By Cara Sulieman
A PLUCKY pooch is back on his feet after almost losing his leg in a horror road accident thanks to a team of skilled surgeons who carried out their longest ever operation to save him.
Punch, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, ran out the front door of his owner’s home when their son answered the door to a visitor and ran straight onto a road.
He was hit by a passing van, breaking his shoulder in three places and leaving the beloved pet fighting for his life.
“Distraught”
His owner, Evelyn McPherson, said: “My son was distraught.
“Punch was just lying in the road covered in blood and howling in pain.
“His face was cut and he was in a really bad way, we were terrified we might lose him.”
Evelyn rushed the nine-month old pup to the PDSA PetAid hospital in Edinburgh where Punch was given pain killers and x-rayed.
They realised that the impact had broken the dog’s shoulder in three places and warned there was every chance the leg would have to be removed.
Four and a half hour operation
After a night in intensive care Punch endured a marathon four and a half hour operation to put his broken shoulder bone back together.
Veterinary Surgeon Andrew Hogg said it was the longest surgery carried out at the hospital and was a challenge for all the staff involved.
He said: “Punch’s injuries were extremely serious. The impact of the vehicle had broken his scapula into three pieces.
“Without surgery he wouldn’t have been able to walk again and might have lost his leg altogether.
“His operation was one of the most complex I’ve ever done and the longest the team at Edinburgh PetAid hospital have ever undergone.
“The shoulder blade is a very flat bone, so it isn’t like fixing a broken leg. We had to use orthopaedic wire and pins to piece everything back together.
“One wrong move and we might have had to amputate, but thankfully the operation was a success.”
Sling
After surgery, Punch was kept in for several days observation and to get used to the sling he had to wear.
Once at home, the young pup went back to the hospital for check ups twice a week.
Evelyn said: “We were really pleased to bring Punch home but it took him a while to get back to his usual self.
“He was off his food and extremely subdued – I don’t think he liked his sling very much.”
Hobbling about
After six weeks of hobbling around, Punch has been given the all clear and is back to his usual boisterous self.
But if it wasn’t for the free veterinary service provided by the PDSA, it might have been a very different story.
Evelyn said: “I can’t thank PDSA enough for everything they’ve done. This operation cost PDSA about £2,500,
“I don’t know what we would have done without them.
“We’re keeping a careful eye on him now so he stays out of trouble.”
