Wear Specialist Ensures A Happy New Year For Urgent Christmas Case
6 years ago 
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Roxy the rottweiler is enjoying a happy new year after receiving the perfect Christmas present – having a dangerous tumour removed from next to her spine.
The beloved 11-year-old pet approached the festive period in desperate trouble, as the growing tumour was putting increasing pressure on her spinal cord and making her unsteady and uncertain on her back legs.
However, she has started the new year with a new lease of life following intricate surgery at a leading veterinary referral centre in the North East.
Dr Josep Brocal, a European Specialist in veterinary neurology at Wear Referrals, in Stockton-on-Tees, even missed the staff Christmas party to operate on Roxy, who’s now well on the road to a full recovery.
Missing the festive get-together was all part of the job for dedicated Dr Brocal, who said: “Roxy came to us suffering with pain, uncoordinated walking and weakness affecting her back legs.
“An advanced MRI scan showed she had a tumour next to her spine which was growing and pressing on her spinal cord, interfering with the sensation and nerves controlling movement of her back legs.
“Taking away a big tumour which is next to the chest and spinal cord is delicate work, but using MRI planning and, with our familiarity operating next to the spinal cord, everything went to plan.
“The operation lasted several hours as I gently teased the tumour off the surface of Roxy’s spinal cord. It was all a success and Roxy quickly recovered from the surgery.”
Owner Lorna Manning, from Newcastle, admitted she feared the worst for her beloved pet when Dr Brocal explained the full extent of Roxy’s problems.
Lorna said: “I was a sobbing mess, I thought I was going to lose her. It was a very anxious time.
“Josep and the staff at Wear were wonderful, though. He operated just before Christmas and was very confident Roxy would be fine.
“I went to visit her at Wear on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and she was recovering so well that I was able to bring her home on Boxing Day.
“I was thrilled. It was the biggest and best Christmas present ever!”
For more information about Wear Referrals, which is part of Linnaeus, visit www.wear-referrals.co.uk or search for Wear Referrals on Facebook.
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