Dog that suffered horrific injuries in car crash saved by West Yorkshire animal hospital

A dog that suffered horrific head injuries in a road accident has been saved after expert treatment at one of the UK’s leading animal hospitals.

Vinny has defied the odds and made an astonishing recovery after undergoing emergency surgery at Linnaeus-owned Paragon Veterinary Referrals in Wakefield, Yorkshire.

He sustained multiple fractures to his skull and jaw in the accident.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Paragon’s orthopaedic surgeon Nick Blackburn led a highly-experienced team for the challenging case, which required extensive surgery to stabilise and repair Vinny’s widespread injuries.

Car crash victim Vinny sustained multiple fractures to his skull and jaw but was saved by experts at Paragon Veterinary Referrals in Wakefield
Pic: Newsline-prCar crash victim Vinny sustained multiple fractures to his skull and jaw but was saved by experts at Paragon Veterinary Referrals in Wakefield
Pic: Newsline-pr
Car crash victim Vinny sustained multiple fractures to his skull and jaw but was saved by experts at Paragon Veterinary Referrals in Wakefield Pic: Newsline-pr

Nick said: “Vinny had suffered such severe damage to his head and face that a multi-disciplinary approach was vital to save his life.

“First, we performed a diagnostic CT scan to identify which parts of the skull and jaw were affected and to help plan the delicate, intricate surgery needed to repair and rebuild them.

“The scan confirmed there were multiple fractures which included a fracture of the middle of the lower jaw and fractures running the length of the upper jaw."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Further fractures were also found where Vinny's jaw joins his skull.

Nick continued: “Surgery was performed to correct the most significant fractures. The middle of the lower jaw was repaired using a wire; the upper jaw was stabilised with two pins and tension band wires and the skull was stabilised with a 1.5mm locking plate.

“Our head of ophthalmology, James Rushton, focused on the severe damage to Vinny’s right eye but unfortunately, the injuries were so serious that vision was not restorable and we had to remove the eye.

“This hasn’t stopped Vinny from smiling, though, and he was back to his happy, lively self by the time of his post-surgery examination. We are so pleased with Vinny’s progress and wish him many happy days ahead!”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Relieved owner Louise Thompson, from Barnsley, said: "Vinny is doing so well after his surgery, he's just like the same dog he was before the accident, in fact he even seems a little cheekier than before!

“He is eating well and playing with his little brother, he is our superstar.

"Without the surgeon at Paragon, Nick, he wouldn't still be here, so we are so grateful.”

Support the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest on Leeds United, With a digital subscription, you see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.