Two-year-old English Springer Spaniel Rusty, who suffered from tetanus, has learned to walk again thanks to intensive treatment and rehabilitation at Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Solihull.
Dog Paralysed By Tetanus Back On All Paws Thanks To Top Team At Willows
11 months ago 
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An English Springer Spaniel needed almost three weeks of intensive nursing care at one of the UK’s leading small animal hospitals to survive a life-threatening attack of tetanus.
Two-year-old Rusty was rigid and immobile when he was admitted to the renowned Linnaeus-owned Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Solihull, West Midlands.
However, thanks to specialist-led care and round-the clock-nursing from Willows’ team of dedicated veterinary nurses, Rusty was back on his feet and allowed home.
Vicky Maund, head of nursing services at Willows, explained: “Rusty was referred to our neurology team suffering from tetanus, which is a life-threatening neurological condition caused by a bacterial infection, which can cause muscle spasms, hyperthermia and limb rigidity.
“He was very stiff, unstable and immobile when he arrived and was hospitalised for a total of 19 days in our dedicated Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he was treated by our specialist-led Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) team.
“Throughout this time, he was intensively nursed 24 hours a day by a devoted team of ICU nurses and patient care assistants.
“So much teamwork and effort went into keeping Rusty comfortable during his hospitalisation.
“He needed to be fed through a tube, given fluids intravenously and his vital signs were constantly monitored.
“There were also regular blood tests, wound management, frequent care and cleansing of his eyes, mouth and ears, plus he had a urinary catheter fitted.
“As Rusty was a non-ambulatory patient (unable to walk), he also received physiotherapy care from our expert team to help restore his mobility and stability.
“It was pretty much constant care and monitoring around the clock for the whole 19 days but Rusty battled hard and defied all the odds.
“He gradually regained the movement in his legs, started to walk again and was able to get home to his family after almost three weeks in hospital.
“It was a lovely moment and everyone was so pleased. We put a video together of his journey with us and watching it now is a reminder of just how poorly Rusty was and how determined the team were to help pull him through.
“His recovery is a real tribute to our incredible nurses and patient care assistants here at Willows, who continually provide the highest standards of care to all our patients 24/7.
“We are exceptionally proud of them and the way they go above and beyond to ensure our patients receive the best possible care.
“We have just celebrated Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month and, at Willows, we are certainly very proud of our nurses’ dedication and commitment, and their crucial role in empowering the veterinary profession.”
Willows offers specialist services in anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, clinical nutrition, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery and spinal surgery.
To find out more about Willows’ wide range of specialist services, visit www.willows.uk.net or search for Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service on Facebook.
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