August 2010 - Daisy & Monty Monaghan
The Troublesome Twosome!
Monty and Daisy, two troublesome yet adorable 2 year old Border Terriers were rushed into the surgery late night 
Sunday 25th of July. They had been missing for three days previously and had returned home with wounds to their lower mandible. They appeared very lethargic and had lost their normal cheeky nature.
Upon examination of the two dogs it was apparent they were both dehydrated and suffering from mild shock, they had also managed to provide a home to a colony of fleas and ticks. The wounds were severe and the skin had been pulled away from the bottom jaw and had begun to turn necrotic and both were suffering from conjunctivitis. They were immediately placed onto intravenous fluids and both pain relief and antibiotic were administered. Their conditions were monitored throughout the night with a view to sedate, flush and clean their wounds in the morning. Monty’s and Daisy’s conditions had stabilised by the morning and they were later sedated. Their wounds were first flushed thoroughly using saline and an antimicrobial scrub to remove as much debris as possible. On further inspection of the wounds the veterinary surgeon discovered some little white fat maggots!! These were carefully removed one by one. Hydrogen peroxide was placed into each wound to help break down necrotic tissue. The wounds were then flushed thoroughly; debrided and flamazine cream was applied. Monty and Daisy’s wounds would require cleaning and flushing twice daily followed by the application of the flamazine cream. It was suspected that Monty and Daisy would need a general anaesthetic the following week when more necrotic tissue may be removed and the wounds sutured. By treating the wounds as open wounds initially and administering antibiotics it allowed the risk of wound break down and infection decrease.
Over the course of the week with intense nursing care to their wounds the terrible two’s began to get a lot brighter and show what true characters they were. Both Monty and Daisy enjoyed a big fuss and cuddles, like true pro’s they sat still and allowed their wounds to be flushed and thoroughly and antibiotics administered. Towards the end of the week the skin slowly began to slough off where the tissue was dying and the exudates began to dry up.
On Monday 2nd of August the wounds were ready to be operated on! Monty and Daisy were prepared for surgery; a pre medication was administered, which took the bounce out of their paws for a while. Monty was first to go under the knife. His wound was surgically prepared using a surgical antimicrobial scrub; the dead tissue was surgically removed allowing the healthy tissue to close over the wound and be sutured in place. Monty required two small wounds to be sutured.
Next up was Daisy, her surgical procedure was slightly more complicated than requiring a sliding skin flap, this is where a portion of the skin was obtained from around the wound and sutured into place over the deficit.
Both Monty and Daisy recovered well from the anaesthetic and were soon back up bouncing. Their wounds still required cleaning after eating and due to their paws sneaking forward and trying to itch their wounds they were given Elizabethan collars until their sutures were removed.
Monty and Daisy were; to their owners delight allowed home the following day! The two terrible terriers were sent home with strict instructions from the nurses not to go chasing badgers again!
