Kei gets life-saving surgery after home invasion

Kei, a wonder dog who was shot in the face while trying to protect her owners during a home invasion, has come through her operation with flying colours.

Philanthropic pet insurer dotsure.co.za partnered with the University of Pretoria’s veterinary team at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital to save Kei’s life.

After being shot during a home invasion, she was immediately rushed to the vet for emergency treatment, where she was stabilised and referred to Professor Gerhard Steenkamp at Onderstepoort for reconstructive surgery on her jaw.

“When we first met Kei, she had a large defect in her tongue and left lower jaw where the bullet passed through,” said Steenkamp. “The jaw’s defect was approximately two centimetres and the big molar tooth was destroyed. Due to this, the jaw was not stable and Kei’s jaw deviated to the left.”

In the next two months, Kei went under anaesthesia for three life-saving operations.

“The first surgery closed the tongue and removed the bony fragments from the remaining jaw. Due to the movement in her unsupported jaw, a small area dehisced and [surgeons had to reoperate] in order to close this defect.

“After an agonising seven weeks, a CT scan of Kei’s head was transformed into a series of pictures that the developers could use to create a plate for Kei.

“We commissioned the manufacturing [3D printing] of the plate in titanium from the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein and operated on Kei once the plate was fitted,” said Steenkamp.

A relieved Sarah Lamont, Kei’s owner, says the loyal family pet is recovering well at home.

“Kei is in high spirits and on the mend. Our family is so grateful that dotsure.co.za generously stepped in to assist us financially.

“Words cannot express how unbelievably healing this has been for our family and we are finally able to move forward and overcome this terrible ordeal. We cannot thank the team enough for all they have done.”

“This surgery is a second of its kind in SA and will make a significant contribution to veterinary medicine and the industry as a whole,” says dotsure.co.za chief operating officer David Roache.

“The first surgery – also sponsored by dotsure.co.za – was to save Harold, a rescued dog who had suffered years of abuse and neglect by his initial owner. He had a broken jaw that had drastically deteriorated and left him unable to eat.

“University of Pretoria specialist prosthodontist Professor Cules van den Heever, together with a team from the Central University of Technology, Free State, developed and 3D-printed a custom titanium plate for Harold and he, too, is now on the path to recovery.

“When we heard Kei and Harold’s stories, we knew we had to do what we could to help these incredible animals.

We’re thrilled to have been part of rolling out innovation at this level and remain committed to paving the way for animals in need.” –