Dog with rare cancer saved by vets in Swindon
Yogi was treated by world-class specialists in Eastcott
A dog with a rare and aggressive cancer has been saved by veterinary staff in Swindon.
Yogi's owner, Anna Gaughan, initially noticed the 11-year-old with a grey tooth and growth on his upper jaw.
Following minor surgery that removed the tooth, a week later the tumour grew back with a vengeance.
Anna subsequently contacted Andrew Perry, a world-renowned specialist and Dentistry Department Lead at Eastcott Veterinary Referrals, who recommended the dog was taken to his site for investigation.
Yogi was immediately driven down from Yorkshire and received a deep biopsy and CT scans.
WARNING: GRAPHIC PHOTO
A few weeks later, Yogi was diagnosed a high-grade fibrosarcoma in his upper jaw.
Andrew said: "This type of cancer is highly invasive and locally destructive. It is often a challenge to diagnose, due to its apparent low activity when reviewed under the microscope.
"Even if you just remove the tumour there is a high possibility cells have been left behind, giving it a higher chance of regrowth.
"Yogi’s mass was large and ... growing very quickly and due to its size and extent. We knew the only option to cure all the cancer was to resect all of the affected tissues including the nose".
Despite knowing the surgery would radically change the dog's appearance, and remove his nose, Anna quickly accepted it was the best option. Yogi was unable to feed himself at this point.
'I am so please at how well he has taken it all'
Several Eastcott staff members collaborated for the operation, including soft tissue specialists, anaesthetics and nurses.
Following extensive post-operative care, Andrew confirmed the procedure so far has been "extremely successful," with "no evidence" of any remaining cancer cells.
Anna said: "Yogi is so happy and lively all the time, so it was hard to see him for the first time after surgery, but I am so pleased at how well he has taken it all and, more importantly, how healthy he now is.
"I am so grateful to Andrew and the team at Eastcott for everything they did for Yogi and for how brilliantly they handled the whole situation.
"They really did go above and beyond the call of duty".