Fletcher, Molly & Hedgehog

George and Susan travel to Fitzpatrick Referrals all the way from Scotland with their lovable and adored ten-year-old Labradoodle, Fletcher. Previous surgery to fix a bad ankle fracture, sustained in an accident, has failed. Amputation isn’t a good option for Fletcher and the family have already considered euthanasia before making the trip to Surrey. Professor Noel Fitzpatrick discusses the options for revision surgery for the chronically injured ankle, and the family choose a custom-made plate for complete fusion. Sadly, Fletcher is overweight and has a pre-existing heart condition, so intervention carries added risk, but his family want to give him the best chance for a pain-free life.

Steve and Debbie arrive at Fitzpatrick Referrals with their two Carpathian Shepherd dogs - inseparable sisters Missy and Molly, whom they adopted as young rescue dogs. 11-month-old Molly has a severely dislocated hip, which Professor Noel Fitzpatrick suspects is the result of trauma experienced in her sad start to life at the tender age of only two months. He explains the three options available to them – surgery, amputation or euthanasia. They decide to opt for surgery, and because an off-the-shelf implant isn’t suitable, Noel will carry out a total hip replacement with a custom-made implant. It will mean she has to be separated from her sister for the first time ever.

A tiny hedgehog is brought to Fitzpatrick Referrals from the nearby charity Wildlife Aid, seeking his orthopaedic expertise for the treatment of two broken hind legs. Christened Harry by practice staff, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick needs to stabilise both his back legs with minute pins - the most delicate surgery, with not even a fraction of a millimetre to spare – if this little hog is to have any hope of finding a new hedge to call home.