Dogs don't hesitate to face occupational risk

Mo is a six-month-old border collie belonging to Ashley. They were featured on BBC’s Countryfile. Mo was showing great promise as a working sheepdog before disaster struck.

Mo sustained a fracture to her olecranon (the pointy bit of the elbow). She was in a lot of pain and unable to bear weight on her right front leg. Luckily, x-rays revealed that the fracture did not extend into the joint. If Mo was to stand any chance of regaining full use of her leg, she needed surgery. I operated at Rothbury surgery with colleague Richard Cuthbert.

As I write, two weeks after the operation, Mo is pain-free and starting to bear weight on the leg. Ashley is following the plan of strict kennel rest for six weeks, then a gradual increase in exercise, and return to full training after 10 weeks.

Another case is Zeeke, a three-year-old cross German Shepherd/Belgian Mallinois police dog, who is a real softy until given the command by his handler PC Vicky Lott.

On one mission, he was in pursuit of a criminal who had broken into student accommodation. Unfortunately, he did not take into account the plate glass door that stood between him and the culprit and ran through it.

A severe laceration to his left front leg caused significant bleeding. Zeeke was rushed to our Morpeth surgery, where I was able to suture and bandage the wound. Fortunately, there was no permanent damage to blood vessels, nerves, ligaments, tendons or nerves. He has since made a full recovery and is back to work.

Two working dogs who selflessly do their owners’ bidding and have owners who make sure they get the best attention.