Lilly

Eight-year-old Lilly was taken to PDSA’s out-of-hours service after she suffered a traumatic jaw injury while on a family walk.

When eight-year-old Lilly faced a medical emergency, she was rushed to PDSA’s out-of-hours service, run by emergency pet care service, Vets Now.

The family’s summer evening stroll had barely begun when Lilly made a run into the woods. When she returned moments later, something had gone terribly wrong.

Lynsey (41, a part-time support worker) explained: “We were in Roddlesworth, somewhere we’ve walked with Lilly off-lead many times before. She spotted something in the distance and ran off. When she came back a few minutes later, something was wrong with her mouth – it was hanging off the bottom of her jaw, right down to the bone.”

For Lynsey and her young son, who was also there at the time, the sight of Lilly’s injury was deeply distressing.

Lynsey recalled: “Seeing her hurt was awful. My son almost passed out from the shock. We’d only been there ten minutes before we rushed her back to the car.”

Lynsey immediately called her local PDSA Pet Hospital in Blackpool, where Lilly is registered for free veterinary care because Lynsey is a single parent who works part-time. With Lilly’s condition critical, she was taken to PDSA’s out-of-hours service, Vets Now.

When she arrived, Lilly’s wound was still bleeding heavily. The vet team acted quickly, placing her under anaesthetic to stop the bleeding, assess the damage, and begin repairs. Thankfully, her jawbone wasn't broken, and the vets were able to carefully stitch her lip back in place.

Because the injury was so close to her mouth, Lilly had swallowed some blood. During surgery, she vomited, raising concerns about aspiration pneumonia (a serious condition that can happen if fluid enters the lungs).

Normally, pets don’t eat before surgery to reduce this risk, but in emergencies like Lilly’s, there’s no time. To help protect her, the vets gave her antibiotics, fluids, and strong pain relief.

Lynsey said: “The vet said it was a clean slice on her jaw. We thought it might be from a razor wire fence, but we really don’t know what caused it. It was too clean to be barbed wire or another animal.”

Lilly recovered well overnight, and Lynsey was relieved to collect her the next day. They returned home with further pain relief and antibiotics to keep Lilly comfortable and reduce the risk of infection.

Lynsey added: “When we collected her, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought her pretty face would look quite different, but the vets did an amazing job! She looked great, even if she’s now missing some teeth. She took her medication every day and continued to heal with no issues. We feel very lucky.”

At her follow-up check at Blackpool PDSA Pet Hospital a week later, Lilly was bright, happy, and eating and drinking normally. Her wound had healed brilliantly, and she was well on the way back to her usual self.

Lilly has been part of Lynsey’s life since 2020, when she joined the family as an emergency foster pet. Previously, she’d been rescued from the streets of Spain, but her first adoption hadn’t worked out – Lilly was anxious, unsettled, and struggling to adjust. Now Lilly is a different dog, thanks to the deep bond she’s developed with her loving family over the past five years.

Lynsey explained: “We believe Lilly was always meant to be with us. After working on her training and confidence, her silly, playful side began to shine through. I couldn’t bear the thought of her going through adoption again.

“She socialises with other dogs now and loves everyone she meets. She’s happiest at the beach, especially when the sun’s out. I guess you can take the dog out of Spain, but you can't take Spain out of the dog!

“She’s patient, loyal, and obedient. We couldn’t have asked for better. We love her very much.”

Lynsey will always be “grateful” for PDSA’s swift action, which ensured Lilly received the expert care she needed at a frightening time.

She added: “I’m so thankful to PDSA for their quick response to Lilly's injury, and to the emergency pet care service who worked with them to treat her. Without their help, I don’t know what we would’ve done. If PDSA wasn’t available, I would’ve been left with no choice but to use my credit card to get Lilly treatment.”

Total cost of Lilly’s treatment (funded by PDSA): £206.49

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