Warwick vet helped to save the life of puppy which had swallowed a stone

Avonvale clinical director Simon Davies helped colleagues at the company's Stratford surgery remove the stone from three-month-old German Shepherd Jetta's windpipe
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A young puppy's life was saved thanks to help from a Warwick vet after the animal had swallowed a stone that blocked her airway.

Jetta, a three-month-old German Shepherd, was rushed to Avonvale Veterinary Centres, where rapid action and emergency care from the expert team saved her life.

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The death-defying drama happened at Avonvale’s Stratford surgery where vets Sarah Ives, Ruth O’Flaherty and vet nurse Sarah Coton were quick to identify the problem.

Jetta a three-month-old German Shepherd, was rushed to Avonvale Veterinary Centres, where rapid action and emergency care from the expert team saved her life.Jetta a three-month-old German Shepherd, was rushed to Avonvale Veterinary Centres, where rapid action and emergency care from the expert team saved her life.
Jetta a three-month-old German Shepherd, was rushed to Avonvale Veterinary Centres, where rapid action and emergency care from the expert team saved her life.

Sarah said: “Jetta arrived in a collapsed state and was gasping for breath.

We straight away provided oxygen therapy and tried to ascertain what was causing the obstruction.

“As we couldn't see anything obvious, we decided to intubate (insert a tube into her windpipe to provide air) and examine her under general anaesthetic.

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"Jetta’s colour immediately improved and she was stable enough for us to take an x-ray.

The x-ray showing the stone stuck in Jetta's windpipe.The x-ray showing the stone stuck in Jetta's windpipe.
The x-ray showing the stone stuck in Jetta's windpipe.

“We very quickly found the problem.

"There was a stone wedged in her bronchi (airways to the lungs) but fortunately it had only blocked one side of her airways, so she was still able to pass some air."

The situation was still very serious so the surgery called Avondale clinical director Simon Davies, who came over from the Warwick animal hospital to help deal with the case.

He arrived with a videoscope which he passed down Jetta’s throat to locate the stone and carefully retrieve it.

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Sarah said: "“It was quite a difficult procedure, as the stone was very smooth and kept sliding away from the instrument he was using to try and secure it.

“We all let out a cheer and breathed a sigh of relief when he did manage to grasp the stone and carefully pull it up and out of Jetta’s airway.

“Jetta improved quickly.

"She was put on a course on antibiotics and was allowed back home to her grateful family that evening.

“She’s one very lucky girl as it was the team’s quick thinking and actions which very much saved Jetta's life.”

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Avonvale Veterinary Centres, owned by Linnaeus, has practices in Warwick, Southam, Kenilworth, Wellesbourne, Stratford, Cubbington and Heathcote.

For more information on Avonvale Vets, visit www.avonvets.co.uk or search for Avonvale Veterinary Centres on Facebook.