Pet of the Month: Bailey’s Story

Pet of the Month: February

Bailey, a 7-month-old Cockapoo, came to see us on a Saturday as he just wasn't himself. He was quieter than usual and showing some discomfort around his mouth, but there was no obvious cause. Thanks to our out-of-hours service, we were able to carry out a full work-up there and then rather than waiting until the following week. After examining him and running blood tests we took some xrays of his head - and what we found was definitely not what we expected…a metallic foreign object in his skull!

Given the unusual location, we referred Bailey to our colleagues at the Glasgow University Vet School for further investigation. A CT scan revealed something incredible: A sewing needle lodged behind his eye!

Despite being so close to vital structures, Bailey had no vision problems - he was very lucky! He underwent surgery the next day, and the needle was successfully removed without complications! Bailey is now recovering well at home, and his prognosis is excellent.

A great reminder: Having access to prompt veterinary care - even out of hours - can make all the difference when something unexpected happens. Well done to Bailey's owners for acting so quickly!