Brought home Charlie today- a foster dog

[KatnipCrzy]

Today at work (vet clinic), one of our clients brought in her 4 year old Golden Retriever that tore the ligaments in his knee (appears to have torn ALL the ligaments in the knee, major damage).  Charlie was sedated, manipulated under sedation and x-rayed.  There are no broken bones, but his knee has no supporting ligaments intact- so they splinted his leg.  The owner is not able to afford the expensive surgery needed, plus her home involves steep steps to get him outside and he is 100lbs. 

I don’t know why, or what is was about him but I talked to the owner and instead of euth which was an option- she agreed to let me take him and foster him to see if I can get him into Golden Retriever Rescue, any rescue really, or if our other vet (practice owner) when he is back from vacation next week to see if he would have any ideas on repairing this or maybe even amputation.  He is a sweet dog- I had always liked Charlie when she had brought him in previously.  So he is chilling out at our house- he watches the cats, but has lived with cats before.  Our dogs realize he is hurt so they are leaving him alone after greeting him.  Charlie was laying at the top of the steps looking down into the family room at the bunnies- but he is 3 legged lame even with the splint- so he is just curious.  I filled some prescriptions for him at Target ($4 generics- NSAIDS and pain relievers).  Thank Goodness the meds are cheap because he is on special dog food that is $60 for an 18lb bag (he has allergies).

I had a Golden up until 2 years ago when he had to be put down for cancer.  It is so weird to turn around and see a Golden lying in the middle of the floor (Linus always lay in the high traffic areas too).  They are a similar reddish color- but other than that do not look alike- body shape or head type.

I hope that after the New Years I am able to contact rescue or make arrangements to help this guy.  I hope I don’t do all this- get attached and then get my heart broken.  But I just felt it was too soon to give up on him.

I will have to post some pics later.  Fortunately my husband was at the clinic to pick me up from work and he saw Charlie and said “yes”.  Normally he would not have to drop off/pick me up at work but he hit a pot hole in the road the other day and bent his tire rim and the replacement has not come in yet- so we are juggling the car schedule a bit.

 

[KatnipCrzy]

Here is a pic of him that I just took…….

 

11231371187471.jpg

[jerseygirl]

Oh Wow!! He is beautiful. I have a soft spot for the breed. My sister has had 2. One of which I had while she was interstate for a year. He died. She had another who recently was euthanised due to cancer also. Charlie’s colour is honey like! Sounds like he was meant to be in your home for a time. Well done to you and your husband. Keep us updated.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Awww how kind of you! He’s gorgeous-I love retrievers What happened to his leg though? Poor guy!

[KatnipCrzy]

Charlie slipped on the ice when he was running and that is how he injured his knee.  It is common for dogs to tear their Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and it can be corrected by expensive surgery.  But Charlie’s knee is so unstable that he most have torn more than his ACL.  When he was sedated it is way looser than is should be and has more motion in directions that it should not.  I am not really sure what will happen with him because the vet that saw him today does not do orthopedic surgery, our other vet (practice owner) has done some, but his knee is so much beyond typical injury at this point we are not sure what is needed to fix it.  When the other vet is back we will have him look at it- otherwise he would need to see a specialist. 

But breed specific rescue may be an option, our clinic has an Angel Fund and that might be able to help a little (but if I had to guess a ball park range I might think $3000-$5000 maybe for a complicated fix that this might need), amputation might be cheaper- although that sounds horrible and I hate the idea it might be an option but as opposed to euthanasia, at least it is a chance for him.  I think that we are going to have to weigh the odds at some point- surgery cost, surgery outcome, quality of life, and if his other hind leg can bear the brunt of his weight for recovery, etc.  The owner was not able to make the financial commitment, and although I can’t either, I can give him a little more time.  And hopefully with that time we can figure out what is best for him.  He is  a sweetie- he is very quiet, he is on pain meds but it is still difficult for him to walk a lot.  Our cats glared at him and then treated him with the same disgust that our other dogs get- so he fits right in.

[KatnipCrzy]

For anyone following along with this- I have a little bit of an update.  I posted the info to my Michigan Australian Shepherd group hoping they would have some suggestions, contact, info, etc…

One Aussie Rescue member suggested looking into prolotherapy- which I had never heard of before.

About Prolotherapy for Pets
Prolotherapy is a method of treating a disabled, joint by using injections to strengthen the weld of damaged ligaments and tendons to bone. The injections which are placed in the ligaments, tendons, and joint capsule stimulate the production of new bone and fibrous connective tissue and cause them to thicken. As these structures thickened they make a loose joint more stable and pain and lameness subside. Prolotherapy requires a series of monthly treatments to accomplish its repair, 4 to 5 may be necessary. With some very easy going dogs the procedure may be done with out sedation however most animals must be given at least light sedation for the procedure to be performed. The procedure may be used to treat a severely sprained hock (ankle), torn muscles, ruptured cruciates, hip displasia and arthritis, and degenerative disks.

And prolotherapy is usually cheaper than surgery (amputation or surgical correction), his injury may be so bad that he will not have full motion and ease of motion like he did before- but even a bum knee with scar tissue and hopefully some healing is better than amputating and putting all the remaining stress on the other knee (which is tough on a large dog).

Also it sounds like Golden Retriever Rescue in Michigan is very compassionate and known for being able to take dogs like this and help them.  They sound like they have the funds and the network to help Charlie!

I am waiting to hear back from my vet about prolotherapy and maybe if it is something that our other vet (practice owner) might be able to do- because it may even be possible for Charlie to be re-united with his owner.  His owner is really a good person, one of my friends is her pet sitter and she does love Charlie dearly and this might be an option to get him well enough without a HUGE expense and that he will still be able to get outside at her house to potty.

Julie

[jerseygirl]

Great news! Let’s hope prolotherapy is an option for Charlie. I was thinking his owner must have been distraught! Let’s hope they can be reunited!

[Author]

Messages