Betty the dog smiling
Vet Nurse Astounded As 'dead' Dog Suddenly Sits Up Following Horrendous Car Accident
9 months ago 
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A dog who suffered such horrendous injuries in an RTA her vet nurse owner was told she was dead, has been saved by the team at Swift Referrals.
Hannah Philipson RVN was working at Ryedale Vets in North Yorkshire when she got a call about her 18-month-old cocker spaniel Betty.
“I was told she was being brought in after running off and being hit by a car,” said Ms Philipson.
“My mother-in-law said she was dead, but she suddenly sat up when she arrived here at the practice in the back of a pick-up. I couldn’t believe she was alive, but her jugular was severed and there was blood everywhere as our team carried her in.
“The injuries were so horrendous you couldn’t even tell it was a dog’s face. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I hope I never will again.”
Betty had sustained multiple injuries, including severe facial trauma and fractured toes.
When she was transferred to Swift Referrals in Leeds, part of IVC Evidensia Referrals, she was stabilised and treated for the first 48 hours by the Medicine team.
They had to deal with shock, low blood pressure, high heart rate, high respiratory rate, pain, anaemia, high Glasgow coma scale, high lactate, metabolic acidosis and prolonged clotting times before the Surgical team could even get involved.
“A CT scan revealed she had fractured the wing of the atlas,” said surgeon Mr Jonathan Bell, an RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery.
“There were also fractures to the zygomatic arch and the zygomatic process of the temporomandibular joint, significant haemorrhage and a large open facial wound with extensive soft tissue damage.
“She had a mediastinal bleed and two fractured toes, which healed with a splint.
“Intensive open wound management was required to reach a point where the wound could be safely closed. This entailed repeated flushing, cleaning and dressing of the wound. Several surgeries were required to achieve wound closure.”
Despite the reconstructive procedures, there was a small area on her cheek that wouldn’t heal fully.
She had a discharging sinus and had developed an ear infection (otitis externa) with a nasty bacteria called Pseudomonas cultured, which was not settling with antibiotics.
“We did a repeat CT scan which showed that there had been a penetrating injury to the cartilage of the ear canal and a fistula had formed,” said Mr Bell.
“I performed a total ear canal ablation, and we then continued to monitor her condition carefully.
“Following the TECA, the discharging sinus persisted, necessitating further surgery. The sinus tract was dissected down to its origin at the temporomandibular joint, where several pieces of necrotic bone were retrieved. Following this final surgery, the sinus resolved.
“It was a major trauma. We are just delighted we were able to help, and she has come through it all so well.”
Following the surgeries at the end of last year, Betty has continued to make good progress.
“I was sure she wasn’t going to live and had made my plans about what I was going to do,” added Ms Philipson.
“Everyone is amazed she fought her way through, and we all think she’s a little miracle. She has such an appetite for life.
“Looking at her now, you’d never know anything had happened to her and I can’t thank my team and everyone at Swift Referrals for saving her.”
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