A tiny Chihuahua from Wiltshire is back to her lively self after undergoing a rare and complex spinal operation at Eastcott Veterinary Referrals in Swindon.
Lola had been struggling with increasing incoordination in her hind legs over several weeks. Her condition prompted a referral to the hospital’s head of neurology, Tom Shaw, an RCVS-recognised specialist.
An MRI scan using Eastcott’s advanced AI-enabled MR5300 machine revealed the cause: three protruding discs in the middle of her spine, all pressing heavily on her spinal cord.
After a period of strict rest showed little improvement, Lola’s owner opted for surgery following detailed discussions about the risks and potential outcomes.
Tom explained: “The recommended procedure is a corpectomy to remove the protruding part of the disc, but this is usually carried out on just one disc. In Lola’s case, three needed to be operated on.
“Given her tiny size, the procedure had to be meticulously planned with our anaesthesia and imaging teams, and she required an MRI during surgery to ensure everything was completed safely and effectively.”
Despite the complexity, the operation was a success. Lola spent two days recovering at Eastcott before being discharged with a tailored physiotherapy plan created by the in-house rehabilitation team.
Six weeks later, her progress had exceeded expectations, with her hind limb incoordination almost entirely resolved. Now, six months on, Lola is thriving and fully back to her energetic, cheerful self.
Tom added: “A triple corpectomy on such a small patient is a considerable challenge, but it was wonderful to perform it successfully and restore Lola’s quality of life. A procedure like this simply wouldn’t be possible without the expertise of our staff and the advanced equipment we have here.”
Eastcott, one of the UK’s leading small animal hospitals, recently expanded its neurology service to four specialists and now delivers round-the-clock neurological and neurosurgical emergency care.
More information on Eastcott Veterinary Referrals’ award-winning services can be found at eastcottreferrals.co.uk or eastcottvets.co.uk.
