Left to suffer on the side of the road, Tiger was hit by a car causing a devastating break to her leg. She was in a great deal of pain and clearly struggling when she was found and brought into our Blantyre hospital in Malawi.
After stabilising her and administering pain relief, we carried out a thorough assessment. Sadly, the damage to her leg was catastrophic, and the team made the difficult decision to amputate.
We never take it lightly when we perform this type of major surgery but the expert knowledge of our veterinary teams means that we can perform it quickly, efficiently and most importantly, safely. Amputations are often the best course of action for dogs and cats suffering with extreme limb injuries. They adapt remarkably well to limb loss due to their flexible spines, a lower centre of gravity and a more even weight distribution. Without amputation they often suffer more with reoccurring infections, sores and complications which can prolong their pain.
Fortunately, Tiger was another success story. Her surgery went well and the team monitoring her recovery even had a difficult time convincing her to relax and rest. Her strength and resilience meant she bounced back quickly, adapting to her new life on three paws with ease. During her recovery, she also made a very close friend with another dog under our care, Katrampo.
The pair love spending time together, but while Katrampo has a bit more energy to burn, Tiger is happiest enjoying a quiet afternoon of cuddles with our team. Though we believe both Tiger and Katrampo had owners, sadly we haven’t had any success in locating them.
A large portion of the dogs in Africa, and worldwide, are free-roaming. This means they do have loving owners and are well cared for, but they are left to freely move about their neighbourhoods. However, this does mean that they are more susceptible to injury and disease, and without access to pet microchipping, locating their owners can be impossible. Both Katrampo and Tiger have a safe place with us until they find their forever home.