A DOG feared to have a brain tumour has made a full recovery after vets found a needle lodged in his neck.
Yorkshire terrier Toby, from Beauly near Inverness, was suffering from neck pain, struggling to walk and showing signs of seizures.
Vets suspected the 13-year-old dog had a brain tumour and took X-rays of his head. But scans revealed he had a 7cm sewing needle, with thread attached, in his neck, piercing his spinal cord and dangerously close to his brain.
Toby was referred to the specialist surgical clinic at the University of Edinburgh’s Hospital for Small Animals at the Royal (Dick) School for Veterinary Studies, where vets performed a CT scan to evaluate any major damage to his spinal cord.
They used specialist X-ray equipment to view the needle in real time, allowing the surgeons to carefully remove the object without the need for an invasive operation.
Toby has recovered well since the needle was removed in August and is now back to walking and running normally.
Owner Alexander Jamieson, said: “We feel that without the help of the experts in Edinburgh, Toby would not be here today. The care and attention he got was out of this world and we are delighted to see him back to his old self.”
It is unclear how the needle ended up in Toby’s neck, but vets suspect he may have eaten it or lain his head on it.
Samantha Woods, senior lecturer at the Hospital for Small Animals at the University of Edinburgh, added: “We are really pleased to see Toby back to full health, thanks to the combined efforts of his vets and our specialist teams here in Edinburgh.”
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