The first few months of the year have been extremely busy for our Kent veterinary surgeries. Despite the difficult lockdown period, we have strived to offer expert care for your beloved pets. Our experienced vets have carried out complex procedures, provided vital vaccines and even performed several life-saving surgeries! While you may not have been able to come inside the surgery as you normally would, rest assured we have been showering your precious pets with love and cuddles. 💚
We want you to know that we are always here for you and your pets. Even throughout these difficult times, we have been there for your pets and will continue to do so when the lockdown eases and beyond.
We wanted to share some of the amazing surgeries we’ve performed over the last few months. We hope the heart-warming stories and adorable pictures put a smile on your face.
Life-Saving Surgery For Inky
The team at Briar House Vets had a fascinating case earlier this year, when 11-year-old Inky visited.
Inky was rushed in as an emergency for life-saving surgery! 🆘 🚨
His worried owners brought him in after they noticed that his abdomen was appearing bloated.😢 Inky saw our wonderful Vet Leanne and was given an abdominal scan.
Leanne sedated Inky and skilfully imaged a large splenic mass which needed removing surgically. 🏥
Poor Inky Inky was taken straight to the operating room and a shocking 3.7kg mass was removed from his abdomen which was sent to an external laboratory for testing.
Thankfully, once Inky had recovered from his surgery and anaesthetic, he was feeling much better and was allowed to go home to continue his recuperation. 😊
The entire team fell in love with this gorgeous boy and gave him plenty of cuddles before he want home! 💙
An Emergency For Isla
Back in February, Briar House Vets welcomed the adorable Isla who was a very complex medical and surgical case. 😮
Isla was referred to the team at Briar House from another vets for complex imaging. She had been inappetent, vomiting and lethargic with a very high temperature. 😔
Before being referred to us, Isla had begun supportive treatment but unfortunately deteriorated- she was now jaundice which happens when the body cannot break down bilirubin effectively. 😢
When Isla arrived at Briar House Vets, Leanne performed a top quality ultrasound scan and managed to gain essential images of Isla’s gallbladder which showed us that the wall was extremely thickened and irregular. This, alongside what Isla was showing clinically and her blood analysis, suggested an obstruction of bile flow.
We needed to surgically fix Isla but not before supporting her medically and ensuring she was strong enough for the surgery. We placed a feeding tube and gave her fluids and medication over a weekend period ready for surgery on the Monday morning! The bonus was, this was all done on-site by our own dedicated staff! 🌟
On the Monday morning, we surgically explored her gallbladder which allowed us to drain and flush the mucous from the gallbladder and take some biopsies. Surgery was a combined effort between our amazing Vets Leanne AND Enrico and even involved an ultrasound DURING the surgery! 😯
Post operatively, Isla needed intensive nursing and supportive care but she helped us every step of the way by being a super gentle girl and trying to eat little bits as soon as she felt up to it. 🐶
After analysis at an external laboratory, Isla’s results determined she had a mucocoele which could well have been fatal if left untreated. 😢 Thankfully, she was able to see our skilled team when she did. ✨
We were able to discharge Isla home after careful monitoring but not before a few cuddles of course! 💚
Isla recently came back for a check up and we were thrilled to see her. Our fabulous Vet Leanne performed an abdominal ultrasound to examine Isla’s gallbladder and check that everything was ok. 🏥
The ultrasound image showed that there is a small amount of sediment in there but thankfully, it doesn’t look inflamed. This, in combination with Isla’s owner’s report of her doing really well at home means a job well done! 😊 🐶
Well done to everybody involved in this complex case. Leanne got to showcase some pretty amazing imaging skills and the nursing team worked hard delivering her critical care regime! 😊 Let’s not forget Isla’s very dedicated and doting parents who have continued nursing her back to health in the comfort of her own home too! 💚
Darling Della
This is Della, the gorgeous Victorian Bulldog! 🐶 😍
She visited Lakeview Vets earlier this year to have a large lump on her back removed, that was causing her some discomfort and limiting her movement. 😢
Della was given a thorough nose to tail examination by our experienced Veterinary Surgeon Brandon prior to surgery and given intravenous fluids to help support her bodily parameters throughout.
Brachycephalic breeds like Della tend to have an elongated soft palate, possible hypoplastic trachea (narrowing of the windpipe) which can make airflow into the lungs difficult with stenotic nares. This means that their nostrils are narrow or collapsed, making it difficult for them to breathe through their nose.
Because of this, special care was needed before, during and after her surgery to protect her airway and enable Della to breathe properly and recover well. 💚
Della was an absolute star🌟 🌟 and after many cuddles from the wonderful Lakeview team, was allowed to go home to her loving family.
Lakeview Vets were lucky enough to get another visit from this beautiful girl earlier this month, when Della came back to have her sutures removed.
It was such a delight to see her again and thankfully, her surgical site looked amazing. 😊
We just couldn’t resist giving her some snuggles which as you can see from the photos, she thoroughly enjoyed! 💚 💚 💚
A Surprise For The Manor Vets
The Manor Vets recently had a surprise when the adorable Ginger came through the surgery doors! 🐶
Her lovely owner brought her in to see the team for a pregnancy scan and check up but there was a surprise for all, when our wonderful Vet Peter discovered that she was actually already dilated and due to give birth within the next 24 hours! 😮
As bulldogs have difficulty giving birth naturally, we whisked her through to theatre quickly to perform an elective caesarean. Due to the difficulties bulldogs have, this procedure ensured that Ginger was kept safe and so were her adorable little pups. 💕
VCA’s Jess and Lauren were ready and waiting to welcome the puppies into the world but there was another surprise, as there were more pups than expected! It was all hands on deck to get their airways cleared and to hear those lovely first squeaks! ✨
Just look how gorgeous they are. 👀 😍
We look forward to seeing these cuties again for their important vaccinations soon- and LOTS more cuddles. 🐶 💚
Charlie Visits Lakeview Vets
Poor Charlie was brought in to Lakeview Vets as he had a nasty bite wound on his back. The wound had to be flushed clean and debrided- meaning the dead tissue at the edges of the wound were cut away to leave new healthy skin- which was sutured together by our experienced Veterinary Surgeon Brandon, pictured here during Charlie’s procedure, under general anaesthesia.
A dog’s mouth as you can imagine is full of bacteria and other infectious organisms which when entering the body through a bite wound, can spread to underlying tissues causing abscesses. This could also break down the tissue in nearby areas or even lead to septicemia if an infection goes into the bloodstream! 😢
Because of this, all bites are treated as a contaminated or infected wound and special care is needed to really clean the area and sometimes a Penrose Drain is placed, as in brave Charlie’s case. Penrose Drains (a type of latex tube) allow discharge or unwanted fluid to escape from the wound.
Charlie was SO brave and was allowed home after his procedure with antibiotics and pain relief to make him feel better and instructions for his loving family on taking care of his drain. 💊
We were really pleased to see him come back to the surgery recently for a review with our lovely Vet Clemence. He was looking much more like himself and enjoyed receiving lots of cuddles from our team who had all missed him! 💚
We love taking care of your cherished pets and enjoy welcoming them to our surgeries and giving them lots of love and attention during their visits. If you have any concerns at all about your pets, please don’t hesitate to contact us on- 0208 674 7342 or you can book an appointment online to see one of our experienced Vets.
