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I was just settling down to watch Arsenal on the television
one Saturday lunchtime when my relaxing weekend off was
interrupted by my mobile phone. My colleague Aga was in
the middle of surgically resolving a twisted stomach in
a German Shepherd patient called "Martha" when
it became all too apparent that the spleen had become irretrievably
involved in the tangled organs and would need to be removed.
Another pair of hands was required and my viewing time would
have to wait.
Within a very short time I was scrubbed up and in a position
to appreciate how critical "Martha's" situation
was. A twisted stomach (gastric volvulus) is regarded as
one of the most difficult and potentially demanding surgical
emergencies in veterinary surgery. Large amounts of effort,
time and money can be spent in an effort to succeed often
resulting in the demise of the patient. All clients are
counselled about whether they wish to opt for surgery, when
spending £1500 provides no guarantee of success.
Fortunately, for "Martha" her owners commitment
and the early intervention proved very worthwhile. She made
a slow but steady recovery and has now been restored to
good health. Martha's owners week-end was considerably more
disrupted than mine when you consider that they missed their
holiday flight to Tenerife that day to be with "Martha".
The pet health insurance picked up our bill but sadly the
travel insurers did not consider "Martha's" plight
a family emergency! May be worth reading the small print
in that travel insurance policy...................just in
case!
Terry Dunne
BVMS, Cert SAO, MRCVS
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