Ellie our head nurse is not content with spending her time caring for the hospitalised cats and dogs here at the hospital has just returned from a working holiday in South Africa she was helping out at a cheetah sanctuary. She now feels even more capable of handling the most difficult of our client’s cats.

English Springer Spaniel Brecc was 10 months old when referred to Malcolm Ness.  His owners and vets were concerned that his level of pain could no longer successfully be controlled. The level of pain was beginning to affect his normally delightful temperament. The x-rays show why!  On the 5th May 2010 at 11 months of age Brecc had a Total Hip Replacement on his right hip . His owners reported that within 10 days he was now very lame on his left and was using  his right leg preferentially. On the 19th May two weeks, to the day, after his first op his left hip was replaced.

This deligtful photo of Brecc above was taken 12 weeks post op on the 14th August 2010. The link will take you to a video of Brecc on the moors filmed the same day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2AhNuDhpKs

Judith Ness (nee Joyce) has decided to have another bash at the Great North Run in September. However as the first step in her training schedule she has decided to join the Sport Relief mile at Ashington 19-21st March – lets hope it doesn’t take two days! If you would like to sponsor her click on the link below.

http://www.mysportrelief.com/judithness

Flick, a 5 year old collie who lives with her owner Mr Smith in Bedlington found out the hard way that chasing a stick is not a good idea. Whist playing Flick injured her self and was unable to stand soMr Smith took her to her usual vet.

The vet was concerned that Flick had injured her spine as she was unable to stand and had neck pain and so quickly referred her to the Croft Veterinary Hospital in Cramlington. Under anaesthetic vet Louise McLean was able to see a wound in Flicks throat and also visible was the end of a stick.

Unfortunately Louise was unable to remove the stick as it was stuck fast so she decided that more information was required before taking Flick to surgery.

Flick had a CT (Computed tomography) scan at the croft hospital which revealed the extent of the damage and the position of the stick. The surgeons then carefully removed the 12 inch long fencing stake from Flick and repaired the damage to her throat.

Flick made a good recovery and is now back to normal after her ordeal.

Vet Louise said “Flick was extremely lucky indeed – the stick did not damage any major blood vessels but it could have very easily been fatal. The CT scan showed us the amount of damage and the positioning of the stick which made it easier and safer to remove.”

“The problem with sticks is that when thrown they can become lodged in the ground pointing upward and the dog is often travelling too fast to stop before it runs on to the stick injures its self. It is an all too common injury which we see fairly regularly, but none of us have seen such a spectacular case as Flick – She is very lucky to be alive!”

Mr Smith said………;

Read more>> http://www.itv.com/tynetees/flick-survives-stick53843/

The Dunkin award is presented by Intervet/Schering-Plough for the most valuable article published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice by a small animal practitioner – her paper was on cushings. Louise is a graduate of Liverpool University she gained her RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Medicine in 2003.

At Croft Louise sees internal medicine and reproductive cases, as well as being responsible for infection control and the in-house canine blood bank. Her particular areas of interest are canine endocrinology and reproduction.