Lifesaving surgery was anything but boar-ing for the Animal Emergency Service vets

Chester the miniature pig owes his life to his veterinarian owner Dr Simon Lemin, two Bondi Vet stars and the talented team at the Jindalee Animal Emergency Service.

Lifesaving surgery was recently performed on a boar by his owner at Brisbane’s Animal Emergency Service.

Australian miniature pig, Chester, was rushed to the Jindalee Animal Emergency Service (AES) earlier this month after his owner, Simon Lemin, found him collapsed in his Chandler paddock on September 5.

Dr Lemin, AES director and veterinarian, said tests showed the 90kg pig had a life-threatening gastrointestinal torsion, or a twisted bowel.

Bondi Vet television show stars, Dr Alex Hynes and Dr Gerardo Poli, join other emergency veterinary staff to examine Chester the boar at the Jindalee Animal Emergency Service recently. Chester belongs to AES Director Simon Lemin. Picture: AES

“We found Chester looking like he was almost dead in the paddock,” he said.

“He was barely awake and couldn’t rouse him or stand him up to do anything.”

Chester, 8, was the first large animal many of the AES staff had operated on, as they mostly treat cats, dogs and other small household pets.

Dr Simon Lemin (purple) and Dr Gerardo Poli (blue) wheel Chester the boar in for life saving surgery at the Jindalee Animal Emergency Service recently. He belongs to AES Director Simon Levin. Picture: AES

“None of our clinics have had a boar come in before,” Dr Lemin said.

“We’re dog, cats and pocket pets vets, not really farm animal vets.

“We have had pigs in before, but it’s the first time we’ve had a full size boar that I’m aware of.”

Chester the boar was an unusual patient at the Jindalee Animal Emergency Service recently. He belongs to AES director Simon Lemin. Picture: AES

Dr Lemin opted to perform the surgery on his pet pig, with the assistance of the Bondi Vet television stars Gerardo Poli and Alex Hynes.

He said it was the first time he had operated on a boar and the team was able to successfully rectify the problem.

“He’s a normal pig again now and is back to chasing the girls,” he said.