Puppy love (From Swindon Advertiser)

Family thanks ‘gentleman’ vet for operation

2:20pm Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Emma Dunn

AT JUST four months old, Bailey the puppy was at risk of losing his sight.

His owners, Matthew, Charlene and Sophia Mills, of Middleleaze, took the Shar Pei to Shaw Veterinary Centre earlier this month because he was suffering from ulcers in his eyes, and while he was having surgery to save his sight, the vet performed a further procedure to stop it from happening again.

Now the Mills family want to thank the veterinary practice for potentially saving their pet’s life.

Matthew, 38, said: “He had ulcers on both eyes but one was more severe. We were heartbroken. The ulcer would have made him go blind and there was a chance it would rupture if it was left.

“He probably would have been in too much pain as a 14-week-old puppy and his chances of survival wouldn’t have been so good. He is a family pet and if we’d lost him my five-year-old would have been devastated.

“People don’t really say well done to these people and I wanted thank the staff for all the hard work they have done. They really were a pillar for us.”

The family got Bailey in January when he was eight weeks old.

Earlier this month he started to get discharge in his eye and the family took him to the vets.

Shaw Vets originally suggested sending him to an eye specialist but, as it was going to cost more than £1,000, the family asked if the vets at Shaw could do it. David Warnes, who runs Shaw Veterinary Centre, performed the 90-minute operation, which cost £330, during which Bailey had a skin graft on his cornea to help the ulcer heal.

But while Bailey was on the operating table, David decided he could help prevent further ulcers.

He said: “The ulcer was emergency surgery. If we had left that ulcer it could have penetrated through the puppy and it could lose its eye.

“Because of Bailey being a Shar Pei he has extra folds around his eyes and we recommended sending him to an eye specialist. I had done the surgery before but, because of all the swelling, it was going to be more difficult.

“While he was under anaesthetic I noticed his lower eyelids were turning in so I removed a crescent of skin from below both lower eyelids.

“It was the rubbing that was causing the ulcer. I didn’t charge for that part of the surgery. I just wanted to do what was best for the puppy.

“I remember thinking it’s best to do this right now while he is under anaesthetic. ”

Bailey is now back home with the family but is still receiving treatment from Shaw Vets.

Matthew said: “David has done so much work for us. He and his staff have been amazing.

“David cares about animals more than money. He is a gentleman.”