Greg’s Head-On Collision

Hit on the head with the force of a car and crumpled under the bull bar… A ‘head-on collision’ in the truest sense – and not often one with many survivors. At PVE we LOVE a happy ‘tail’ and miraculously this brown German Shorthaired Pointer pulled through to shake his… with a little help from PVE of course!

Unable to stand, 10 month old Greg was surprisingly still alert and responsive when owner Abigail rushed him into Perth Vet Emergency. Dr Carole was on call and could see obvious deformity on both forelimbs. How his diaphragm managed to stay intact through this ordeal with no herniation is another very lucky escape. Diagnosis: Fractured left and right forelimbs.

Treatment

Dr Carole prescribed pain relief, then inserted a fixed catheter to help monitor urine output and help keep Greg more comfortable. This was also able to show the team that a small amount of blood was present in his urine, which explained later the next morning why Greg was attempting to move around from the irritation.

Through his trauma, this little trooper remained bright, alert and responsive, becoming one of PVE’s favourite patients. And staying true to his canine ways, Greg continued to eat with a PASSION!

Surgery

Greg was hospitalised over the weekend then referred to the specialist surgical team at Rivergum Veterinary. Dr Neil repaired both legs with plates at the same time and instructed Greg to have 6-8 weeks of strict rest in a crate or small room. Despite his lovely nature, it was clear Greg was not the biggest fan of staying lay down and often liked to tell us about it!

Reminder

Our pets (especially canines) have seemingly boundless energy. Combined with their unpredictable nature and excitement, accidents can be prone to happen. But there is a lesson to be learnt from every scenario. It’s a good reminder to keep dogs on leads in public spaces especially around streets and cars (stay alert with extendable leads) and to keep fencing and enclosures maintained to prevent their excitement getting the better of them.