Miniature Dachshund saved after horrific accident in Southampton

Miniature wirehaired Dachshund Liesel suffered the record number of road traffic accident injuries seen by a specialist vet hospital after being crushed under the car outside owner Lesley Hallett’s Hampshire home.

The injuries, including seven broken ribs, a fractured pelvis, punctured lung, extensive internal damage and nerve problems, were so bad it seemed possible she may even have to be put to sleep.

But vets at Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists, SCVS, in Ringwood, managed to piece six-year-old Liesel back together.

Now she’s fully recovered and is back enjoying life after her ordeal.

Lesley had just returned home from a trip away when the horror accident happened.

“I’d lifted Liesel into the house while I was unloading the car, but she got out and ran across the road to see a dog,” said Lesley, who lives near Winchester.

“When I called her, she started to come back but a car came speeding over the brow of the hill and ran her over. It was going way over the speed limit and didn’t stop.

“The car went right over the middle of her body and my poor girl was left lying there crying. I couldn’t see any blood as all her injuries were internal.”

Lesley’s neighbour ran them to an emergency vet in Southampton, who found she had multiple traumatic injuries and would need specialist care.

They contacted SCVS, a referral centre with specialists covering anaesthesia, orthopaedics, diagnostic imaging and soft tissue injuries, who were able to take her.

“I’ve been a vet for 10 years and I’ve never seen so many injuries in a dog after a car accident,” said vet Mara Sprocatti, from SCVS.

“We often see damage to parts of a dog or cat, but when we did a full body CT scan, Liesel had injuries literally from head to tail.

“They included broken ribs, multiple pelvic fractures, broken bones in her legs, a punctured lung, contusions to her kidneys, spleen and liver and a tail-pull injury causing problems with her being able to urinate.

“There were so many things to try and deal with at the same time, we had to speak to the owner about potentially putting Liesel to sleep. But she was very committed to us doing everything we could.”

After a lengthy surgery to repair both orthopaedic and soft tissue injuries, then intensive care for over a week at SCVS, Liesel was well enough to be allowed home to continue her recovery.

“Mara and the team gave me huge confidence they could help Liesel right from the beginning, despite the amazing number of injuries,” said Lesley, who moved her bed to sleep beside Liesel and look after her.

“She’s become a bit of a legend locally with people who’ve heard about all she’s gone through. It really is a miracle, and I can’t thank everybody at SCVS for all they did.”

Added vet Mara: “Liesel is definitely a fighter, and it was so nice to see her make such a remarkable recovery.”