I thought the other GC animal lovers might enjoy this story from a June edition of the
Capital Gazette, our Annapolis newspaper. I first heard about this from a friend of mine who is in practice with the surgeon in the article. Enjoy and keep a Kleenex handy!
Plastic Surgeon and Vet Work Together to Save Wounded Puppy
By E.B. FURGURSON III Staff Writer
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Olivia, a 3-month-old black lab, lost her tail and a slice of her hindquarters to a lawnmower last week. But through the kindness of an animal lover and two doctors, the puppy will soon have something to sit on.
Veterinarian Grant Nisson and plastic surgeon Daniel Laughlin donated their time to perform reconstructive surgery yesterday to close a gaping 4-inch wound.
Without the help, the pup would likely have been put down after the accident.
When the hound was rushed to the Anne Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic outside Annapolis May 26, the previous owners decided euthanasia was in order.
"I saw her little eyes and they just did something to me," said clinic receptionist Kristin Klein.
A week later, after adopting the wounded dog, the 21-year-old University of Maryland senior took it to her Annapolis home. She named it Olivia, to go with her 10-month-old yellow lab, Oliver.
She took the puppy to the clinic for daily dressing changes. To help close the wound, the emergency clinic vets sewed velcro strips on either side of the gaping flesh and stretched the skin together.
'The tear is about half the size it was last week," Ms. Klein said.
Other connections came together as well.
Ms. Klein's mother, Ruth, works part-time in Dr. Laughlin's office. They brought the puppy to him, and he thought he might be able to help, provided a veterinarian could be found.
"She needed help. I was happy to do it," said Dr. Laughlin, whose Annapolis practice is normally limited to people, mostly those seeking cosmetic enhancement.
"I did do surgery on dogs during my training," the plastic surgeon said.
The Kleins' friend, Wendie Crouch, is a veterinary
technician at Muddy Creek Animal Hospital owned by Dr. Nisson. She brought the two doctors together.
Yesterday afternoon Olivia was prepped for the procedure. She tried to nip the attendants when they got to close to the open 2- by 3-inch wound with just a tiny stub of raw tail sticking up.
Her conical, plastic Elizabethan-looking collar prevented that.
Within minutes Olivia was napping, collarless and floppy from the anesthesia. She was shaved about halfway up her back then moved to the operating room.
"The emergency clinic did an excellent job," said Dr. Nisson as he scrubbed in.
It was the last surgery performed at the hospital, which moves just up the road this weekend to its new larger office just farther down on Muddy Creek Road.
The pup went home with the Kleins afterwards. She should be fully mended in about three weeks, Dr. Nisson said.
Olivia still will not have a tail to wag - but that's not so important. She's just lucky she has those sorrowful eyes.
I cried like a baby today.
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