A cavapoo who was mauled in a dog attack has suffered a setback after returning home from the vets.

Hugo, a two-and-a-half year old cavapoo, was savaged during an incident involving two American XL pitbulls in Kemp Town, Brighton at the beginning of the month.

Bystanders said they thought he was dead as one of the dogs had him by the scruff of his neck and “shook him like a rag doll”.

Hugo was rushed to the nearby Coastway Vets in Freshfield Way and spent 12 days there, undergoing two life-saving surgeries and being given heaps of medication.

He was recovering well enough that the vet deemed it safe for him to return home, with regular check-ups, on Tuesday, January 17.

Hugo had a third round of neck surgery on Friday, January 20, to try to close the hole left after he was bitten there.

However, he has had to go back to the vets after a setback which his owner Louise calls “concerning”.

Writing on the fundraising page set up to support Louise and her partner with the “scary” cost of Hugo’s vet bills, Louise said: “He had been quite full of beans this past week, delighted to have returned home and was really progressing nicely.”

“However, on Monday, Hugo seemed very out of sorts.

“Almost depressed. He was raising his front paw which was shaking and he was wincing and squealing as he tilted his neck to the right. He seemed uncomfortable.”

Louise took Hugo to the vets again, who loosened and changed his neck dressing.  

She returned home and felt relieved, but Hugo was still not himself for the rest of that day.

Hugo went back to the vets and stayed overnight.

“I feel totally gutted about this setback because Hugo had been doing so very well,” said Louise.

Hugo is due to begin behaviour therapy.

Louise thanked the more than 700 donors on the fundraising page, writing “None of this excellent, immediate and emergency care for Hugo would be possible without your charitable and noble donations.

“You all know how grateful we are for these donations but I simply cannot say it enough - thank you, thank you, thank you.”