Hugo, Loki & Zahra

Fiona, Ian and their four children all adore gentle giant Hugo, their young Newfoundland, but at the tender age of only nine months he was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and referred to Noel for specialist treatment. Hugo is more than just a beloved pet, as he also provides a bridge with the human world for son Dominic, who suffers from autism, and so his diagnosis has meant the end of hopes that he could be trained as a therapy dog. As if the situation wasn’t challenging enough, Noel discovers that Hugo also has problems with his elbow and knee joints. “That’s not good,” says Noel. “We have some big decisions to make.”

Declan brings his hyperactive sidekick one-year-old Ridgeback Loki to Fitzpatricks for investigation of a developmental disease of joint cartilage affecting the talus bone which is part of the ankle joint of one of his back legs. Loki is still very young, and very lively, but has also been lame his entire life, and as a result, has always had to be kept on a lead. Noel diagnoses the condition of osteochondritis dissecans and discusses treatment options, old and new. Declan opts for surgery using a custom designed and manufactured partial joint replacement in an effort to treat Loki’s problem and alleviate his lameness. But just as big a challenge as the operation is Loki’s delightful but boisterous nature. Confined to quarters, he faces a long period of recuperation to ensure that his wounds heal correctly.

Retired couple Carol and Nigel bring mischievous seven-month-old Havana Oriental kitten Zahra to Fitzpatricks after she had a mysterious accident at home, resulting in a broken leg. The bones are tiny and are still growing. Noel discovers that the situation is more complex than he had originally hoped, because the fracture has spread towards a growth region in the bone near the elbow joint, and so he needs to change course if he is to have the best chance of saving Zahra’s leg.