Veterinarians Save Dog With Crushed Skull

Ziba the Rottweiler needed reconstructive surgery for her skull and jaws.

ByABC News
February 6, 2016, 9:31 AM

— -- An 8-month-old Rottweiler whose skull was crushed after being hit by a car four months ago has a promising road to recovery thanks to reconstructive surgery.

The dog named Ziba suffered severe injuries when she was hit, including blindness in her right eye, said the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Early CT scans found Ziba had several fractures to her skull along with brain swelling and lack of oxygen to her brain.

Because of Ziba’s youth, doctors were able to perform reconstructive surgery on her skull and jaws, which lasted five hours.

The Rottweiler was able to eat and use chew toys to exercise her jaws two months after undergoing the surgery, said the hospital.

Three months after the procedure, Ziba’s fractures appeared to be healing with no sign of infection or implant failure, according to the hospital. The dog remains blind in her right eye.