A dog that was hit by a train in Kirov survived after having its paw and tail amputated.

      In Kirov, a two-month story of saving a dog named Ralph has come to an end. The animal was found by random people near the railway tracks — the dog was completely covered in snow. It later turned out that he had escaped from his owners and, presumably, had been hit by a train. How long he had been lying in the cold is unknown, but it is estimated to be several days.

      When Ralph was brought to the clinic, his condition was assessed as critical. The doctors diagnosed a shattered front leg, multiple injuries to the tail vertebrae, a traumatic brain injury, and severe hypothermia. The leg was bleeding, and the fur was stained with dirt and blood. Time was literally of the essence.

      The specialists immediately began the fight for his life: they performed initial stabilization, took blood tests, conducted abdominal and thoracic ultrasound (A-FAST, T-FAST), as well as a general radiological examination. This was followed by several days of round-the-clock work — pain management therapy, stabilization of the consequences of the traumatic brain injury, antibiotic therapy, and daily treatments of the injured leg and tail.

      After a few days, Ralph's condition was stabilized. A difficult but necessary decision was made — amputation of part of the tail and the front leg up to the shoulder. It was impossible to save the leg: the tissues were too severely damaged, and an infection was already developing.

      The surgery was successful. Within a week, Ralph began to stand up, relearn to walk, and show his character. Today, two months later, he has fully adapted to life on three legs: he walks confidently, runs, and enjoys each day.

      A team of doctors worked on saving Ralph — a veterinary surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon, an anesthesiologist, and a veterinary assistant. The clinic notes: such stories remind us of how strong animals can be and how much timely assistance means.