Boris the Maltese Puppy

BORIS:

Boris is a male Maltese puppy, born in Hampshire on 11th January 2024. We welcomed him into our family on 30th March 2024.

Unfortunately, not long after bringing him home, whilst out for a gentle walk near our home, Boris collapsed and was struggling to breathe on Bank Holiday Monday 27th May 2024.

He was rushed to an emergency vet in Newbury (our own vet, although having an emergency number, didn't answer).

On arrival, he was placed on oxygen and the initial diagnosis after an X-ray was that he had a growth on his lung that was cancerous.

He was transferred to a specialist vet in Winchester for critical care and placed overnight in an oxygen tent.

The following day, he was transferred back to Newbury to be reassesed. From here he was transferred to The Ralph Veterinary Referral Centre in Marlow Buckinghamshire.

On arrival he was in a critical condition where further tests were carried out including X rays and CT scans.

The diagnosis was NOT cancer as first thought but Congenital Lobar Emphysema (CLE) -  a rare condition formed during development which would not have been detected during his vaccination and health checks

He remained in a critical condition until Thursday 30th May 2024 when he underwent major surgery to remove the large growth which was crushing his right lung and had completely squashed his left lung which had not inflated since birth and was obviously under-developed. 

He remained in ICU at The Ralph until Monday 3rd June 2024 when we took him home. He returned to The Ralph for a post-op check on Monday 10th June when he was given the all clear and he returned home with us.

He is now a lively, friendly, active, wonderful little chap😀

Extreme thanks must go all the vets and nurses but especially all those at The Ralph Veterinary Referral Centre for their amazing work!❤️