Puffle is a 14-year-old Maltese Shih Tzu with a spirit far bigger than his size. Over his life, he has visited SASH twice—both times at moments when hope felt fragile, and both times when expert care made all the difference. Puffle’s story is one of resilience, trust, and the life-changing impact of specialist veterinary care.
His first visit to SASH came after we discovered a lump under his jaw. Our local vet delivered devastating news: it was cancer, and we were told euthanasia was the only option. Something in us couldn’t accept that answer. We sought a second opinion at SASH, and it changed everything. Puffle underwent major surgery to remove part of his jaw along with the cancer. Against all expectations, he recovered beautifully. There was no loss of quality of life—he remained happy, playful, and unmistakably himself. The only lasting reminder is his now-crooked mouth, which gives him a unique smile and has become one of his most endearing features. That outcome was so remarkable that our local vet now refers other patients to SASH after seeing what was possible for Puffle.
Years later, SASH North Ryde again became part of Puffle’s journey, this time for glaucoma. Under the care of Dr James Bryan, we began managing the condition early in 2025 with multiple daily eye drops. Despite best efforts, Puffle eventually lost sight in his left eye. By December, his eye pressure had become dangerously high, and the next step was eye removal. Making that decision for an elderly dog was terrifying, but we trusted the team completely and knew we couldn’t allow him to live in pain.
Dr James performed the surgery with exceptional care, and once again, Puffle amazed us. His recovery was smooth, his comfort restored, and his personality unchanged—except now he proudly carries a new nickname: Pirate Puff. Thanks to SASH, Puffle has been given not just more time, but a life filled with dignity, comfort, and joy. His story is proof that with specialist care, even the hardest diagnoses can still lead to hope.
– https://sashvets.com/wp-content/uploads/fluentform/ff-d54ec8896c0b0f3134d58169d5303f08-ff-0112346A-672C-4632-98DC-BD32959F9B11.jpeg, https://sashvets.com/wp-content/uploads/fluentform/ff-8f4f12a4dec004b871ec76d410cec4ac-ff-IMG_7445.jpeg – North Ryde NSW
