Dog returns to vet who helped save his life

Cocker spaniel Zak, nine, has been looked after at Holly House Veterinary Surgery – part of Willows Veterinary Group – since he was a puppy after being diagnosed with the tumour by head vet Naomi Roberts.

Oakwood Veterinary Referrals, which is the specialist Willows Veterinary Group team based at Willows Veterinary Hospital in Hartford, carried out Zak’s surgery and facial reconstruction.

Zak’s owner, Carol-Anne, said: “We thought he had something wrong with his joints. He was lethargic and putting on weight – he just wasn’t himself.

“When I took him to Holly House Naomi discovered two things – he had a thyroid condition, and after further investigation a cancerous lump on his nose.

“He underwent surgery at the Willows hospital and had a bit of his nose removed. The surgeon Prue Neath did an unbelievable job. Nobody would know he’d had an operation unless you told them. Prue and Naomi saved Zak – I’ve got a brand new dog now.”

Naomi, 31, recalled how the cancerous lump first came to her attention.

She said: “He came in for blood tests and we found he had an under active thyroid which explained why he was so lethargic.

“When he came in for the tests I noticed the lump. I wanted him to have a biopsy as I was concerned it could be a mast cell tumour.

“I hoped it would come back and be something we didn’t have to worry about but it did turn out to be what I’d feared.

“Zak underwent facial reconstruction with my colleague Prue Neath but nobody would know he’d had it done unless it was pointed out.

“Some of the tumour was removed from the top of his palate as well. Prue created a flap of skin which she pulled further forward to cover the gap left by the tumour being removed.”

Zak returned to Holly House with Carol-Anne last week to congratulate the team after they were rated outstanding for client engagement by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) – which runs a voluntary programme to accredit practices in the UK.