05/05/2026
GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING
Meet Maple, the brave 1-year-old dachshund!
What started as a fun romp at the dog park quickly became a serious medical situation. Maple, unfortunately, ran into a stick that penetrated the left side of her chest. Her vigilant parents brought her in immediately, and Nurse Niamh’s initial assessment revealed a tiny puncture wound, approximately 1mm x 1mm. While small, it was clear that further evaluation was essential.
Dr. Lisa examined Maple and discovered that the stick had actually lodged under her skin, penetrating the muscle layers causing significant tissue trauma. Surgery was undertaken to remove the stick, unfortunately the stick had gone right through the chest wall so once removed, created a pneumothorax—a collapsed lung due to air entering the pleural space, preventing proper lung expansion. Surgery with both Dr Rachele and Dr Lisa was successful and post operatively, she underwent imaging in the radiology suite to assess the amount of air in her chest. A thoracentesis was performed to safely remove the trapped air and allow her lung to function normally again.
Following surgery, Maple spent 48 hours under careful observation at an emergency centre, receiving pain management and antibiotics to support her recovery. Now, with her stitches safely removed, she’s back to her cheerful, energetic, wiggly little sausage dog!
This little pup reminds us that even tiny injuries can be serious, and timely veterinary care can make all the difference. Maple, your courage and resilience are nothing short of inspiring!
Even though Maple wasn’t playing with a stick, this is a good reminder to dog owners on the dangers of playing with sticks.
Safer alternatives like rubber toys or balls are a much better option for playtime—keeping the fun without the risk.
