Posted 13 May 2015
Veterinary hospital animal welfare fund saves puppy’s life
Staff at UCD Veterinary Hospital have saved the life of an adorable young puppy thanks to a new animal welfare fund that helps to cover the cost of vital treatments that some pet owners cannot afford.
The newly established UCD Veterinary Hospital Animal Welfare Fund has enabled clinicians and surgeons at the university’s veterinary academic teaching hospital and referral centre to save the life of 10-week-old Bisous – a Shih Tzu puppy named after the French word for kisses.
The UCD Veterinary Hospital (UCDVH), through UCD Foundation, recently established the UCDVH Animal Welfare Fund to enable the acceptance of donations specifically to help with the provision of treatment for the animals in their care.
Pictured far right: Shih tzu puppy Bisous who is recovering after she sucessfully underwent surgery at the UCD Veterinary Hospital.
Bisous was diagnosed with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and a large umbilical hernia. PDA is the most common congenital heart condition in dogs and occurs when a normal foetal blood vessel fails to close after birth, resulting in abnormal shunting (circulation) of blood and overloading of the heart.
Left untreated, the abnormal blood flow results in heart failure within the first year of life. If treated early, surgery is typically curative, with a normal life expectancy.
Laura Bree, MVB in Veterinary Medicine (Hons) is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate Degree at UCDVH as part of her European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine resident training programme.
She explained that the puppy was referred to UCDVH from Danny Holmes of Holmes Veterinary Hospital in Tralee, Co Kerry, as the owner could not afford to pay for the expensive surgery required to save the dog’s life.
Laura Bree said: “Bisous was presented to the vet for a checkup when she was just five weeks old and it was then they identified a murmur [heart]. The cost of the surgery to correct it is considerable and the owner couldn’t afford it.
“She had intra-thoracic [in the chest] surgery to gain access to the aberrant vessel and to ligate it. It is relatively straightforward surgery, but it comes with considerable risk. When operating, you are right beside the heart and the chest is a very sensitive area, it takes a very delicate touch.”
Bisous was then transferred to the hospital intensive care unit for monitoring after her surgery, and Laura said the vivacious and friendly puppy is now making a remarkable recovery.
“The surgery was carried out two weeks ago. It went really well for her and she has had an exemplary recovery. She is full of life now, running around and growing really fast. She’s now twice the size she was two weeks ago and she has a great appetite,” she added.
The diagnosis of PDA was confirmed by Laura Cuddy, a UCD graduate and American and European specialist in Small Animal Surgery. Ronan Mullins, one of the hospital’s surgical residents assisted by Laura Cuddy, and the hospital’s specialist anaesthesia team, carried out the surgery on Bisous.
Julie Guerin, who is the Finance Manager at the UCD Veterinary Hospital, said a number of animals have benefited from treatments that have been assisted financially by the fund since it became operational in January this year.
“We need to be sensitive to the owners in each case, but we do have a couple more stories which we will be highlighting on our Facebook page, so people can follow the work that we do,” she said.
Julie said that each year many pets with treatable conditions are put to sleep because their owners cannot afford the necessary specialised care.
In addition, she explained that the fund is being used specifically to treat animals that would be likely to make a full recovery, have a good prognosis and a good quality of life as a direct result of treatment.
“The fund has allowed us to help where we haven’t been able to help before. I’ve seen owners who have put off paying bills just to try and pay for their pet’s surgery. To be involved in helping to save a member for their family is a privilege,” she added.
UCD Veterinary Hospital is the only veterinary teaching hospital on the island of Ireland.
To find out more about the UVDVH Animal Welfare Fund stories and to keep to date with the animal welfare fund you can visit the fund’s Facebook book page or click onto the Animal Welfare Fund website.
You can also donate to the UCD Veterinary Hospital Animal Welfare Fund by visiting the UCD Foundation donations page.(Produced by UCD University Relations)
