News & Events
Posted 7th April 2012
Agnes, 12week Labrador puppy, unable to swallow food, survives open chest surgery and now looking for a home
Puppy born with aorta wrapping round oesophagus, stopping her swallowing any food; adopted by charity practice and nursed until open chest surgery at referral hospital succeed in releasing entrapment; Agnes can now finally swallow normal food and is already thriving.
Agnes, a very cute black Labrador puppy, was not yet 6weeks old when she was brought into the Cornwall Animal Hospital in Redruth because she was unable to swallow food. Staff at the hospital adopted Agnes and nursed her with liquid feeds. Agnes's character soon shone through; nurse Vicky Webber cared for her at home and she became part of the family. Vicky said "Agnes was only able to swallow tiny amounts of liquid at a time, otherwise it would come back up. Tests at our clinic suggested she had been born with an abnormal blood vessel in her chest that was trapping her oesophagus, meaning food pooled in her neck and couldn't get through to her stomach. While being small and skinny didn't hold her back from playing with my Golden retriever Seth, she was terribly weak and very sickly".
Vet Kate Hickmott made contact with local referral surgeon Colin Whiting of A30Referrals in St Columb Major. Colin had performed surgery to correct this rare abnormality once before, and he agreed to take on Agnes. Costs of treatment were absorbed by both clinics, and the Cornwall Animal Hospital team embarked on fundraising events to cover the costs of Agnes's medication.
A first surgery was only partially successful - constrictions were released, allowing a small tube to pass through to the stomach, but a camera scan afterwards revealed there was still some narrowing. Agnes went on medication to calm her gut lining, and began to hold more food down. However, two weeks later another camera scan by vet James Christie revealed Agnes needed further help.
On Thursday, Colin operated again lower down Agnes's chest. This time more tissue was released, until a large open vessel wrapped round the oesophagus was revealed. Colin said 'Normally this vessel is a small fibrous remnant that can be released. In this case, however, it had a large part of the aorta blood flow pulsing through it, and in a tiny pup like Agnes, trauma to the vessel would have led to rapidly fatal overwhelming blood loss. The vessel was dissected free and ligatures secured before division without haemorrhage, and after a further release of more fibrous tissue there was finally a moment when James's camera tip could advance through to the stomach, and as we watched the light move on through there were cheers in the operating theatre."
Agnes made a swift recovery from her anaethetic, and that afternoon the moment came to test her with proper food...and boy, was Agnes hungry! She wolfed down some special diet food, and it not only stayed down, you could see her stomach filling in her thin little tummy....and she was coming back for more.
The following day she was ready to go home- having munched her way pretty constantly through the night and morning!- and she returned to Vicky's care ...with Seth delighted to have his little buddy back. Vicky said "Agnes got a very nice welcome back from Seth, he gave her a sniff over and gave her face a wash, while she tried nibbling his lips, I think its fair to say he missed her! since Friday (when Agnes came back after her operation) she has eaten her way through 3 whole tins of sensitivity and a couple of spoons of another tin!! And no regurg itation- she's kept it all down.
This morning Agnes had a wonder around the garden in the sun and then sunbathed in the doorway keeping an eye on the garden and Seth, then this afternoon she went for a carry around the woods and stayed awake the whole way around (she did say hello to some people that stopped and made a fuss of her). Now this evening she is one tired puppy, she had a quick chew of her toys and is now in bed fast asleep recharging her batteries".
Agnes will be keeping a little quiet over the next couple of weeks, recuperating from her surgery...but it sounds as though there will be much mischief ahead for the little pup who has made so many friends, and who just won't give up on life!
Please click on the following link for a newpaper article on this case.
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Puppy-wins-remarkable-reprieve/story-15725925-detail/story.html
Posted 31st March 2012
Becky Lock is one of our veterinary nurses at our Pool surgery. She recently undertook a parachute jump in aid of the British Hen Welfare Trust. We have posted some photos of her during her jump.
We have asked Becky for her comments about the jump. Here is what she had to say.
On the 25th of march this year I decided to do a tandem skydive from 15000ft to help raise money for the British Hen Welfare Trust.
I chose this charity as I have my own ex bat hens and I strongly believe in what they do for both our hens and farmers. They do a fantastic job and need all the support they can get. Here's what they do in an eggshell! X
"Each year they save approx 60.000 commercial hens from slaughter and find them caring pet homes so they can enjoy a free range retirement."
"They educate consumers about the caged eggs hidden in processed foods like pasta, quiche, cakes and mayonnaise, so we can make an informed choice when shopping."
"They lobby MP's and MEP's to support British farmers and protect them from cheap imports where we have no control over welfare."
"They actively promote our Great British Free Range Farmer, there's a lot of happy hens free ranging the UK countryside because of farmers investment."
"Their ultimate aim is to see consumers and food manufacturers buying only UK produced free range eggs, resulting in a strong British egg industry where all commercial laying hens enjoy a good quality life."
As of the 1st of January 2012 all battery cages have been banned in the UK and our hens are now kept in enriched cages designed to hold up to 90 birds and gives the hens more freedoms such as: a nesting area, potential to roost, a small area to scratch and more freedom of movement.
I have currently raised £150.00 but there is still money coming in.......
The jump was amazing, fantastic, brilliant I was grinning for days afterward and yep I will be doing another one.
I would like to say huge thank you to all of you who have sponsored me and helped raise this money for such fab charity. x
Posted 28th October 2011
Fear of fireworks- click HERE for more information
Posted 3rd September 2011
Dog walks again after 50 foot fall from Padstow hotel balcony
Spinal fracture operated on in StColumb Major hospital
Stanley, an 11month old Dandie Dinmont terrier, plunged 50feet from a hotel balcony in Padstow. A bush broke his fall; he was found in a state of extreme shock and rushed to the Veterinary Surgery in Wadebridge for emergency treatment. As he stabilised, paralysis of his back legs became evident and he was transferred to surgeon Colin Whiting of A30Referrals at Penmellyn Veterinary Hospital, St Columb Major.
Tests showed a compression fracture of Stanley's back and a new metal plate fixation system was used to fuse three of his vertebrae together in a 2hour operation.The vets and nurses at Penmellyn were astonished to see Stanley walking again just three hours after recovering from his anaesthetic- spinal recoveries can typically take days to weeks. Stanley's owners visited him the next morning and were delighted to see a wag back in his tail, and BBC cameras came to feature his amazing survival story on Friday evenings Spotlight programme.
Colin Whiting said 'Mr and Mrs Cullumbine were full of praise for the hotel staff who assisted them to find Stanley, and to the vets and nurses in Wadebridge who basically saved his life. The locking plate system used in his surgery rigidly stabilises the fractured region and shortens surgical time considerably. His recovery following the spinal fusion is exceptional and we'll be delighted to see him toddling back home this weekend'.
The following is a link to the BBC article about the story above http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-14769204
Posted 3rd September 2011
HFT Wadebridge visit Penmellyn Vet Hospital
Throughout National Pet Microchip Month in June, Penmellyn Veterinary Group pledged £10 for every pet microchip placed to HFT, a charity supporting adults with learning difficulties with a centre in Wadebridge. Microchipping is a fantastic method of ensuring that if your pet should stray, get lost or injured that they can be returned safely to their owners. Throughout June sixty pets were presented for microchipping - more than double the average monthly number - and so Penmellyn have made a £600 donation to HFT.
On Sunday, 20 members and helpers from the HFT centre in Wadebridge came for a practice visit. Staff brought in pets ranging including guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, cats, dogs and ponies; and we enjoyed some time interacting with them in groups before a little tour of the pet and equine hospital including the stables where several well-behaved horses ( and a young foal) completed the experience.
Several of the members related their own animal-related stories, either of their own pets or of time spent volunteering in kennels or farms, and we hope that this event will become a regular part of Penmellyn's community involvement programme. This year staff were involved in a £10,000 fund raising lecture event for vets and nurses in the South-West for Precious Lives; and the practice has begun its association with HFT; and we will be expanding our hospital tours for young children following the fun visit from Wadebridge Rainbows last month- if your primary school would like to be involved, please contact us on admin@penmellyn.co.uk
Posted 10th August 2011
New Penmellyn Surgery to be opened in Pool
We are please to announce that we will be opening a new surgery in Pool on the 1st September 2011. This surgery will offer consultations and medical and surgical procedures. It will be run by Jason Holt, one of our veterinary surgeons with the assistance of Becky Locke, one of our deputy head nurses. Further details will be posted on our website over the next few weeks.
Jason Holt and Becky Lock
Posted 10th August 2011
Information regarding the closure of the St Merryn Surgery
After many years of serving the local community in the St. Merryn/ Padstow area we as partners of Penmellyn Veterinary Group came to the sad conclusion that we can no longer provide the standard of care that clients would rightfully expect these days from our very limited facilities in St. Merryn.
With a heavy heart, and after long deliberations, we have decided to close down the St. Merryn Branch at end of opening hours on 26th August 2011.
We want to thank you our St. Merryn clients for their support, loyalty and trust over the years. As a token of appreciation we will send out discount vouchers to all our clients in St. Merryn for use at our St. Columb Major and Newquay surgeries.
From our purpose built Hospital in St. Columb Major or our well equipped clinic in Newquay we aim to serve you to the highest possible standards in the future.
St. Merryn clients are already automatically registered with Penmellyn Veterinary Group in St. Columb Major and Newquay and we are looking forward to welcoming them at either facility.
All consultations remain by appointment and our receptionists will aim to book consultations with the veterinary surgeon of your choice if possible.
Thank you again for supporting us through the years. We also want to apologise for any inconvenience our decision might cause.
We are looking forward to welcoming our St Merryn clients at St. Columb Major or Newquay.
Posted 8th June 2011
Wadebridge Rainbows tour Penmellyn Vet Hospital
Fourteen primary schoolgirls from Wadebridge Rainbows brought their cuddly toys for an evening tour around our pet and equine hospital last month.
There were smiles all round as they had a short presentation on how to become a vet, and a guide to performing a check-up on their toys. The girls filled in vaccination cards and all tried out listening to their hearts with stethoscopes, before starting their tour by pretending Bob the dog was poorly and seeing all the areas of the hospital he would visit to make him better.
In the lab they saw blood testing machines print out results, and could point out highs and lows. They saw the separate dog, cat and small pet hospital and saw how kennels are prepared for different animals. In the prep area they saw an ultrasound scan of an arm, with Doppler scan showing blood pumping through veins and arteries flashing red and blue on the screen. The xray suite was seen through the leaded window before it was time for Bob's operation. They saw an anaesthetic machine blowing oxygen through its pipes before one little girl volunteered to be the surgeon, dressing in scrubs, gown, hat and mask before donning surgical gloves.
With Bob restored to full health and tucked under an arm, the tour continued through to the equine hospital and the girls saw the padded stable for safe anaesthetics and winch used to transfer to the huge padded theatre table. A walk through the stable unit rounded off the tour, and after seeing a row of horses curiously nosing over the front of their stables the girls each quietly stepped up onto a straw bale to glimpse a little calf.
An hour had passed all too quickly and Mums came to collect some bright eyed and hopefully inspired young ladies. Penmellyn veterinary Group are committed to a community involvement programme, and welcome approaches from young children's groups and primary schools for organising similar tours. Please contact admin@penmellyn.co.uk if you would like to arrange a hospital tour for your group.
Posted 1st June 2011
Vets unite to raise a phenomenal £10,000 for Precious Lives
Over two hundred vets and veterinary nurses from practices around Cornwall and the South West gathered at Kingsley Village, Fraddon, in February to learn from experts in their field and help a local cause.
Organised by local vet Colin Whiting and Duchy College staff, the event raised an incredible £10,000 for the Precious Lives Appeal.
"We had speakers flying down from Glasgow University and driving from Lincolnshire to join other local experts in their field, volunteering their time to present entertaining and informative lectures that will all serve to further the veterinary care of pets in the South West. This is an event that we can be genuinely proud of, raising a terrific amount of money for a fantastic cause." Said Colin Whiting.
"As the event grew in size and scope, Helen Harris's organisation and planning, with the support of Carole Knight and colleagues at Duchy College, has been a truly outstanding effort and the success of the event rests firmly on her shoulders. We hope this will become an annual event, supporting a local charity each year."
Children's Hospice South West is the only organisation in the region providing respite care in a hospice environment for families with life-limited children. Its homely hospices provide care and support for the whole family. A third hospice, Little Harbour, in Cornwall, will mean that no family in the South West has to travel for more than ninety minutes to access this special service.
Mary Murfin, from Children's Hospice South West, says: "Vets are by nature a very caring profession and, by coming together in this way, have raised a huge amount for our appeal. The money raised will go a long way towards helping achieve the dream of a children's hospice in Cornwall."
To find out more about Children's Hospice South West's Precious Lives Appeal to build Little Harbour, and the many different ways in which you can help, visit www.chsw.org.uk or phone 01872 261166.
May 2011 - Some tips to take the itch out of your house.
Fleas - the facts
- Fleas are a concern all year round, particularly in centrally heated homes, but particularly prolific in summer months
- Fleas are common in the environment, and will be encountered by pets out and about
- Fleas cause biting irritation. In very young puppies and kittens a severe infestation can cause anaemia
- The same types of fleas can infest both dogs and cats, so in a mixed household all should be treated Some pets are over-sensitive to flea saliva, and just one bite can have large areas of their back come up in painful bumps and cause hair loss
- Fleas can spread intestinal tapeworms within their lifecycle when your pets grooms and eats them
- Fleas may bite people- typically small pairs of bites are found around the wrists and ankles
- Fleas typically spend 10% of their time on your pet, the remainder in the home- particularly pet bedding, carpets and soft furnishings
- Fleas lay eggs in the home which hatch to larvae and develop to adults- a life cycle which takes from 3weeks A flea infestaton in the home can be challenging to remove
Flea - control
We believe prevention is better than the cure, and have selected recommended products to economically provide year round protection for your pet and your home Once a year we recommend use of a house spray flea killer, that has residual larval killing effect We have selected a prescription flea killing monthly spot-on treatment, suitable for dogs and cats, that not only kills all fleas but also protects against ear mites and intestinal round worms, providing a wide range of parasite protection for your pet. Other medications exist, with other spectrums of action, which we are happy to discuss at a free flea check consultation. Call us to discuss and plan your annual flea protection protocol
February 2011
While the cat's away...
There comes a time when a kitten grows up that you consider letting them out of the house. Some cats live a solely indoors lifestyle, particularly those with homes in built-up areas, but creating a wholly fulfilling indoor environment is very challenging. Cats by instinct establish a territory that they want to police, observe and hunt in.
Neutering cats reduces the hormonal drive to control a large area, and so reduces the desire to wander and roam, particularly for male cats. This means they are more likely to settle at home, less likely to travel large distances and so less likely to have accidents on the road.
Sadly, cats sustaining injuries in a road traffic accident present frequently to our hospital, with pelvic fracture, burst diaphragm, broken legs, head trauma and internal abdominal injuries frequent findings. The illustrations show xrays of a humeral fracture before and after repair following a road accident.
How can owners reduce the incidence of straying and accidents? Well, neutering will definitely help, and if performed early in life (from 3-4months onwards) the hormone instinct to wander is suppressed. Penmellyn Vet Hospital is registered with the Cats protection as having expertise in the early neutering of cats.
Providing cats with a secure home environment, with regular meals, water and litter tray changing will encourage them to bond at home; pheromone plug-ins can encourage a nervous natured cat to settle down in your home.
You can't remove all concerns at letting cats out into the big wide world, and sadly accidents and straying does happen. However, your best guarantee for peace of mind as an owner is to have your pet microchipped, so even if injured or straying, or with a collar lost, they can still be identified and you can still be contacted.
9th February 2011
They still can't talk!
This month, I'd like to take the opportunity to reflect on how much veterinary practice has changed since the days of James Herriot...and in some cases, how little it's changed!
James Herriot was the pen name of Alf Wight, a veterinary practitioner in Thirsk, Yorkshire, now sadly passed away. His practice continued after his retirement, run by his son Jim. The light-hearted but informative style of his books touched many people, was hugely successful and led to a television series with Christopher Timothy playing the title role. I have a particular fondness for them because as a child it was his writing that first fired my enthusiasm and interest towards a career as a veterinary surgeon.
So would James recognise current veterinary practice? He tells of early experiences with caesarean section delivery in cattle, a procedure which is now performed commonly on farms. He relates the delight of having access to early antibiotics, when now there are dozens of veterinary licensed options to select from the dispensary shelf. One memorable story tells of a mercy-dash trip with a bitch suffering a womb infection to a surgeon able to operate on her; now this procedure is performed routinely in virtually all veterinary practices. Today our practice performs spinal surgery, arthroscopy, has digital xray, ultrasound scanning and endoscopy, and can safely anaesthetise and operate on patients from hamsters to shire horses.
However, other aspects of his stories will ring just as true now as then. Though medical science and surgery has moved on, Herriot's skill in relating both the challenge and frustration of diagnosing and treating animals that cannot describe their ailments still resonates. He describes the joy of using his knowledge and insight to help animal and owner alike, and his passion for his vocation shines from every page.
I think if James Herriot was transported to a consulting room or operating theatre, farm call or dispensary of today he would be delighted to see the medication, techniques and equipment at the veterinary surgeon's disposal today...but the experiences, pitfalls, triumphs and sheer joy of a career treating animals would be, happily, unchanged.
12th November 2010
A Christmas Tale...
Season's Greetings to one and all...and perhaps a cautionary word for all pet owners this Christmas.
Christmas is a time for family, and our pets are a firm part of the family. While we look forward to our favourite festive treats- Roast Turkey and the trimmings, Xmas pud, a chocolate too many and a sherry for santa- its very tempting to indulge our pets too...and most won't say no!
Do please be careful with varying dog's diets in particular. Many dogs can suffer an upset stomach following a sudden change of diet; particularly with richer food than normal; and if everyone shares their Xmas lunch with Rover that can add up to a lot of sausages and having a sick pet over the holidays could spoil things for everyone.
A sudden change to high protein or high fat diet can bring on stomach and pancreas inflammation, and its sad if a little treat too far has caused an unpleasant upset.
If you want to include your pet in the celebrations, give them a healthy treat...a favourite walk on Christmas morning, beach or hillside; a new toy; chunks of fresh carrot or apple and your attention should make their day memorable.
Take care when placing chocolates around the tree or in presents- Fido may be no respecter of labels, and if he breaks into Granny's milk tray then chocolate, as most will now, can be toxic to dogs who cannot tolerate theobromine, one of the chemicals present in chocolate.
Finally, older pets may find a house full of people, and visiting children an unusual experience. If they want to take a break, let them- if they take themselves away to their familiar bed in a quiet corner to recharge then friction may be avoided later on...in fact, that's advice I might follow too!
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas,
From all the vets, nurses and reception staff at Penmellyn Vet Group
10th November 2010
An Ounce of Prevention or a Pound of Cure?
Penmellyn Veterinary Group have launched a new drive towards preserving the good health of the region's pets through new Pet Health Plans.
At Penmellyn, a veterinary practice with over a hundred year history of serving the local community, we know that a problem either prevented, or picked up early, is often a problem avoided rather than a serious clinical issue. We're proud of our Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Hospital status- achieving the highest level of ranking available to British veterinary practices in both pet and equine services- and the knowledge that we have state-of-the-art facilities and expertise for treatment of emergency conditions referred from Cornwall and south Devon. However, the facilities for emergencies form only one part of our standard of Best of care for our patients.
Many clients enjoy the peace of mind afforded by pet insurance, knowing that they will have access to the highest standards of veterinary care for serious conditions or trauma cases without financial concerns and every day we see their impact, relieving clients of financial concerns whilst dealing with illness or accident to their precious pet. However, pet insurance does not cover the routine aspects of pet care- vaccinations, health checks, worm and flea treatment, diet and dental work. Clients signing up for our Pet Health Plans, available for all dogs, cats and rabbits, benefit from reducing expected costs of vaccination, worm and flea treatment into a discounted monthly payment, whilst enjoying the security of supplementary free health checks and discounted routine services.
In short, the more we see of your pet, the better able we are to keep them healthy. We don't want to wait for serious conditions to arise if by regular and early examinations and advice we can prevent them. Staff at the practice will be happy to guide clients through the Pet Health Plan enrollment process, and we look forward to proactively keeping pets healthy at Penmellyn.
29th October 2010
Fear of Fireworks....Be prepared!
Summer is barely departing...surely a little early to be worrying about firework phobias in our pet dogs?
Not at all- firework phobias can be a real problem for owners in the lead up to November, and it can be very distressing to see a pet literally terrified of the noise and flashes. However, you can help your dog to cope by thinking ahead and preparing to gradually desensitise them now. Here's some helpful tips for getting your dog accustomed to fireworks.
•1. Desensitise. Ask your vet for one of a range of CDs such as 'Sounds Scary' that play firework noises. Starting off at a barely audible level, play this regularly at home, and make sure there are positive associations with the noise- fuss and attention, before going for a walk, getting out a favourite toy. Gradually, over days and weeks, you can increase the volume it is played at, whilst retaining the positive associations. Gently does it... hence the need to start early.
•2. Minimise. The flash of fireworks is typically seen before the bang, and that accentuates the problem- dog's perceive the light flash, and then are expecting the noise. If possible, keep your pet not just indoors, but in a room with a maskable window- or a hallway without external light.
•3. Create a 'refuge'. One of the worst sensations about suffering seasickness is the knowledge that you cannot escape the rolling- you're stuck on that ferry until it docks. Same applies for firework phobias...if you can give the dog a feeling that they can 'get away' from the noise, it will be a great comfort. Take a very large upturned cardboard box, remove one side, put their bed, favourite blanket, toy in it; drape it with a duvet (sound muffling) and place it facing away from a window towards the centre of the house. Put treats inside, and allow the dog to take themselves off there if they feel upset by the noise. Establish this 'refuge' weeks in advance- so they get used to it- and encourage the dog to use it regularly, ensuring it is well ventilated at all times.
•4. Set a good example. To dogs, owners are pack leaders. Dogs take their behaviour cues from us. If you ignore the noise, they'll pick up on that. If every time there's a crack or a pop you leap up and cuddle them, they'll soon cotton on that you are reacting to a threat, and they'll be more frightened. As their leader, if you appear unperturbed by the noise, they will take comfort from that.
•5. A full belly... Bring forward your normal evening routine, and give an extra large dinner. Toilet your pet earlier than normal (so they aren't 'caught short' in the middle of the fireworks evening!). We want to create the Christmas day afternoon feeling of a full stomach and a relaxed demeanour.
•6. Medication. Pheromones and natural calming medications are increasingly available and very helpful; tranquilizers may be appropriate for severe cases. Your vet will be able to advise you on the range of helpful medication available.
Do remember all these points, rather than relying solely on medication to solve the problem at the last minute- the more planning and preparation you can do, the more you can help prevent your dog becoming phobic of fireworks.
4th July 2010
Penmellyn Vets at the RSPCA Open Day and Dog Show
Penmellyn Veterinary Group have a close association with the RSPCA Venton Rehoming Centre, which held its annual Open Day and Dog Show last month.
The event was a huge success, with locals and holidaymakers enjoying the wonderful weather and the fun dog show. Categories included waggiest tail, best mover, happiest dog, judge would most like to take home, youngster and old stager and a huge variety of entrants joined in.
Vets Ian Gibbs and Phil Harris, together with nurse Cilla Ede ran a show stand offerring free prize draws and an incentive to support the RSPCA. Many owners took the opportunity to have a chat or raise a concern about their pet. It was particularly nice to see old faces return, as many of the dogs who had been rehomed from the Venton Centre had been tended to through the hospital. 'Bruce', a bouncy, fiendly big Rottweiler was returning to thank both the RSPCA for finding him a loving home, and Penmellyn for subsequently operating on his knees to treat cruciate ligament disease...watching him gambol around the arena was a joy to see.
The RSPCA promote responsible pet ownership by ensuring all pets are neutered before rehoming, and these procedures are performed at the Penmellyn Veterinary Hospital in StColumb Major. The hospital is an excellent facility, with a surgical unit providing orthopaedic, spinal and soft tissue surgical procedures to patients referred in throughout Cornwall and South Devon. The unit has a firm motto: 'Best of Care- Modern Medicine, Traditional Values' that summarises an approach to pet health care that incorporates everything from sound basic care to state-of-the-art procedures, whilst retaining a traditional aproach to client service.
Working with the RSPCA also enables the surgeons at Penmellyn to provide their expertise whenever possible for the benefit of lost or abandoned animals.
25th May 2010
On 19th May, orthopaedic vet Colin Whiting appeared on BBC Radio Cornwall with presenter Laurence Reed, promoting an Osteoarthritis awareness day, and holding a phone-in for owners concerned about their pets.
Arthritis is a scary word: Osteoarthritis can be painful and debilitating- either a joint doesn't form correctly and doesnt fit together properly, causing wear and inflammation; or a joint ligament fails and the joint becomes unstable. Inflammation causes abrasion and break down of the cartilage lining of joints; and once the cartilage has gone, its gone- they are down to underlying bone grating.
As with people, osteoarthritis is more prevalent in older animals. But unlike people, dogs don't whinge. They are by instinct a pack animal- wolves in fancy dress- programmed to hide weakness to preserve their status in the pack. If they gave an ouch every time they trotted, they would soon find younger dogs pushing them aside. Often telltale signs are innocently put down to simple ageing...reluctance to exercise as much, sitting down on walks, slower to rise from their bed, stiffness of the gait, perhaps even a half a second slower to appear when you open the fridge. Joint swellings, abnormal sounds and range of motion may be detected on veterinary examination; xrays often inform and clarify the situation. All too frequently dogs, by their very stoical and noble nature, hide the genuine discomfort they are feeling.
So often I hear genuinely caring and concerned clients say 'he's got a little limp, but I don't think its painful' but typically LIMPING EQUALS PAIN OR DISCOMFORT- its the only way they'll let on that something is wrong.
Importantly, osteoarthritis can be treated; these dogs often benefit hugely from:
1. weight management (even slight overweight results in the load through the joints being markedly excessive)
2. low-dose anti-inflammatory treatment, properly monitored (similar to people taking aspirin for heart conditions, dogs taking low-dose anti-inflammatories can have joint inflammation markedly reduced)
3. exercise management- lots of lead walks, but drop the fetch...dogs sprint:stop:sprint:stop, its like bleep training for people, and terribly hard on joint function
4. diet - a dedicated joint diet can suppress enzymes in the joint that erode cartilage
25th March 2010
Marmie the cat's miracle recovery from gunshot wounds.
Marmie, a 10month old Ginger cat from Delabole, Cornwall was missing for five days before he was discovered collapsed in a road and taken to see his local veterinary surgeon.
As soon as Marmie stabilised he was taken to surgeon Colin Whiting at Penmellyn Veterinary Hospital, St Columb Major; and incredibly though recumbent at presentation the little cat was purring and had been eating well.
Further investigation pieced together the shocking story: Marmie had been shot by a single air gun pellet that had travelled almost completely through his body. The shot shattered Marmie's front leg, entered his chest, passed through his abdomen and into his groin, then broke his back leg before lodging in his thigh. Infection had become established separately in his abdomen and groin, and his liver was torn.
A team of two surgeons and three nurses worked on Marmie through a three hour anaesthetic, removing infected tissue, repairing and closing his abdomen, repairing his fractured foreleg with a metal plate and screws, and his splintered hindleg with a metal plate and external scaffold frame. Marmie's medication included three antibiotics and four different methods of pain relief to ensure he was comfortable throughout.
As Marmie was transferred to the recovery unit, Colin telephoned his elderly owners straight away. "I was delighted to have happy news to share; by the time I'd described all his injuries and the repair techniques we'd performed it was a lot to take in and its only really when you reconstruct the path of the shot that you realise how incredible Marmie's survival in the wild was. This cat must have suffered agony trying to move himself with these injuries".
Nurse Becky Lock is part of the team that cared for Marmie. "The Police and RSPCA have been informed, and are pursuing the matter. Whilst it is rewarding to be involved in repairing Marmie's injuries, this little cat has been through hell, all due to some idiot's cruel actions"
Marmie's recovery continues; he is back home with his owners resting while his injuries heal and happily a full recovery is expected.