Our deepest gratitude to Dr. Ira Luskin and Dr. Heather Duncan for their dedication and professionalism. The surgical procedure performed in Hector’s mouth was tantamount to his long term health. Also, without their knowledge and expertise, the staff infection harbored in Hector’s sinus cavity may have gone undetected and fatal.

The Animal Dental Centers of Towson and Annapolis has been known to aide animal organizations in need in Maryland. They have worked on lions and polar bears at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and water dragons and fruit bats at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. They have offered their time and expertise to help injured cats and dogs with facial trauma and cancer that were rescued by BARCS and other humane societies in order to make them well and be able to find good homes.

Such was the case of Hector, from the “Stop Killing Dogs” rescue, and Doctor Luskin of the Animal Dental Center wanted to return him to health. Hector arrived to the Animal Dental Center of Towson with two holes in the roof of his mouth which connected directly into the nasal passages. These so called oro-nasal fistulas, lead to chronic infections due to the constant food that pushes into the nose when eating. These fistulas would eventually weaken Hector’s immune system.

After doing the necessary preanesthetic blood evaluations, the team at the Animal Dental Center went to work. They evaluated Hector’s cough with chest x-rays to make sure he did not have pneumonia secondary to the infection in his nose. Fortunately Hector’s lungs were fine. They then placed an intravenous catheter to give him the necessary pain medication and antibiotics and to supply the i.v. fluids which would help sustain his blood pressure and support his kidney function throughout the long surgical procedure.

After giving him a sedative, they then placed an endotracheal tube to help him breathe the gas anesthesia. Hooking him up to the monitoring machines allowed Dr. Luskin and his chief dental resident Dr. Heather Duncan to watch carefully all of Hector’s vital signs. Dr. Luskin after discussing the elaborate surgical procedure with Dr. Duncan turned the case over to her to carryout as part of her 3 year intensive oral surgery and dentistry residency. After flushing the debris which had accumulated in the holes and then taking a culture to check for bacterial and fungal growth, Dr. Duncan mapped out the intended graft site with surgical ink.

The procedure involved grafting tissue from the inside of Hector’s lips to close over the large openings. The tissue was slowly harvested and brought into place over the fistula. The recipient sites on the roof of his mouth were prepared to accept the graft. When the final sutures were placed, Dr. Duncan carefully evaluated the closure of the holes.

Hector’s recovery was monitored and when he started to regain consciousness, he was transferred to his cage where a technician waited to extubate (remove his breathing tube) and make sure that everything was going fine.

Hector recovered well from the long procedure and an Elizabethan collar was sent home to prevent him from rubbing at the surgical sites. A strong pain medication was given to him and as well antibiotics to aide in the healing process. His K-9 Kraving raw diet pureed to a baby food consistency was recommended during the healing process.

Hector is scheduled to recheck with Dr. Duncan on April 21st to monitor his healing. As in humans with cleft palate defects, fistulas often require multiple surgeries to close the holes. Along with the kind spirited individuals we’ve met along the way, the team at the Animal Dental Center is committed to make Hector well.

We hope you’ll join us again next Wednesday, April 22nd, for our final scheduled  installation of PROJECT PET: Rehabilitating Hector.

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