Beloved Pet Back on All Paws

August 18, 2023

A much-loved greyhound who lost the ability to walk is back on her feet following complicated spinal surgery at a leading Essex small animal hospital.


Ten-year-old Phoebe spent several weeks at Linnaeus-owned Southfields Veterinary Specialists in Basildon following the major surgery, during which time she stole the hearts of those who looked after her.

Numerous members of the Southfields team were involved in Phoebe’s care and she was eventually allowed home as the vets worked out a course of physiotherapy and support for her owners to get her back on all paws.

Her fighting spirit has shone through and thanks to the veterinary physiotherapy at Southfields and the determination of her loving owners, Phoebe is now able to stand and is taking her first steps on her road to recovery.

Phoebe’s medical emergency started when it was thought another dog either jumped or accidentally ran into her, causing damage to her spine.

The first sign she was in distress was when she yelped when getting on and off a sofa, and also when another dog brushed past her.

It transpired Phoebe was losing the ability to use her limbs and was referred to Southfields’ renowned neurology and neurosurgery department for emergency treatment, where an incredibly delicate ventral slot operation on her spine was performed.

Jad Abouzeid, neurology intern at Southfields, said: “Phoebe was referred to Southfields following a six-day history of progressive tetraparesis which then acutely deteriorated.

“She was diagnosed with a C4-C5 intervertebral disc extrusion, which meant she needed major spinal surgery to be able to use her limbs again.

“Phoebe remained hospitalised at Southfields for a very long time, almost becoming part of the furniture. During her time with us she started to recover and all of us at the animal hospital were rooting for her, giving her the utmost care and attention.

“Our team’s dedication paid off and now she’s back home. Phoebe’s doing amazing well and her owners are delighted with the outcome.”

Southfields, which moved into its state-of-the-art £16 million Basildon hospital last summer, offers specialist services such as anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, exotics, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, radiation and soft tissue surgery.

For more information, go to www.southfields.co.uk or search Southfields Veterinary Specialists on social media.