American Expatriate Costa Rica

Complete amputation makes Duke’s surgery difficult

Vida Silvestre Costa Rica Facebook

Vida Animal Costa Rica Facebook

On Saturday, veterinarians started the surgical procedure to save Duke, the puppy wounded with a machete in La Unión, Tres Ríos.

The vets confirmed they will try to reattach the top of the snout that was completely cut off, but they are unsure whether it will be effective or not, because it was a complete amputation. They will try to reconstruct the nose and close the wound.

We don’t have many veterinary tools as other, more-developed countries, so there are resources in the Costa Rican veterinarian practice that do not exist and that limits us,”

said María Jesús Mesalles, a spokesperson for the organization in charge of the case, Vida Animal.

After the machete blows, Duke’s nose broke off and was only supported by the right lip. However, he began to bleed heavily and the top of his snout had to be completely removed. The puppy is now stable, although it has been difficult to keep him calm due to the pain and medical devices that stuck in his body.

For now there are no suspects of the assault, so there is still no formal complaint.

crhoy.com