LANGFORD Vets have held a Heroes Tea Party to celebrate the recovery of Labradors Stanley and Barney, who were treated for a life-threatening condition.

Staff at the practice held the celebration on July 4, remembering how the two unrelated dogs were hospitalised for almost one month for tetanus treatment.

Despite being almost 100 miles apart, Stanley and Barney both developed tetanus around the same time, from a small wound.

Garston Vets in Frome and Mas Glas Brigend originally took care of the dogs, however once their disease began to progress they contacted Langford's Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) and Internal Medicine teams.

The two dogs, which captured the hearts of the staff, were cared for by a dedicated ICU team, which comprised of day and night nurses, including two Veterinary Technician Specialists in ECC, interns, and animal care assistants.

Weston Mercury: The staff worked day and night to nurse the dogs back to health.The staff worked day and night to nurse the dogs back to health. (Image: Langford Vets)

Other teams also did all they could to help get the dogs back to full health, including surgery, neurology, anaesthesia, physiotherapy, purchasing, insurance, front of house, and even the maintenance team, who ran a tetanus friendly fire alarm drill.

Vicki Black, hospital director, said: “The amount of hard work, expertise, and love for these two dogs really was incredible to witness and a great example of what Langford does so well."

The dogs, along with their owners, also attended the tea party, where they enjoyed a doggie birthday cake to celebrate Stanley's third birthday and Chew Moo ice cream. They were also given personalised Langford Hero bandanas.

Barney's owner Ian said: "Barney became ill a few days after injuring a claw. When our local vet diagnosed Tetanus we were shocked and devastated, knowing that, although extremely rare, when a dog gets generalised tetanus the chances of survival are at best 50:50.

"We were referred to Langford Vets and will never forget arriving there on a cold rainy evening in February with Barney unconscious and stiff as a board.

"For the first couple weeks of treatment, we didn't know from day to day if Barney would survive. Holly and the team at Langford called us twice a day with updates on his progress.

"The care that Barney received, and we received, was exemplary, both during his stay at Langford and afterwards, as the recovery from Tetanus takes many weeks of therapy at home after discharge."