The Dedicated Ophthalmology Referral Practice

First published on Thursday 21 October 2004 in Hereford Times:

Eyes right again for Army dog Elliot

A sniffer dog who saw active service in Bosnia tracking down explosives can carry on with his Army career thanks to a Leominster veterinary team.

Plastic lenses were fitted during a cataracts removal operation on Elliot, a four-year-old Labrador, at the pioneering Animal Eye Hospital, Marlbrook.

"Elliot is recovering by leaps and bounds," dog handler L/Cpl Steve Wenham said.

"He's a loveable character who always gives you a `cuddle' when you meet him. This operation will prolong his working life - he should be good for another five years and then we will find him a nice home."

Steve, of the Defence Animal Centre, Melton Mowbray, recently noticed his canine workmate wasn't seeing things so well. Elliot's eyes rapidly deteriorated to the extent that the lens of one eye became detached so he took sick leave from the squad and headed for Leominster.

Paul Evans, who heads the specialist Marlbrook veterinary team, said it was a pleasure to learn that Elliot was now back to his old self.

"A plastic replacement lens injected at the end of the surgery returned his vision close to normal," said Mr Evans.

"The same techniques are used in human surgery. Elliot should be back at work in the New Year."

Since the new hospital opened two-and-half-years ago more than 400 dogs and a number of cats have benefited from the expertise of the team of five veterinary ophthalmologists.

Among them was a `big cat' - an eight-month-old tiger from a zoo in East Anglia who underwent a similar operation to Elliot.