A cockapoo dog is now fully recovered and living with his new family after undergoing lifesaving surgery earlier this year.
Over £3,000 was raised for Thomas' hip dysplasia surgery after a fundraiser was launched by Oak Tree Animals Charity at the start of 2024.
Caroline Yon, Oak Tree’s Head of Animal Welfare, explained: "Hip dysplasia is a condition where the ball and socket of the hip joint develop abnormally leading to the ball not sitting properly within the socket. In the worst cases, it can lead to severe osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease and be incredibly painful."
After careful consultation, it was decided that Thomas, who was just nine months old at the time, would need a femoral head excision which costs approximately £900 per hip. This surgery will enable Thomas to live a happy life without pain and discomfort and is likely to be a success.
Following surgery, Thomas was able to move on from Oak Tree and has now spent the last six months living happily with his new owners Angie and Steve Green.
They shared the following update: "Since we began fostering Thomas six months ago, he has been through a lot. He has had femoral head excisions on both hips to combat the dysplasia and we’re very pleased to say he’s made a remarkable recovery. It’s less than three months since the second surgery and he’s no longer on any pain medication at all. His absolute favourite thing is running!
"Thanks to Oak Tree Animals' Charity, Paragon Veterinary Group - Pets and all the very kind people who made donations to the appeal for Thomas’s surgery, he can run as much as he likes. He also loves his food and treats (necessary to provide energy for running) and his favourite toy is Spikey, a hedgehog that Steve rescued from the road. You can tell he loves him because he’s had him for several months and still has all his body parts!
"We officially adopted Thomas on July 12 and we are looking forward to many adventures in the Lake District and beyond."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here