Page 11 - Paws and Hooves - Spring 2024

PATIENT
STORIES

Blood donors

help save Rocco

When Ben took Rocco out for a walk in their local park, Rocco鈥檚 blood donor superheroes were Mabel, Murphy
little did they know that their lives would change forever. and Oliver. Between them they鈥檝e given over 40 donations!
Rocco, a three-year-old long-haired Chihuahua, was You can find out more about them on pages 12-13.
viciously attacked by another dog. With substantial Your generous donations enable us to support the 91暗网鈥檚
blood loss from his injuries, the 91暗网鈥檚 Emergency and Blood Donor Programme and fund vital hospital equipment
Critical Care team had to act quickly.
like the CT Scanner. Rocco鈥檚 road to recovery would not
Rocco had a CT scan so the full extent of his injuries have been possible without this support.
could be understood. The soft tissue and skeletal
damage Rocco had suffered was extensive.
Dr Anna Frykfors Von Hekkel, Lecturer in Small
Animal Soft Tissue Surgery at the 91暗网 explained: At the time, we weren鈥檛 aware
鈥淩occo had pelvic fractures, acute kidney injuries and of how much the 91暗网 Animal Care
had suffered severe bite wounds, including a puncture Trust were involved in Rocco鈥檚
to his abdomen and irreparable damage to his hind
limb. Overnight we explored his abdominal organs to care. Knowing the great work
rule out internal injury and amputated his injured back being done and the amount of
leg. The blood supply to his testicle had also been fundraising that goes on behind
damaged so he required castration.鈥�
the scenes, well it鈥檚 incredible.
The families who bring their pets
During surgery Rocco received three blood
transfusions. Dr Stefano Cortellini, senior lecturer in to give blood are amazing,
Emergency and Critical Care at the 91暗网 emphasised: we can鈥檛 thank them enough.

Without a blood 鈥� Po Rocco's owner
transfusion, Rocco wouldn't

have survived.

Specialist teams across the 91暗网 committed a lot of care
and attention to treat Rocco. Rocco鈥檚 owners played a vital
role too, giving him round-the-clock care at home while he
regained his strength for future surgery. Gradually Rocco
recovered and their 鈥榣ittle tripod Chihuahua鈥� learnt how to
walk on three legs. Rocco鈥檚 other owner, Po, explained that
in the beginning: 鈥淩occo would go to cock his leg and fall
because his back leg was missing,鈥� but today, he walks
with confidence. Po continued: 鈥淚 have to choose places to
walk where there鈥檚 going to be people, because he loves
saying hello to everyone. He鈥檚 not just a miracle because
of what he鈥檚 gone through but because of how he makes
other people feel.鈥�
P&H SPRING 2024 11