Isle of Man puppy saved by Cumbrian vet Kentdale Referrals

The golden retriever, Jadzia, was just a week old when she was taken to Isle of Man vet Lukasz Kuberka to be put to sleep.

However, Mr Kuberka couldn't bring himself to carry out the procedure and decided to work with the team at Kentdale Referrals, a Linnaeus-owned animal hospital in Cumbria, to ensure Jadzia would not only survive, but thrive.

Mr Kuberka, who owns the Medicor Veterinary Practice in St. Johns, said: "Jadzia was born in April and I knew she had a challenging path ahead when she came into my veterinary practice at just one week old.

Jadzia was handed to Lukasz Kuberka to examine when she was just one week old (Image: Supplied)

"She was incontinent and, after examining her, I suspected she had an ectopic ureter, a congenital condition that would require surgery.

"The breeder who had brought her to me had decided to put her to sleep due to the suspected condition.

"However, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

"I knew her condition, though genetic, was treatable.

"I fully understood the risks and potential complications involved, but I was determined to give her a chance.

"My immediate reaction was that I can't put her down and instead I will adopt her and repair her."

The breeder agreed to look after Jadzia until she reached eight weeks old and, during that time, Mr Kuberka sought advice from Kentdale’s Jan Beranek, a specialist in small animal surgery.

He then took a two-month-old Jadzia to Kentdale’s Milnthorpe hospital for a CT scan which revealed the puppy’s problems were even more severe than anticipated.

Mr Beranek said: "We carried out a CT scan and urography, a procedure where a contrast dye is injected into a vein to help us better examine the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.

"This revealed an enlarged right kidney and the tube (ureter) connecting the kidney to the bladder was also enlarged.

"As a result, urine was unable to flow from the kidney to the bladder in the way it should.

"This had caused the swelling within the kidney and ureter.

"Unfortunately, the kidney was so badly affected that it was no longer viable and needed to be removed.

"We then carried out the necessary abdominal surgery to correct the birth defect anomaly."

Jadzia pictured after her four hour operation at Kentdale Referrals (Image: Supplied)The whole surgical repair lasted four hours, including the CT scan, but Jadzia came through 'remarkably well' and recovered 'incredibly quickly'.

Mr Kuberka said: "By the next morning, we were back on the island and Jadzia was already showing her playful side.

"The first thing she did when I took her out of the car was to chase after the chickens.

"Her appetite had also returned to normal within hours, a testament to her resilience and strength."

Jadzia has healed well since her operation (Image: Supplied) As a vet, Mr Kuberka was 'especially appreciative' of the work carried out by the team at Kentdale.

He said: "I can't say enough good things about the team at Kentdale Referrals.

"From my very first email, the staff were fantastic.

"We felt warmly welcomed at the hospital, and the vets were friendly, informative, and supportive.

"Having my own veterinary practice in St. Johns on the Isle of Man, I wholeheartedly recommend Kentdale Referrals to my friends and clients.

"Their care and dedication were evident throughout our experience.

"I hope it highlights not only the challenges of Jadzia’s early days but also the joy she brings to my life as a result of the exceptional care provided by Kentdale."

Kentdale Referrals is a specialist-led hospital offering expert services in diagnostic imaging, arthroscopy, anaesthesia, orthopaedic surgery, spinal surgery, soft tissue surgery and physiotherapy.