Surgeons reconstruct border collie’s skull after horse kick fractures facial bones

Veterinary surgeons at the University of California, Davis, reconstructed extensive fractures of the skull and facial bones in a 5-year-old border collie that was kicked in the head by a horse, restoring the normal position of her right eye. The university highlighted the case as its "Case of the Month" for September 2026.

The dog, Tessa, arrived at the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) about an hour after the injury and was admitted through the emergency service, according to UC Davis. Clinicians found swelling on the right side of her face, a sunken right eye, bleeding from the nose, and palpable fractures in the temporal and midface regions.

Imaging showed extensive facial trauma

Once Tessa was stabilized, the emergency team consulted the hospital's Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Neurology, and Ophthalmology services. A computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed fractures involving the right temporal, orbital, nasal, and maxillary bones and the midface, as well as hemorrhage within the nasal sinuses.

The maxillofacial repair was led by Boaz Arzi, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, chief of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service (DOSS), with oral medicine fellow Serena Bonacini, DrMedVet, and oral and maxillofacial surgery fellow Ingrid Tundo, DVM, DEVDC, MRCVS, EBVS.

“Tessa sustained some of the most extensive facial injuries we see,” Arzi said in a UC Davis report.¹ He explained that the bones along the side of the skull were broken and displaced far enough to move the eye out of its normal position, and that the bones around the eye were also fractured. “We were able to reconstruct the fractures to the skull’s original form allowing immediate function of the skull and eye,” he said.

Imaging confirmed placement of plates and screws

Surgeons stabilized the fractured bones with 3 titanium miniplates and 16 screws, the university shared. Tessa remained stable under anesthesia and recovered normally. Before she left the operating room, an ophthalmology faculty member and ophthalmology resident examined her eyes to verify their position and function, UC Davis said. A postoperative cone beam CT scan showed the plates and screws were correctly placed, the fractures were reduced, and normal orbital positioning had been restored.

Tessa was hospitalized overnight, was eating comfortably by the following morning, and was discharged afterwards, according to UC Davis.

Recovery at home

Three days after surgery, Tessa returned to the VMTH to have a stent bandage removed from her face. Clinicians use this type of dressing after maxillofacial procedures to protect the surgical site and limit postoperative swelling and air accumulation beneath the skin. Because a conventional bandage cannot be wrapped around a dog’s face and jaw, suture loops are placed in the intact skin surrounding the incision, and a sterile dressing is laced tightly over the wound.

At a 2-week recheck, owner Andrea Barbee reported that Tessa was recovering well at home and showed no signs of pain or discomfort, according to UC Davis. “She kept coming to me with her Frisbee trying to tell me that she was ready to play again,” Barbee said.¹

Tessa has since been cleared to resume activity and is competing in herding trials with sheep, ducks, and geese.

UC Davis said Tessa is scheduled to return in about 3 months for a follow-up CT scan to evaluate plate positioning and fracture healing. Her care team expects a full recovery.

Reference

1. Warren R. Dog’s fractured skull repaired after being kicked by horse. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. September 28, 2026. Accessed September 29, 2026. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/dogs-fractured-skull-repaired-after-being-kicked-horse