Radiologists help rescue a rescue dog
Two radiologists and a neurosurgeon have clinically pitched in to help veterinary specialists restore the health—and perhaps save the life—of a dog certified as an expert in water rescue.
The veterinary neurologist who diagnosed the dog, named Anchor, tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the problem was a massive tumor compressing the spinal cord.
The vet had to tell Anchor’s owners that spinal cord surgery “would be something a veterinary neurologist would do very infrequently,” given the high cost and risk of damaging the spinal cord, the newspaper reports.
“If the result was paralysis, the dog would be put down,” the paper adds.
The intervention that followed “involved a noted Midwest veterinary neurosurgeon and his team of 20, a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center neurosurgeon in human medicine and human radiologists, along with a series of decisions devoted to saving the life of a talented gentle giant.”
Read the article and enjoy the accompanying video:
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.