Simba’s Life-Saving Surgery and Remarkable Recovery

When Simba arrived at the clinic with severe trauma and difficulty breathing, it was clear he needed urgent, life-saving care. Thanks to a heroic effort by the Te Puna team and unwavering support from his owner, Simba made a full recovery.

Simba presented in critical condition after suffering what appeared to be a dog attack. He was struggling to breathe and clearly in pain. Vet – Dr Nore De Ridder and the team immediately stabilised him and performed chest x-rays, which revealed multiple severe rib fractures.

Simba required both abdominal and open chest surgery to repair his ribcage and restore his ability to breathe unaided. Throughout the operation, nurse Courtney manually breathed for him using positive pressure ventilation.

Following surgery, Simba remained hospitalised for a week, under intensive care with a chest drain, antibiotics, and pain relief. Nurses Ruby, Sam, and Sophie provided round-the-clock care.
Unfortunately, due to infection from the initial trauma, Simba’s wounds broke down. With guidance from Vet – Dr Nore De Ridder, he underwent about 12 sedated bandage changes to manage the open wound and support full healing.

After two long months of recovery and resilience, Simba pulled through. His progress wouldn’t have been possible without his incredible owner, Kristy, who attended every appointment and never left his side. Today, Simba is home, happy, and back to his curious, mischievous self.