A Rare Condition and a Determined Pup
A five-month-old Bulldog named Lucky, born with a rare congenital defect, has undergone a life-saving surgery in the United Kingdom. Lucky was born without an anus, a condition known as Atresia Ani Type 3. Thanks to specialists at West Midlands Veterinary Referrals (WMR), the pup now has a new lease on life.
A challenging diagnosis
Lucky’s owners, who live in Rugeley, quickly noticed something was wrong when she began struggling with infections and constipation shortly after birth. Their local vet referred them to WMR, where Dr. Chris Lancelott and his team took on the case. Dr. Lancelott described the condition as a severe form of atresia ani with a rectovaginal fistula, which required a complex solution.
“Lucky was, in fact, unluckily born with a congenital defect that meant she had no anus,” Dr. Lancelott explained. “In layman’s terms, I needed to create an anus, reposition the rectum, and attach the bowel to this new anus.”
The complex surgery
In the summer, Lucky underwent a delicate three-hour surgery to address the issue. Dr. Lancelott had to carefully remove a fistula (an abnormal internal passageway) and mobilize the rectum to create a functional anus. Lucky was monitored closely during recovery, spending a week at the clinic before returning home to continue her recovery.
“The surgery is challenging in these cases, as type 3 atresia means the closed bowel is far away from where the anus should be,” Dr. Lancelott noted.
A successful recovery
After months of being fed a liquid diet, Lucky is now thriving and eating solid food. Her owner, Frances Silk, expressed relief and gratitude, saying, “We realized within the first week of Lucky being born that she wasn’t ‘plumbed’ correctly and, as a result, she suffered from water infections and constipation.” Today, Lucky is steadily gaining strength and transitioning to a normal diet.
“Lucky is slowly going from strength to strength,” Silk shared. “She can now eat kibble just like her mum.”
Lucky’s case is a testament to modern veterinary science and the dedication of the WMR team. Thanks to their efforts, Lucky has a bright future ahead and is living comfortably after her life-saving surgery.