by Alex Claridge

aclaridge@thekmgroup.co.uk

A hearing dog who became ill has avoided death because of a blood transfusion from a Canterbury greyhound.

Clay, who works for a hard of hearing Herne Bay lady, was given 400 grammes of blood by greyhound Nero after he was diagnosed with a bleeding tumour within his spleen.

The procedure was carried out by vets at the Barton Veterinary Surgery in New Dover Road on December 15 and it was thought Clay may not survive the operation.

Vet Julien Poublon oversaw the work. He said: “Clay was not very well and this condition had caused him to collapse.

“We removed his spleen and flushed and cleaned the abdomen and checked for any possible spread.

“Then we put nearly half a litre of blood from Nero into Clay, which is a significant amount.

“We had to make sure they were a match and that Clay wouldn’t suffer any adverse reaction.

“The first hour of the operation was critical and I’m happy to say Clay was doing well after it.”

Although Clay came through the procedure well, he returned to the vets on Friday and was diagnosed with having an aggressive cancer and may only live another six months.

The 11-year-old dog is a cockapoo, a cross of a cocker spaniel and poodle, and works as a hearing dog for Maggie Lee of Curtis Wood Park Road.

Mrs Lee, who lives alone, has had him for 10 years. He performs functions such as alerting her to the front door, telephone calls and various alarms.

Mrs Lee, 60, who works as an administrator, says she is now dreading a future without Clay.

“I’m relieved that the blood transfusion was a success, but we thought he may not make it through the night,” Mrs Lee said.

“Life is going to be very different without him. He will no longer be there for simple things like waking me up in the morning.

“Clay is a big part of me and taking him everywhere is as automatic as picking up my handbag and car keys.

“He has become invaluable to me and has given me back my will to live and my independence and security and a confidence I never had before I met him.”