’t thank her and the team enough.
“The stump had been completely hidden in the bushes and even though I’ve lived here for around 20 years, I had no idea it was there. It was quite narrow, but it was about one foot high and the edges were very sharp. Since Maggie’s accident, we’ve cut it down to the floor, so there’s no risk of it hurting her again.”
Broughton Vets has surgeries in Lutterworth and Broughton Astley for small animals, and provides farm services through its sister practice Cross Counties Farm Vets. It benefits from state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated, experienced team members to deliver the best possible care to pets.
Article by Jo Browne, PR & Communications manager (South), email: [email protected]