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Warning issued after cat loses leg in car engine
Former stray Saffy has made a full recovery and is said to be managing great on three legs.

Saffy ‘lucky to be alive’ after hiding under a neighbour’s bonnet

Veterinary surgeons who performed life-saving treatment on a cat after its leg got trapped in a fan belt are warning drivers to check under their cars and bonnets before switching on their engines. 


Former stray Saffy was freed by a mechanic and rushed to Bradford PDSA Pet Hospital after hiding under a neighbour’s car bonnet to keep warm. Sadly, her leg was beyond repair and the vet team had no choice but to amputate.

“Saffy is very lucky to be alive and, thankfully, we now expect her to make a good recovery,” explained PDSA vet Rachel Bishop. “Sadly, it’s not unusual for us to hear about this type of accident happening over the colder months – cats often seek out warm places and a recently driven car engine can seem like a safe, cosy place for a snooze.
 
“We’d advise drivers to check under their cars and wheel arches before switching engines on, particularly if the car has been used within the last few hours and the engine might still be warm.”


Owner Shameener Baker said that Saffy had hidden under a neighbour’s car bonnet. Unaware that she was there, her neighbour switched on the engine and her leg caught in the fan belt, completely severing her thigh bone.

“Our neighbour heard Saffy scream when he turned the engine on. He turned it off straight away and opened the bonnet to find her tangled up and in anguish. Another passing neighbour recognised Saffy immediately and came to get me, it was awful to see her and I didn’t know what to do. We couldn’t free her she was so badly trapped, so we called a mechanic.”

A PDSA spokesperson said: "Saffy has now made a full recovery and is managing great on three legs. However, the incident has left its mark on her – she is now scared of cars and mostly stays indoors."

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.