This is Coco, a five-year-old Staffie, and a much-loved family pet. Coco came to see our team at the Inchicore Clinic. She had a large tumour on the left side of her body. The tumour kept getting bigger, causing Coco huge pain and discomfort.
The tumour grew out into the space behind her leg, which made it extremely painful for Coco to walk. It soon became ulcerated and infected, a heavy lump in her side.
Without treatment, the tumour would take away Coco’s ability to walk. She would have to be put to sleep. Coco needed emergency surgery. So, after treating her infection with antibiotics, our veterinary team took Coco into the operating room.
For over three hours, the surgeon worked to remove Coco’s life-threatening tumour. We soon discovered there were two more tumours hiding behind the first, giant growth.
Thanks to our vets’ expertise and care, the operation was a success.
Then, as her surgery was so extensive, we kept her under observation for a week.
Our vets and nurses gave Coco all the aftercare she needed – including the occasional tickle to her tummy, causing her tail to wag with happiness.
Coco was a wonderful patient and although we were sad to see her leave, we were delighted to send her home having made such a wonderful recovery. We put her on a course of antibiotics and painkillers to help her heal after the operation. Her owners then took over, looking after Coco with kindness, keeping her comfortable, and yes, tickles.
“We can’t thank The Irish Blue Cross enough for saving Coco’s life. She’s been spoilt rotten since the operation. She is full of life and energy now, and is a totally different dog. We really appreciate all of the help and support we received from all the vets and nurses.” – Coco’s owner.
Rocco survived his trauma and has recovered well, thanks to the quick intervention of the Irish Blue Cross team.
Luckily for Coco and her family, the Irish Blue Cross team were there when they needed us. Today, she’s come through her ordeal, and is thriving.
This year, because of current restrictions, there’s a difference to our traditional raffle. Instead of selling tickets face to face, you can enter the raffle by buying tickets/ a book of tickets with our through our online shop. You will be given a unique order number, and we’ll put you in the draw. The draw will take place at 3pm on Friday the 9th of April.
Our vets and nurses are as busy as ever during the Covid-19 pandemic, performing essential services and helping pets like Benji. Benji is a Shih-Tzu Cross Terrier, who is only a year and six months old.
Poor Benji was suffering from Parvo, a very serious virus that is highly contagious and can be life threatening (sound familiar?).
Parvo is highly contagious. It is spread in the faeces of dogs infected with the virus. The virus can be carried and spread by any person, animal or object that comes into contact with the virus. It can live and be carried in the hair of an infected pet, on our shoes or even on food bowls. It is a very robust virus that can live in the environment for a long time.
Dogs with parvo will usually be very sick. They will usually be vomiting and have bloody diarrhoea. Dogs with parvo will often stop eating, lose weight and be very lethargic.
Luckily our front line heroes, Una & Liane, were there to nurse him back to full health.
Vaccinating your pet against Parvo is the best way to try prevent them from getting the virus. It is extremely important that the first course of vaccinations are given correctly and that yearly booster vaccinations are given after that. For more information on Parvo virus, please click here.
This is Rocco, a 10-year-old Chihuahua-Pomeranian cross, and a much-loved family pet. Rocco was rushed to our clinic in Inchicore after he was attacked by another dog.
Our Clinic team discovered multiple fractures to Rocco’s jaw. The trauma of his injury also caused part of the jawbone to protrude through the floor of his mouth, causing him serious pain, suffering, and distress.
These life-threatening injuries would have meant that Rocco was not able to eat – so emergency surgery was needed to save him. Our Veterinary team leaped into action and took Rocco into the operating room.
They wired his tiny jaw in two places to stabilise it. Inside his mouth, several large wounds needed multiple stitches. With our vets’ expertise and care, the operation was a success.
Rocco is recovering well from his ordeal, helped with a week-long course of antibiotics and painkillers after the surgery. The wiring had to stay in place for six weeks, while his jaw healed. During this time, his owners looked after him, spoiling him with kindness and keeping him comfortable.
“We couldn’t have got a better service. I’m amazed by his recovery and he is absolutely flying. If it wasn’t for the Irish Blue Cross, he wouldn’t be here. I can’t thank the Vets and Nurse enough; they are absolute life savers.” – Rocco’s Owner, Therese.
Rocco survived his trauma and has recovered well, thanks to the quick intervention of the Irish Blue Cross team.
Luckily for Rocco and his family, we were there when they needed us.
When Bailey came to our Inchicore clinic we could see she wasn’t well. Our vet found she had a sore and swollen tummy.
An ultrasound scan revealed why. Bailey had a pyometra, an infection of the womb. This was a potentially fatal medical emergency, and we had to act fast. We brought Bailey into surgery to remove her ovaries and womb, saving her life in the process.
Bailey recovered well from her ordeal, helped with a course of antibiotics and painkillers for a week after the surgery. She had stitches in her tummy for ten days to help her heal. During this time, her pet parents looked after her, spoiling her with kindness and keeping her comfortable.
Bailey survived her infection and recovered, thanks to the quick intervention of the Irish Blue Cross. Luckily for Bailey, we were there.
Our emergency surgery saved Bailey’s life. This is a vital part of what we do.
Pets like Bailey Need our help. So we need yours. Thank you!
Our veterinary teams are amazing. Thanks to them, we could share countless success stories just like Bailey’s. Next year is our 75th anniversary, a major milestone for the charity, and an opportunity to celebrate this wonderful work.
What keeps us going is knowing that we’re helping pets who need our low-cost care. We help owners who might not otherwise be able to afford veterinary care for their beloved pets.
We rely on our many supporters to help us continue this work. This year, as well as delivering care through our clinics we were able to extensively refurbish the veterinary facilities at our Inchicore Clinic. The new facilities will bring a major boost to our patient care in 2020 and beyond.
Your wonderful ongoing support is vital. Your belief, and your donations, mean that our charity can keep doing what it does best. Whatever the challenges ahead, our priority remains to help as many pets as possible. Please support us again this Christmas to help patients like Bailey and make 2020 an even better year for pets in need!
Yours sincerely,
_____________________
Christina Conneely
Chief Executive Officer
