Cocker Spaniel Jake suffered a serious spinal injury but is walking again thanks to surgery at Kentdale Referrals in Milnthorpe, Cumbria.
Jake's Slip Leads To Debilitating Slipped Disc
6 months ago 
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A lively Cocker Spaniel who suffered a major spinal injury is walking again thanks to vets at a leading Cumbrian animal hospital.
Unlucky Jake’s medical drama started when he mistimed a run up to a step at his home and fell onto the step, leaving him struggling to use his hind legs.
His spinal injury was so severe Jake’s local vets urgently referred him to Linnaeus-owned Kentdale Referrals in Milnthorpe, where the specialist-led team were waiting to take over his care.
After an initial assessment, Jake was kept in overnight so he could be monitored and a CT scan was performed the next day which discovered a disc extrusion (slipped disc).
A spinal operation was the best chance for Jake to walk again, so he underwent hemilaminectomy surgery to correct the slipped disc.
Chris Allen, veterinary surgeon and resident in small animal surgery at Kentdale, said: “Jake’s a lovely boy who suffered a freak accident that damaged his spine leaving him struggling to walk.
“We needed to perform intricate spinal surgery to get Jake mobile again and he stayed at Kentdale for 10 days while he received both spinal nursing and physiotherapy to support his recovery.
“We were overjoyed to see him walk out of the hospital with the support of a belly band.”
Jake’s grateful owner Emma Sealby, from Dearham in Cumbria, said: “I was worried sick at first but Chris gave us a very detailed explanation of Jake’s condition and what the next steps involved, including the operation and aftercare.
“Jake also loves his physiotherapy sessions with Emma Woof and all the attention and massages he gets.
“We are continuing the physiotherapy at home with all the information Emma has explained in brilliant detail.
“Now, you wouldn't know there is anything wrong with Jake apart from he can be a bit wobbly on the back legs.”
As well as creating a bespoke physiotherapy programme to be carried out at home, Kentdale also provides regular physiotherapy sessions for Jake, including laser therapy and massages, to ensure he continues to recover well.
Kentdale Referrals is a specialist-led hospital offering expert services in diagnostic imaging, arthroscopy, anaesthesia, orthopaedic surgery, spinal surgery, soft tissue surgery and physiotherapy.
For more information on Kentdale Referrals, visit www.kentdalevets.co.uk or search for Kentdale Referrals on social media.
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