10 METRO Friday, November 27, 2009 D Pet set: Patients have a choice of special animal movies Picture: Gretel Ensignia New pet hospital is furry exclusiveAIR conditioning, plasma TVs, sur- round-sound stereos, shag pile carpets a dogs life is not what it was. A new state-of-the-art veterinary surgery has been opened by an Irish vet offering luxuries missing in many human hospitals. Instead of convalescing in noisy kennels, the pampered patients in this new 10million practice near Godalming, Surrey, UK, are nursed back to health with a unique post-op- erative rehabilitation programme. Fitzpatrick Referrals has three oper- ating theatres which would be the envy of most private hospitals and the cus- tom-built kennels have been construct- ed without bars and boast integrated air-conditioning, lighting, audio, TV and electronic monitoring systems. Its all designed to reduce stress. In conditions more familiar to multi-millionaire premiership foot- ballers, dogs and cats can also enjoy a full size hydrotherapy pool and physi- otherapy area. The practice specialises in joint resurfacing, limb-sparing cancer surgery and spinal disc replacement. Its open 365 days a year and handles about 60 animals a week. The hospitals X-ray and MRI scan- ning facilities are some of best in the world for humans or animals. In 2007, its founder Noel Fitzpatrick, from Ballyfin, Co Laois, was the first vet in the world to successfully apply a prosthetic limb to a dog where both bone and skin could grow into metal. Now he is developing his one med- icine philosophy of converging hu- man and animal surgery to reduce the need for experimental procedures. BY FRED ATTEWILL Cutting edge: Two vets operate on a dog, left, while the glass-fronted kennels are checked, right index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html28.html29.html30.html31.html32.html33.html34.html35.html