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Cat survives after gunshot injury
Marco had a gunshot injury in the back of his head and a depression fracture of the parietal bone.

Neurology team performed lifesaving surgery. 

A two-year old cat with a gun pellet in the back of his head has pulled through after being found unresponsive in his owner's driveway.

Marco, a domestic shorthair cat, was rushed to the local vets when his owner found him collapsed and unresponsive. After being stabilised, Marco was referred to the Neurology and Neurosurgery surgery at Davies Veterinary Specialists for treatment.

Neurosurgeon Victoria Argent explained: “We performed a CT scan to help identify the location of the pellet more precisely before we operated.

“The CT also revealed a depression fracture in the parietal bone and there was concern of migration of the pellet within the brain.”

Working together with neurosurgeon Alex Forward and the anaesthesia team, Victoria carried our a craniectomy.

Victoria said: “Given the location of the bullet avoiding important vessels, as well as delicate manipulation of the fragment to avoid injury to the underlying brain parenchyma was key for the success of this procedure.”

The team flushed out the wound and released the gun pellet by carefully drilling the parietal bone. The depressed skull fracture was also removed, and the surgical site was flushed and closed in multiple layers.

“Marco was a perfect patient and recovered remarkably well, much to our delight – it’s not every day you have the challenge of removing a pellet from such a precarious place,” Victoria concluded. 

 

Image (C) Davies Veterinary Specialists

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.