Archie, the cocker spaniel who was saved by the IVC Evidensia Care Fund
IVC Evidensia Care Fund Helps Archie Breathe Easy After Inhaling Grass Seeds On Walk
2 years ago 
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A dog facing death after ingesting grass seeds was saved thanks to IVC Evidensia’s Care Fund and the skill of vets at an Oxfordshire practice.
15-month-old cocker spaniel Archie’s lungs had collapsed, and his owner couldn’t afford the treatment fees to save his life.
But vets at Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital stepped in to use their generous allowance from the market-leading corporate to help meet the costs.
And Clinical Director Dr Peter Kettlewell then led a surgical team to operate to remove the seeds and restore the dog to health.
The IVC Evidensia Care Fund gives each vet an annual budget of up to £1000 to spend on the treatment of animals whose owners can’t pay but could be saved without the need for ongoing surgical or medical treatment.
Since the launch of the scheme in 2020, millions of pounds of contributions have been made across the group’s pan-European practices and thousands of animals have been helped.
Archie initially presented with a fever and an X-ray and subsequent CT scan revealed a pneumothorax and pyothorax.
“The problem was caused by grass seeds that had been breathed in days or even weeks before,” said Dr Kettlewell.
“Although we see many problems caused by grass seeds every summer, we are having a particularly bad season this year. We have seen a lot of dogs with grass seeds not just in their paws and ears, but also inhaled.
“Archie’s condition improved after we re-inflated the lung, but another CT scan and then ultrasound showed four grass seeds which had resulted in two abscesses in the chest cavity.
“We consulted specialists who said the chances of these seeds not causing catastrophic complications was virtually nil and surgery was advised.”
The owners, who had reached their insurance limit, couldn’t afford to have the surgery carried out at a referral centre and, having been advised that it could be done at Chipping Norton, asked them to undertake the surgery.
Dr Kettlewell and colleague Martin Whitehead each used their £1000 allowance towards the surgical costs, while the owners met the rest of the bill.
“We did a median sternotomy and thoracotomy and dissected out the abscess which was adhered to the chest wall,” said Dr Kettlewell.
“We needed to do a partial pericardiectomy and once we had ensured everything else was fine, we put a drain in and closed up.
“It was all done within a couple of hours and it shows how, if referral isn’t an option, GP vets can use their skills with informed consent.”
Although he was sore for a couple of days, Archie made such a speedy recovery he was home within 72 hours and was feeling so well that his exercise had to be limited.
“This dog would have died without the Care Fund,” added Dr Kettlewell.
“It enabled the owners who were very responsible but had used up their insurance limit to afford to go ahead with the lifesaving treatment.”
Owner Laetisia Carter, from Chipping Norton, was hugely grateful.
“Archie is bouncy and happy again and we are just so grateful to everyone at the hospital for all they did and for using the fund to help meet the costs,” said Mrs Carter.
You can find out more about the IVC Evidensia Care Fund on the website here.
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