A young puppy sent for euthanasia due to a birth defect has been given a second chance at life by the vet who was asked to put her to sleep.
The golden retriever, called Jadzia, was just a week old when she was taken to Isle of Man vet Lukasz Kuberka to be put to sleep.
However, Lukasz couldn’t bring himself to carry out the procedure and, instead, decided to work with our expert team to ensure Jadzia would not only survive, but thrive.
Lukasz, who owns the Medicor Veterinary Practice in St. Johns, explained: “Jadzia was born in April and I knew she had a challenging path ahead when she came into my veterinary practice at just one week old. She was incontinent and, after examining her, I suspected she had an ectopic ureter, a congenital condition that would require surgery.
“The breeder who had brought her to me had decided to put her to sleep due to the suspected condition. However, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I knew her condition, though genetic, was treatable. I fully understood the risks and potential complications involved, but I was determined to give her a chance.
“My immediate reaction was that I can't put her down and instead I will adopt her and repair her.”
The breeder agreed to look after Jadzia until she reached eight weeks old and, during that time, Lukasz sought advice from Kentdale’s Jan Beranek, a Specialist in Small Animal Surgery.
Lukasz then brought a two-month-old Jadzia to our Milnthorpe hospital for an all-important CT scan, which revealed the full extent of the puppy’s problems were even more severe than anticipated.
Jan said: “We carried out a CT scan and urography, a procedure where a contrast dye is injected into a vein to help us better examine the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. This revealed an enlarged right kidney and the tube (ureter) connecting the kidney to the bladder was also enlarged.
“As a result, urine was unable to flow from the kidney to the bladder in the way it should. This had caused the swelling within the kidney and ureter. Unfortunately, the kidney was so badly affected that it was no longer viable and needed to be removed. We then carried out the necessary abdominal surgery to correct the birth defect anomaly.”
The whole surgical repair lasted four hours, including the CT scan, but Jadzia came through remarkably well and recovered incredibly quickly.
Lukasz continued: “By the next morning, we were back on the island and Jadzia was already showing her playful side.
“The first thing she did when I took her out of the car was to chase after the chickens! Her appetite had also returned to normal within hours, a testament to her resilience and strength.”
As a vet, Lukasz was especially appreciative of the expert work carried out by our dedicated team.
He said: “I can't say enough good things about the team at Kentdale Referrals. From my very first email, the staff were fantastic. We felt warmly welcomed at the hospital, and the vets were friendly, informative, and supportive.
“Having my own veterinary practice in St. Johns on the Isle of Man, I wholeheartedly recommend Kentdale Referrals to my friends and clients. Their care and dedication were evident throughout our experience.
“I hope it highlights not only the challenges of Jadzia’s early days but also the joy she brings to my life as a result of the exceptional care provided by Kentdale.
We are one of the UK’s leading Specialist Orthopaedic, Spinal and Soft Tissue small animal referral centres.