Over the last 8 years, I have seen many memorable cases. I have seen lots of interesting cases. I have seen lots of weird cases. But I have never seen a case of a dog with such unshakable happiness and perseverance as Wit (and the dedication of his owner!).Wit is a lovely two-and-a-half-year-old spaniel who presented to us last January for multiple grass seed abscesses under his armpits and belly. Despite removal of as many grass seeds as we could find and lots of nice medication, we suspect the grass seeds introduced an unusual bacteria under Wit’s skin, and Wit developed a significant infection throughout the skin to his belly. Unfortunately, it became necessary for him to be hospitalised and the compromised skin surgically removed. We were horrified to find that the infection had spread from the start of his chest to between his hind legs, and almost half way up the sides of his body. With plastic surgery techniques we were able to close as much of the open wound as possible but there was still a large area of open tissue that required bandaging while the skin grew back.
Now you would assume that if you had that proportion of your body healing, you’d feel a bit despondent. Not wanting to move that much. Curl up and watch Netflix. Not Wit! Wit was a little trooper who perked up once the devitalised tissue was removed, and ate his critical care diet with gusto. He was interested in going for walks outside and having cuddles with the staff. He was discharged a few days after his surgery for some TLC at home. This was the beginning of a long road to recovery for Wit and his owner.
Wit came in every four days for two months for intensive bandage changes. I’d be pretty sick of my doctor if I had to seem them that often. Not Wit! Wit pulled to get into the building and say hi to all his friends. He pulled to get out the back so we could change his bandage. He stood nicely on the treatment table for his bandage changes, and licked us as we itched his growing skin for him.
Wit got to have all the colours of bandage as his wounds healed and it became a joke as to what colour he’d be fashioning this week. He progressed to having a lovely string vest that covered his body from his neck to his hind legs to secure the manuka honey dressings on without rubbing on his legs. He got leg warmer style socks on his hind legs so he wouldn’t scratch the itchy growing tissue.
Wit’s final check for his wounds took place at the beginning of May, after four months and 17 visits to the vet. He has fully healed, with only mild tightness to one small area of skin – Wit doesn’t seem to notice at all.
Wit loves coming in for routine appointments now because everyone greets him by name and pats him as he goes by. I love seeing how happy he is with us and the amazing journey he has had with us – it makes all the blood, sweat and tears of our job worthwhile.
And really, it just proves, you can’t keep a good Wit down!
