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Maxillofacial surgeon treats rare feline TMJ condition
12-year-old Dexy was diagnosed with bilateral TMJ dysplasia - a particularly rare condition in cats.

Cat distressed by locked jaw undergoes complex surgery.

A maxillofacial surgeon at Davies Veterinary Specialists in Hertfordshire has performed complex surgery in order to resolve a cat’s bilateral temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysplasia.

The 12-year-old female cat, named Dexy, suffered with an intermittent locking jaw, usually triggered yawning or grooming. She was diagnosed with bilateral TMJ dysplasia – a somewhat rare condition in cats –  and referred to the Davies' Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic for treatment.

Dr José Ruiz said: “Dexy was in distress every time her jaw locked, and she couldn’t eat or drink. The only available treatment for this problem is surgery: in order to prevent the mandibles from locking, due to the abnormal elasticity in the joint's capsule and ligament, we needed to remove some bone from her cheek and jaw bones – known as the zygomatic arch and mandible.”

A bilateral trigeminal nerve block was performed by the anaesthesia team to reduce potential pain during and after the surgery. Dr Ruiz then approached the zygomatic arch at its ventral aspect.

An incision was made over Dexy’s cheek bone so that Dr Ruiz could access it. He cut the bone using a vibrating instrument that can cut bone but not soft tissues, therefore preventing any trauma to blood vessels or nerve structures. The top part of Dexy's mandible was also cut to prevent it from locking on to the remaining cheek bone.

Dexy made a fantastic recovery and was discharged just 24 hours after the procedure.

Image (c) Davies Veterinary Specialists.

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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. 

Click here for more...
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.