Dachshund pup overcomes rare life-threatening hernia

A very young dachshund with a rare life-threatening hernia is back on her paws thanks to emergency surgery here at Eastcott.

Our Soft Tissue Surgery Specialists successfully treated four-month-old Sally.  It is very rare for a dog to have a congenital diaphragmatic hernia which can cause sudden death if not treated.

Thankfully the emergency surgery was a complete success and Sally should make a full recovery.

Shaken owner Chauntelle Eddy from Old Town Swindon said: “Sally’s breathing didn’t look right and she didn’t want to move.

“I was distraught however, the vets were amazing. I would ring every hour throughout the night and they made a very hard situation easier for me.

“Thanks to Eastcott, Sally’s quality of life is now amazing. You would not know that she went through such a traumatic time. She has come on leaps and bounds.”

Tim Charlesworth, Head of Soft Tissue Surgery at Eastcott, said: “Sally was referred to Eastcott as an emergency case after the sudden onset of breathing difficulties.

“She was anaesthetised and a CT scan was performed which confirmed the diagnosis of a congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

“These defects are often overlying the stomach, which can then enter the thorax and fill with air compressing the surrounding lungs and stopping the dog being able to breathe effectively.

“It’s a rare condition to see in dogs and in the worst cases it can cause sudden death.

“Sally was rushed to surgery where her stomach and spleen were placed back into her abdomen and the diaphragmatic defect was closed after a chest drain was placed.

“She recovered very well from the operation and was discharged from Eastcott just two days later. The long term prognosis is very good for these cases and Sally is getting back to being her normal self.”