County Durham vet saves the life of her own dog
Michaela Huges returned home to find one-year-old spaniel, Bonnie, was poorly and had been sick and had to carry out emergency surgery.
A vetinary nurse from County Durham has saved the life of her own dog, after carrying out a life-saving operation in Newcastle.
When Michaela Huges returned home to find one-year-old spaniel, Bonnie, was poorly and had been sick, alarm bells rang that her mischievous pet had eaten something she shouldn’t have.
She had just clocked off her shift as a nurse at Westway Veterinary Group, but quickly drove Bonnie to their main hospital on West Road, Newcastle.
X-rays revealed Bonnie had a foreign body stuck inside her intestine and emergency on-call vet Catriona Ferguson said they would have to operate immediately.
While many pet owners would be too upset or anxious to even contemplate being in the theatre while their dog underwent life-saving surgery, Michaela immediately scrubbed up and prepared to assist Catriona with the operation.
Catriona removed a solid lump of wood from Bonnie’s gut and had to cut away three inches of the dog’s intestine, which had become severely damaged by the wood.
Bonnie was kept in hospital for two nights, but is now recovering at home in Burnhope, County Durham, under Michaela’s care.
“I was surprisingly calm during the operation, but the next day I had a meltdown and couldn’t stop crying,” she said.
“We could see from the X-rays that there was a foreign body in her intestine and we had to remove it as soon as possible. I am a senior nurse so I knew what needed to be done and I just got scrubbed up and ready for action.
“I had a vet I really trusted, which gave me confidence. With part of her intestine being removed, there was a high chance of peritonitis, but fortunately this proved not to be the case.
“I don’t know how she swallowed the wood, but I assume she found it while we were out walking. From now on, she is wearing a muzzle when we go out. Bonnie is recovering brilliantly from her operation and the wound is healing very well. She is eating and drinking normally, and is back to her old energetic self.”
Vet Catriona Ferguson said: “Michaela was remarkably calm and collected, considering that her pet was undergoing major surgery.
“Even though she must have been very worried, she was completely professional throughout the whole procedure, and did an excellent job assisting me in the operation.”
It’s not the first time the Westway veterinary nurse has kept her calm in a veterinary emergency as 11 months ago she helped to deliver Bonnie, whose mother Jess is owned by Michaela’s dad, Alan. Then four days later, Michaela gave birth herself to daughter Ellie.
The month of May marks Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month to highlight the unsung heroes of the veterinary profession and the crucial role they play in the care, treatment and well-being of pets. As well as assisting vets during operations or medical procedures, nurses are responsible for a wide range of other services, including post-operative care, weight loss clinics, nail clipping, monitoring anaesthetic during operations, preventative healthcare advice, wound dressing and radiography. They can also advise on animal behaviour and training.
Michaela, a veterinary nurse for six years, added: “Being a veterinary nurse is one of the most rewarding jobs you can have, although it is also difficult and demanding at times. Nothing is more rewarding than helping in the care of an animal, watching them improve and then return home happy and healthy.”