Dolly’s Remarkable Recovery After a Three-Storey Fall

At Milton Keynes Veterinary Group, we’re constantly amazed by the courage of our feline patients, but few stories capture it better than little Dolly, a two-year-old cat who made a truly remarkable recovery after a serious accident this spring.

On the morning of 21st May 2025, Dolly’s owners rushed her to our Walnut Tree branch after she had fallen from a third-storey window. Understandably distressed, they reported she had a bleeding wound on her abdomen and had been vomiting but was still alert and able to move.

Our veterinary surgeon and director, Debbie Kilkenny, immediately assessed Dolly. She was bright and responsive, but her heart rate was very high and she had a significant abdominal wound with swelling — a worrying sign of internal injury.

Dolly was given pain relief, intravenous fluids, and antibiotics to stabilise her condition while diagnostic tests were performed. X-rays revealed that, although her diaphragm was intact, there was a rupture in her abdominal wall — allowing part of her intestines to slip through the torn muscle.

With careful monitoring and supportive care throughout the day, Dolly began to stabilise, and her heart rate gradually improved. Our dedicated veterinary nurses provided constant attention, ensuring she remained comfortable and stable.

The following morning, Dolly was anaesthetised for surgery. During the operation, our veterinary surgeon and director, Rory Burke, discovered a 10cm tear in the abdominal muscles and a damaged section of small intestine. The affected portion was carefully removed, and the healthy ends were rejoined (a procedure known as an enterectomy).

Later the same day, Dolly was already showing signs of improvement — eating small meals, grooming, and moving around her kennel comfortably. She was soon well enough to be discharged and return home.

By early June, her owner happily updated us that Dolly was doing very well and had returned to her normal routine.

Her strength, combined with her owner’s care and the swift actions of our veterinary team, meant she made a full recovery from what could have been a fatal fall.

We’re so proud of Dolly’s recovery — and grateful to her owners for trusting us through such a difficult time.