Editor’s Note: There are times when the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital Emergency and Critical Care must turn away patients because it has reached capacity with critical cases. Theo is one case that required a long-term stay.
When Theo arrived at Iowa State’s Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital, he was suffering the aftereffects of being struck by a car.
He was in shock. He had suffered a fracture of his left femur and was unable to walk. To make matters worse, the impact of the injury caused a traumatic hemoabdomen, a life-threatening medical condition where blood accumulates in the abdominal cavity.
Despite those injuries, Theo walked out of the hospital under his own power just two days after surgery to repair his fracture.
“When he arrived, Theo was in critical condition,” said Dr. Kimery Hankins, surgical resident. “He required a blood transfusion and resolution of his hemoabdomen before fracture repair could be pursued safely.”
While in surgery, Hankins and the surgical team repaired two distinct segments of Theo’s bone using a metal plate and screws with wires to hold the fragments together.”
“Theo went on to recover well and walked out of the hospital already bearing weight on his repaired leg,” Hankins said. “He has an excellent long-term prognosis ahead.”
If you and your animal need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at 515.294.4900.
September 2025