Malcolm’s rare tummy trouble needed life-saving surgery at LVS.
Vets Perform Life-saving Surgery On Dog With Rare Stomach Condition
6 months ago 
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A much-loved English Bulldog with an unusual stomach complaint is back to his best after vets at a leading London animal hospital saved his life with an emergency operation.
Five-year-old Malcolm had been suffering months of tummy ailments before he was referred to London Vet Specialists (LVS) in Belsize Park where, after detailed investigations were carried out, it was discovered he had a twisted spleen that needed to be removed.
His condition is rare and presented a diagnostic challenge to the expert LVS team as the signs are often vague and non-specific.
LVS European specialist in internal medicine, D. Laura Bree, said: “Usually, dogs with splenic torsions present as emergencies, however, in Malcolm’s case, his spleen was twisted chronically over several weeks or months. This was causing him to feel poorly, but with only mild outward signs, which is more unique.”
His symptoms included anaemia, vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, pale gums and weakness. Malcom had initially been looked after at a primary care vets who referred him to LVS for more detailed examinations.
It was a real team effort at LVS to diagnose Malcolm’s rare medical condition and then treat it.
Initial blood tests ruled out any infectious diseases and Malcolm was then passed to the care of LVS diagnostic imaging specialist Dr. Ana Garcia Fernández who performed an abdominal ultrasound and a CT scan.
Dr. Ana Garcia Fernández said: “Malcolm’s spleen was enlarged and appeared to be folded in half, which was likely due to a chronic splenic torsion. This meant he had to undergo a splenectomy (removal of the spleen), as it was no longer functioning properly.”
The actual life-saving surgery was performed by American and European specialist in soft tissue surgery Dr. Janet Kovak McClaran, who said: “Malcolm’s spleen was very abnormal in appearance. It was swollen and twisted, with no blood flow observed, confirming a chronic splenic torsion.
“He had his spleen removed and has since improved with every recheck visit and has gained over 4kg in weight.”
Malcolm’s grateful owner, Mark Lewis from Ealing, said: “Before surgery, Malcolm was not digesting food and vomiting shortly after eating.
“LVS provided a great deal of reassurance from diagnosis through to course treatment. Malcolm is back to his former self and loving life for sure.”
London Vet Specialists, which is moving to a new state-of-the-art £8 million hospital in Hammersmith next year, is the only centre in London to offer a dedicated multidisciplinary vet-referral service delivering an outstanding level of care to London’s pets and their owners, and unrivaled support to the Capital’s primary clinicians. For more information visit: https://londonvetspecialists.vet/
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