The Yorkshire Vet star Martin Paterson has described performing an emergency operation on a three-month-old chihuahua as his 'most challenging surgery ever'. The popular Channel 5 show aired the dramatic procedure on Tuesday night, where senior surgeon Martin prepared to save a seriously ill puppy named Luna.
Luna was suffering from fluid leakage into her chest, compressing her lungs and hindering her heart's function. Martin explained: 'This is not the type of surgery we do everyday and it's an unusual condition and she's an unusual dog to have it in.' Weighing just 1.8 kilograms, the same as a bag of sugar, the puppy required micro-surgery that Martin had never performed before.
Initially, Luna appeared to recover well after surgery, but a setback necessitated a second operation with a high risk of failure. After a gruelling procedure, Martin confirmed Luna had pulled through, adding: 'She is a tough little cookie so we just have to keep a close watch on her for the next few hours.'
Emotions ran high when owner Claire and her daughter Libby were reunited with Luna a week later. Claire struggled to hold back tears, saying: 'It has been an absolute rollercoaster.' Libby chimed in: 'You need to stay positive.' Martin reflected on the reunion: 'It makes it all worthwhile. She is such a happy little soul.'
