I’m often asked what became of a particular pet I would have written about. So, I thought it appropriate to take a break from my usual case notes and give an update of what became of some of the pets I treated over the past couple of years.

Many of you will remember the incident of Gracy, the pygmy goat who gave birth by Caesarean section on the kitchen table of her owner’s house (‘Goat birth drama’, April 29, 2012). Sadly, Gracy lost her kid, but she thankfully survived the emergency C-section.

Two years later, she was pregnant once again and 10 days ago she went into labour. Within a couple of hours of monitoring her valiant attempts to give birth, it became clear that Gracy was not going to manage naturally and we decided to go ahead with another C-section. Gracy gave birth to two beautiful kids, a female and a male, promptly named Izzy and Olly. The first to come out was Izzy.

In retrospect, the decision to operate was the right one since Izzy was almost double Olly’s size and was probably the reason for Gracy’s inability to give birth naturally. The latest news from Gracy’s home is that both Izzy and Olly, as well as their mother, are doing really well. But not all dramatic cases involve the larger species of animals.

Seven months ago, my daughter saved a tiny canary from death after it flew through an open window into her apartment… as if telling her that it needed help (‘One for the birds’, November 24, 2013). Bobby the canary had clearly had an unlucky encounter with a cat and ended up with its throat slashed. On such a tiny bird, the gaping wound was impressive.

With my daughter cupping him in her hands and keeping him calm, we managed to stitch together the ragged edges of its delicate throat and, with a ‘song and prayer’, he survived.

Today, Bobby and my daughter have bonded very well and Bobby loves nothing better than being taken out onto the patio where it converses with other birds and outshines all their attempts at trilling.

In Bobby’s case, it was a situation where part of his natural anatomy had been ripped out. But with other cases, it was a condition of unnatural growths needing to be taken out.

Spike is one of those dogs I will never forget. Spike must have some Great Dane blood in him. We had removed an enormous melon-sized tumour from the side of his chest (‘Lumps, bumps and tumors’, March 3, 2013). Thankfully, the tumour turned out to be benign. Although he is starting to stiffen up a bit, Spike still walks tall and proud, and I was very happy to meet up with him a few weeks ago. With no hint of his huge lump ever having been there, he has now taken up residence with his owners in the UK. Spike is not the only intrepid traveller I have treated.

Globe-trotting Boston terriers Spoq and Principessa still travel far and wide with their owners (‘Pet travel and pet tourism’, July 21, 2013). I was delighted to read about nascent pet-friendly organisations in the Maltese hospitality sector. More and more pet owners are becoming aware of the importance of training their dog from an early age to socialise with other dogs and this emerging trend can only grow. If you spot two Boston terriers wrapped up close under the dinner table of a beautiful couple on the Champs Élysées, or maybe on Piazza di Spagna, you’ll know it’s Spoq and Principessa, once again on their travels.

The flying cat Rufus who had a great fall (‘A cat’s nine lives’, October 27, 2013) now has a flatmate called Lily. Apparently, Rufus has not yet quite taken to Lily and still hisses at her whenever she gets too close. Lily being a persistent cat doesn’t seem too put out. Rufus still roams the streets and Lily gets jealous, meowing at the window until he is back. Otherwise, it seems that Rufus has fully recovered from his daredevil leap. Of course, it would be great if all the cases or events ended perfectly, but that’s not real life.

The two energetic Fox terriers George and Bandit, living at the Island Sanctuary in Delimara, are still up for adoption (‘Adopt a beautiful abandoned dog’, December 23, 2012). The cross-breed Porto passed on before he could experience a loving home, but his mate Mimma has since been homed and her new family love her to bits. If you’re thinking of welcoming a dog into your home, think of these dogs.

Always tell your vet if you detect any noticeable change in your dog’s physical condition or behaviour

The team of volunteers at the Island Sanctuary are very experienced at understanding the characteristics of their canine charges and will help you find the right dog to fit your lifestyle and situation.

Pet rabbit Sally (‘Keep your pet rabbit healthy’, April 15, 2012) passed away about six months ago at the ripe old age of nine years. Sally had broken her front leg and we had managed to fix it by applying a leg cast. Rabbits make excellent pets and I am pleased to see this species increasing in popularity. Hearing news about Sally brought to mind another leg injury.

I regularly see Tigger, the amputee cat, when he visits for his six-monthly check-up (‘Can pets deal with amputation?’, October 30, 2011). Tigger had had a car accident when still a kitten and remained paralysed due to nerve damage in his right front leg.

His leg was amputated when he was just four months old. Tigger has made an amazing recovery and has demonstrated this by demolishing his own cat box.

He is a living proof of how well pets can cope on three legs when necessary. As contingency, his owners have now invested in a stronger cat box.

Thor, the Springer Spaniel, is also doing very well. Thor was found positive for leishmaniasis, or sandfly disease, as it is more commonly known (‘Timely prevention against sandfly’, February 3, 2013). With medication and regular check-ups, there has been no sign of relapse. With the weather warming up, now is the time to discuss the sandfly, fleas and ticks programme with your veterinarian.

There are many products but, depending on whether you have cats or dogs or both, as well as where and how you live, the programme your vet will recommend may vary according to your specific requirements. It is important that you get advice from qualified practitioners about the best possible prevention programme.

Pets cannot speak for themselves so, throughout the ups and downs of cases, veteri­narians like to know how your pet is doing, as this helps them in their treatment. Always tell your vet if you detect any noticeable change in your dog’s physical condition or behaviour. The prevention is better than cure adage still applies.

When treatment is necessary, it’s good to let your veterinarian know, either way, of the outcome.

thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com

Martin Debattista is a veterinary surgeon.