Botox for St Bernards?
Boyce pre-op
Boyce the St Bernard has joined an elite number of dogs in Britain to have gone under the knife.
But far from reasons of vanity, Boyce was in desperate need of a facelift to cure his blindness.
Poor Boyce suffered from excess folds of skin which deprived him of sight. The condition, often seen in Shar Peis, rarely affects St Bernards as severely as it has done Boyce.
Paula Boyden, veterinary director of the Dogs Trust, explained: "Prior to his facelift, Boyce would have suffered terribly with sore eyes caused by the constant rubbing of skin folds on his eyeballs."
The operation involved removing a section of skin on the top of Boyce's head, so his skin could be 'lifted' and stitched back together, restoring his vision. Having recovered from his first facelift, Boyce now faces a second to reshape his eyelids. This will improve his eyesight further and reduce pain and discomfort.
Adam Levy, the manager of Dogs Trust Canterbury, where Boyce is being cared for, said: "He's a tough lad who bounces back quickly and is receiving lots of love and care from our dedicated canine carers. Despite his veterinary ordeal, Boyce is a happy chappy."
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
