A vet who saved the life of a small dog, slept on the floor of his practice overnight to ensure it recovered from major surgery.
Kilu, a Yorkshire Terrier, was rushed into the Vets4Pets practice in Maidstone with life-threatening injuries after being attacked by two larger dogs.
Surgery owner and vet, Ivan Clark, immediately put into place an emergency procedure to treat Kilu and was operating on the four-year-old dog within 30 minutes of Kilu’s arrival.
Despite suffering from severe chest injuries, including a collapsed lung and crushed ribs, Ivan and the team completed the life-saving surgery in three hours, before leaving Kilu to recover in a special oxygen enclosure.
Remarkably Kilu is expected to be allowed to go home on Friday (15th April), just four days after being admitted.
“When Kilu was first admitted he was in a very bad way, and his condition was critical,” said Ivan.
“We cancelled all routine appointments so all our attention could be put on saving Kilu. Everyone was very understanding and passed on their best wishes to Kilu, which really helped us focus on the operation.
“Fortunately the surgery was a success, despite leaving Kilu with a 10-inch scar, and he was placed under heavy sedation in a special oxygen enclosure to aid his recovery.
“The operation finished around 9pm, so I decided to make a temporary bed in the surgery that night so I could be on hand in case Kilu needed any further medical support. Unfortunately my dogs got to the bed first!
“By the morning Kilu had improved slightly and while he was still critically ill, the signs were good and he had made a positive start to his recovery.”
When Kilu is allowed home from Vets4Pets Maidstone he will be kept in a small enclosure to ensure he rests properly for six to eight weeks, while it is estimated that it will take six to eight months for him to make a full recovery.
Ivan added: “With the correct amount of recovery time, rest and care, Kilu should be able to lead a perfectly normal life, albeit with a large scar underneath his hair.
“It’s great to know that we were able to help him when he needed us most, and that the team at Vets4Pets Maidstone were able to work together for a positive outcome.
“I would also like to thank all of our clients who had routine appointments cancelled for understanding the reasons, and to everyone who has been in touch with the surgery to wish Kilu well; it is very much appreciated.
“It’s important now that we allow Kilu and his owners time to recover so he can soon be back to his normal self.”
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