During a neutering action, we see in the distance a dog with a large tumor on the rear leg.
LIFE-SAVING COINCIDENCE
03 January 2022
Behlyu would not be there today if we had not seen it by chance during a neutering action in Banichan/BG .
He was still a puppy when an animal lover found the young Behlyu on the street. Even though he is still a street dog, the man has been feeding and caring for him for many years. How long they have been friends, he does not know exactly – maybe thirteen, maybe even fifteen years. The bond between the two is palpable.
Behlyu lives next to the premises of his rescuer, near the town of Gotze Delchev. The area is known to us; unfortunately there is a garbage dump that promotes the reproduction of unwanted dogs. We have therefore ensured that we can integrate the place into our regular castration campaign.
The walk of the old, friendly dog is slow and arduous.
His leg doesn't look good at all. It's a huge, open tumor that severely hinders Behlyu. We cannot just leave - we have to act.
Behlyu is not hungry anymore and loses weight every day.
The next morning he is in our clinic and is examined closely. Fortunately, the tumor is operable. Due to the enormous size, however, it will not be easy to remove it. It is still unclear how deep it is and whether muscles are also affected. It is also questionable whether there will be enough tissue and skin to close the wound after the operation.
The time for anesthesia has come.
We prepare Behlyu for the surgery, ...
... and the surgery begins.
We find that fortunately the tumor has not spread to the muscles. Behlyu will be able to walk well again.
After 2.5 hours, the elderly dog is relieved of its two-kilo load. A considerable amount of skin had to be removed. He will spend the next ten days as still as possible in the clinic so that the suture can close well.
Ten days later, Behlyu is back in his territory. His long-standing caregiver will ensure that the dog continues to take it quietly for two more weeks and does not tear the scar by too much exercise.
A month later we visit Behlyu. A few stitches of the scar have risen, which was to be expected. The wound still heals very well, there are no complications. He lies peacefully on the ground and has gained weight.
