The Weekly Wag: George is on the road to recovery

AFTER being hit by a car whilst out on a walk on a weekend, George needed urgent veterinary attention.

Fortunately between Rockhall Veterinary and Limerick Night vets, we provide 24-hour veterinary care, 365 days of the year and George was able to get the treatment he needed.

Our team members undergo extensive training and hold advanced qualifications in surgery, emergency and critical care, diagnostic imaging and internal medicine. This, combined with access to specialised equipment and facilities allow us to provide the highest standards of care for patients like George.

George was admitted to the hospital and stabilised with fluid therapy and pain relief. Once the team were satisfied George was stable, they were able to take x-rays to assess the extent of his injuries.

As well as a badly broken front left leg, he also had a pneumothorax - an abnormal buildup of air between the wall of the chest and the lungs. This excess air had to be drained from his chest to allow his lungs to fully inflate and allow George to breathe normally.

After a short stay in the hospital, George was transferred to our Ennis Road clinic for surgery. George underwent general anaesthesia and had his humerus (upper arm) repaired using a combination of metal screws, wire and a plate.

He had a smooth recovery from surgery and was discharged later that day with some strong painkillers. George will have to undergo a period of strict rest and confinement whilst his leg heals but when we saw George back for his three day post op check he was already walking on the leg and by two week post op his owner was struggling to hold him back. All of our team are wishing George a speedy recovery.

Pet Insurance
With ever-rising costs of living, now more than ever we strongly advise all pet owners to invest in pet insurance. Luckily for George, his owner had him insured meaning she could focus all of her attention on helping him recover from his injuries whilst the cost of treatment was covered by his insurance policy.

Do you have a question for our vet? Send your questions to info@rockhallveterinary.ie

Ask the Vet - Your questions answered

Question:
Why does my dog eat their feces?

Answer:
Young puppies that are still learning about the world and like eating anything they can get their paws on, including poop. Puppies frequently outgrow this behaviour, but it may take some time. Some dogs, even as they age, continue to insist on consuming their feces.

This behaviour continues for a number of reasons. The dog may not be receiving enough food as the first possibility. Please be sure you feed your pet according to the instructions provided.

Another factor can be boredom. Dogs enjoy playing and interacting with people.

They might find eating poop to be more entertaining and engaging if these demands are not being addressed.

Assemble a variety of toys for your dog to play with securely, and take them on walks to exercise their brains. Dogs may ingest feces for a third reason: nutritional deficiencies.

Vitamin B12 deficiency and a lack of fibre are the most typical dietary shortfalls I observe in the clinic. Ask your vet, a quick blood test can be used to determine vitamin B12 levels.

Fortunately, this vitamin is supplementable. Stool repellants, which are available in our clinics, can help if your dog is still eating its stools.

Pet of the Week - Reilly

Reilly is an eight year old Labrador Retriever.

She was with one of the lovely nurses in Rockhall Veterinary, Henry Street last week for her first weight clinic.

She's put on a few lockdown pounds and needs a little extra help to lose them.

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