A man who flew to Turkey for veneer completes the rescue of a stray dog and had him treated in the same clinic.
Frankie Lomo, 35, from west London, initially ventured to Antalya, Turkey to get a new bright smile for a staggering £6,000.
However, his vacation was turned upside down on a night out when he came across a homeless poodle with a seizure on the side of the road.
The Londoner then took the pooch, now named Hercules, to the clinic where he had had his veneers fitted a few days earlier, in the hope that doctors might be able to help.
In a strange turn of events, The Saluss Medical Group clinic also served as an animal treatment center called Pet Clinic Turkey.
Frankie Lomo (pictured) who flew to Turkey to get veneers, ended up rescuing a stray dog and had him treated at the same clinic.
He found Heraklis (pictured) on the side of the road with a seizure just days after receiving dental treatment from The Saluss Medical Group
It cost Frankie £4,000 to treat the poor dog, who received care for a brain injury, epilepsy and a knee injury.
According to the 35-year-old, that vet bill was around £5,500 cheaper than what it would have cost in the UK.
It comes as vet prices soar in the UK, with pet owners being lured by cheaper care packages in Turkey.
Some cosmetic surgery clinics now offer combined offers – operations for owners and treatment for animals in poor condition.
In total Frankie managed to save £30,000 in vet bills and veneers in the Mediterranean country.
“I found Hercules on the side of the road and I didn’t know who to call,” she said
“So I called the guy from the clinic because he spoke English.
“She said they have a pet clinic to sort Hercules out – she put him on all the right meds and did all the MRIs.
“It’s amazing what they did. Now I’m going to keep him when his treatment is over and it’s okay for him to come home.”
It cost Frankie £4,000 to treat the poor dog, who received care for brain trauma, epilepsy and a knee injury
According to the content creator, the vet bill was around £5,500 cheaper than what it would have cost in the UK
Frankie – who goes by Mr PD on social media – had veneers, dental bone grafts and implants in September 2023 at Saluss Medical Clinic.
Hercules is currently being boarded in Turkey until he is healthy enough and has the correct certificates to come to the UK and live with Frankie.
Pet Clinic Turkey is a new treatment center opened by Saluss Medical Group, which offers treatment for pets as well as a range of dental procedures, hair transplants and tummy tucks for humans at its sister clinic.
The dog found days after Hercules has since spent the last six months at the clinic being trained, fed and boarded, preparing for life in the UK.
“When I first met Hercules he was so sick, scared and fragile and now he’s a completely different dog,” Frankie said.
“I’ve seen through video and FaceTime that he’s like a completely different dog.
“People always ask me why you paid £4,000 for a stray dog, but if you think about it in the UK, vets, training and buying a dog, you’re looking at over £4,000.”
Since discovering his beloved Hercules and treating him, the content creator decided to book seven-year-old Shar Pei Roxy for a knee operation at the clinic.
While his Shar Pei fixes his knee, Frankie will discuss the next stage of his dental treatment.
“It will only be £1,900 even with the conversion,” he revealed.
“But here in the UK, we’re looking at £3,500, which is still 30 to 40 per cent cheaper.
Frankie believes the combination clinics are destined for success, adding: “I can 100 per cent see this kind of thing being successful.”
Pet Clinic Turkey said: “When people travel for these procedures at the same time, the costs for hotel, transportation, flights are reduced because they only need to come for one trip.
“Veterinary operations here are becoming increasingly popular with British tourists because of the cost and at our hospital we provide everything you can get in human hospitals.
Recent reports suggest that as vet prices soar in the UK, pet owners are being lured by cheaper care packages in Turkey
Top UK vet Pete Wedderburn previously warned pet owners not to take their pets to medical clinics in Turkey
Pete Wedderburn, a leading vet and animal welfare commentator, told MailOnline: ‘When it comes to providing the best care for pets, quality control is very important and I would be concerned about this aspect of treatment in less controlled countries than United Kingdom.
“I would also be concerned about the welfare of sick pets being transported on long stressful journeys. To me, it would make much more sense to discuss the cost of any treatments in detail with your local vet, and if you can’t afford the recommended approach, ask about less expensive options.
“This is much more likely to benefit the pet than a long trip to a clinic with less regulation and a higher risk of second-rate treatment with complications!”
When asked what advice she would give to pet owners considering getting cosmetic surgery along with their pets getting procedures, she cautioned: “Don’t do it.”
“I suspect that my concerns about the health of pets probably mirror similar concerns that doctors would have about human patients.”
