July 14, 2025
Rudey the cocker spaniel made headlines after a freak accident involving a dog poo bin resulted in the amputation of his leg, carried out by our team at Ark Vets in Colchester.
The nine-year-old dog suffered a severe front leg injury, requiring emergency care before being referred to Ark Veterinary Centre for surgery.
Rudey was out on a walk with his owner Steven when he chased after his ball, skidded on the wet ground, and collided with a bin attached to a metal post. The impact shattered his right front leg, requiring urgent veterinary treatment.
“Steven heard this terrible yelp and could see straight away that Rudey was in agony,” said Holly, Steven’s partner. “He lifted him into the car to get home, and it was awful to see his leg so badly bent like that. We knew we needed help immediately.”
Rudey was initially treated at an emergency vet before being transferred to Ark Veterinary Centre.
After initial examination, vets advised surgery to remove the dog’s leg and prevent further risks. While there was the option to refer the dog for specialist treatment, amputation was suggested due to the severity of the leg damage.
After consideration, Holly and Steven made the tough decision to choose leg amputation surgery for the dog.
The procedure was carried out by Sharon Lewis, veterinarian and Clinical Director at Ark Vets.
“Although referring him elsewhere to try and save the leg was an option, we weren’t sure about possible neurological damage.
“During the surgery we found nerve damage which meant he wouldn’t have been able to walk properly even if the leg was saved.”
Weeks on from the procedure, Rudey the dog has made a remarkable recovery from his leg surgery and is back enjoying life. He’s even made headlines, with his story recently featured by BBC News Essex, highlighting the rare nature of the accident and his ongoing resilience.
“I wasn’t sure about the amputation at first and felt a bit guilty about opting for it, but the Ark team were so reassuring,” said Holly.
Sharon also shared an update on Rudey’s recovery:
“He has done spectacularly well and even by his first post-op check he came in walking fine and really happy.”
Holly and Steven were delighted to get their beloved dog home and nursed him constantly through the first few days after the leg amputation. He quickly made a strong recovery and has adapted incredibly well to the loss of the leg.
“You can obviously see he only has three legs, but he’s really back to his old self,” added Holly.
“When he’s out he can’t run as far as he used to, but it doesn’t seem to bother him at all and he’s still so active. It was such a crazy accident and we’re so grateful to Sharon and everyone at Ark for all they did.”
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