Words and photos by
Erin Coulehan
In a groundbreaking moment for local veterinary medicine, two remarkable dogs – a resilient poodle mix named Hazel and a German Shepherd-Boxer named Bullet – underwent the city’s first canine craniotomies (brain surgeries).
Both dogs faced their battles with courage and emerged on the path to recovery with the dedicated support of a truly extraordinary team led by the skilled hands of Dr. Antonio Bowens, a veterinary neurologist and neurosurgeon at 24hr El Paso Animal ER Hospital, as well as an adjunct professor at the Colleges of Veterninary Medicine at University of Arizona and Tuskegee University.
Hazel’s journey began when her family noticed subtle but alarming signs: a change in her behavior and episodes where she would collapse, seemingly unable to control the right side of her body. This frightening change led them to Dr. Bowens, who quickly organized an MRI, revealing a right olfactory bulb tumor in the frontal lobe within the forebrain. For Bullet, it was a nighttime seizure that jolted his family awake, leaving them in panic and fear. Subsequent scans revealed a tumor on his left temporal lobe – also in the forebrain – disrupting his vision and causing recurrent seizures.
While craniotomies are intricate and risky procedures, Dr. Bowens and his team felt that both Hazel and Bullet could benefit from surgery, especially considering their quality of life without intervention. In both neurosurgical procedures, nurses (veterinary technicians) Jocelyn, Rhiannon, and Tanya provided unparalleled care, monitoring anesthesia, pain management, and vital signs with a practiced eye and steady hands. The nurses’ vigilance was crucial, not only to the success of the surgeries but also to the swift and seamless recoveries that both Hazel and Bullet experienced.
“They’re not just veterinary technicians,they’re nurses who play an absolutely vital role in every step. Without their expertise, this wouldn’t be possible,” says Dr. Bowens.
The craniotomy procedures required extraordinary skill and precision. In both cases, the hardest part was navigating through the bone of the skull to access the brain, especially in Bullet’s case, whose thick skull required particular perseverance. Once inside, the team was able to remove the tumors with precision, but ensuring these heroic dogs could thrive post-surgery was a whole-team effort. Dr. Bowens’ use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for both Hazel and Bullet added a pioneering touch to the procedure. Also, he has found success in incorporating HBOT, along with immunotherapy for neurological cases that have immune-mediated (auto-immune) diseases, such as encephalitis, meningitis, and others.
Dr. Bowens is one of the first veterinary neurologists and neurosurgeons in the world to use HBOT on neurological patients.
HBOT, which involves placing the patient in a specialized chamber with elevated oxygen levels, is relatively new in veterinary care but provides a significant advantage. The high oxygen levels improve tissue recovery, reducing inflammation and promoting healing, especially in cases like these involving sensitive brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerve tissues. Thus, Dr. Bowens considers it his “secret weapon,” helping with tissue reperfusion injury and enhancing recovery outcomes for complex brain and spinal surgeries, head truama cases, and spinal cord injuries. The therapy made a marked difference in Hazel and Bullet’s recovery, helping both dogs awaken seemingly unaware they’d undergone a major operation. They stood, walked, and even wagged their tails, which are behavioral signs of success that brought overwhelming relief and gratitude to their families and the medical team alike.
Today, Hazel and Bullet are back to their vibrant, playful selves. Bullet, though still sporting a protective cone, has returned to life with his family, and Hazel, once a frightened rescue, is back to her spirited, sassy self. For their families and the veterinary team, these moments are not just miracles of modern medicine; they are victories born of teamwork, compassion, and unyielding dedication. With veterinary referral and specialty services, like Dr. Bowens and his exceptional nursing team, El Paso’s and Las Cruces’ pets have a new lease on life, and their families have renewed hope for a future filled with health and happiness for their beloved companions.
