Source: Virginia Tech News
Zia, a German shorthaired pointer and avid hunting dog, underwent life-saving thoracic surgery at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital after months of unexplained lethargy. Her case showcased the teaching hospital’s collaborative model, uniting specialties like internal medicine, radiology, surgery, and pathology under one roof. Advanced imaging revealed two cavitated masses near Zia’s heart and lung, requiring invasive surgery led by expert surgeons Otto Lanz and Micha Simons.
The operation successfully removed a large 10-by-5 cm mass adhering to vital organs. Pathology identified the mass as a response to a migrating plant foreign body, a known risk for hunting dogs. Zia’s recovery included a blood transfusion, demonstrating the hospital’s unique capabilities. For Veterinary student Paige Copenhaver, observing the surgery was transformative, highlighting teamwork’s role in solving complex cases. Today, Zia is thriving, thanks to the hospital’s innovative care and multidisciplinary approach, which also enriched the learning experience for students.
Read the full story HERE: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2024/11/vetmed-vth-success-story-zia.html