SPCA digs into own pockets to save pup

“It broke our doctor’s hearts to have to put this bundle of hugs and kisses to sleep due to financial reasons, so it was decided to perform the surgery.”

These were the words of chief veterinary surgeon, Dr Asheena Surajpal, at the Johannesburg Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) after deciding to complete a rare surgery, the first in 10 years, to repair persistent right aortic arch in a five-month-old puppy, Snoekie.

The SPCA also decided to pay for it, the organisation’s spokesperson Jolene Beyleveld, said.

Snoekie was brought to the SPCA after she could not keep down her food and constantly regurgitated it.

Surajpal said Snoekie had a history of chronic vomiting after eating, which was quite distressing to her owners.

“X-rays of her chest showed a dilated oesophagus caused by a band around the oesophagus called a persistent right aortic arch. Surgical repair to tie off this band can cost well over R8 000 as this surgery requires opening the chest cavity which would require a ventilator,” Surajpal explained.

Beyleveld posted on the SPCA’s Facebook page earlier today (6 September) that the surgery, performed on 31 August, was successful and the team was relieved when Snoekie began breathing on her own.

“With a dedicated team of theatre surgeons, Dr Leo Manyora and Dr Asheena Surajpal assisted by Dr Tina Engel and our fantastic team of nurses namely Jerusha, Luyanda and Dineo and theatre orderlies Fistos and Caiphus, the delicate corrective surgery was performed,” she said.

Snoekie was released a week after the surgery and reunited with her owners and is now “eating like a trooper with no regurgitation”.

Beyleveld added that the emotional reunion with Snoekie’s owner was worth all the hard work.

Has the SPCA ever gone out on a limb to assist you and your bundle of fur? Tell us about it in the comments below, we would love to hear from you.