Our expert team have been thanked for performing ‘life-changing’ surgery on a pug who was left in intensive care due to a serious lung condition.
Seven-year-old Lennon always had noisy breathing and was suspected by his local vets of having Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), a condition which commonly affects flat-faced breeds.
The pug was referred to our state-of-the-art hospital after his condition worsened and saw him coughing and choking. He was seen by head of soft tissue surgery Will Robinson.
Owner Aly Thorpe, from Earl Shilton in Leicestershire, said: “On the day I attended the appointment at Willows, Lennon was quite poorly – drowsy, unhappy and unable to lie down comfortably.
“Will took Lennon to intensive care where he stayed for five days with aspiration pneumonia.
“Once recovered he came home on medication, but I was told he may be affected again in future.”
Lennon’s diagnosis of BOAS was confirmed and while his condition improved slightly, it was decided he should undergo an operation to open up his airways.
The surgery was overseen by Will with input from many other disciplines across our service.
Aly added: “He recovered from the surgery really well and very quickly. He soon got back to his mischievous self within a few days.
“Keeping him rested was a challenge. His breathing is so much better and now I can’t hear him at all.
“I can’t thank or recommend Willows, especially Will Robinson, enough. Their expert specialist knowledge, highly skilled staff, and care, compassion and kindness mean so much to me.
“Will should wear a cape, because he will always be a hero to myself and Lennon. For both of us the surgery has been life changing.”
Will said: “We decided to proceed with surgery and are pleased to report Lennon is recovering extremely well and has a much-improved exercise tolerance and is much quieter with regards to his day-to-day breathing.
“We typically see BOAS in dogs with ‘squashed faces’ including pugs, French bulldogs and English bulldogs.
“These cases can be very challenging, often requiring a multidisciplinary approach, something we are lucky enough to provide at Willows with input from our emergency and critical care, anaesthesia, ophthalmology and internal medicine services all in house.”
