Brook has been with us less than three days. This morning, concerned with her severe limping and not getting anything but vague answers from her last owner- I took her to see my vet.
She was perfectly behaved during the visit and they really did put her through the wringer. It was determined that she has what is the equivalent of two blown kneecaps! The operation can be done at OSU for a whopping $3,000.00 per knee! Holy smokes!
After the visit, I set down with my vet to discuss the reality of the situation. There is no way in the world we can come up with that type of money (and don’t worry) I am not turning this into a fundraiser plea. I am just sorting through everything.
It puzzles me that no one who was with her before noticed her severe limping and did something about it- because had they done so, it would have cost a few hundred dollars and she would have been spared…months…years of pain.
So they put her on Trammadol (low dosage at first) I am going to start doing physical therapy with her nightly (bicycle movements) on her back legs. I will take her to lake and the river- the goal is to get her to eventually swim and strengthen the weakness of her back legs- and the Good Lord willing, I will also be able to get some weight off her. Then we will see what happens. She weighed in at 115 pounds, she should be about 75-80. I can walk her but only on level land, so walks in the forest right now are out because in order to get to my trails- there is a bit of a hill to climb.
Mike was really mad (as was I) when the final verdict was presented. He wanted to take her right back to the previous owners, but I stopped him. After all, they didn’t do right by her before, so why put her back in that situation? It just angers me that they let her be in pain because she is sweetness personified.
I guess bottom line- be mindful of answering Craiglist ads. There is nothing free about a “free dog” and she has to have at least a chance of being painfree and happy. If I can get enough weight off her- there is a second surgery available that my own vet can do, but it won’t cure the problem- it will give her a few years of mobility (sort of like why people have to have their knees replaced after a few years.
Poor Brook, and wouldn’t you know it, when I got home from the vet, I had an email from one of the previous owners telling me how much they love this dog. I am afraid to say that my return reply to her wasn’t very supportive to her feelings. Most everything they told us about Brook is turning out to be a lie. The vet clinic has never heard of her, and the rabies tag she wore around her neck, when traced back- is registered to a 14 year old Lhapsa Apsa (or however you spell it!)
Just say some prayers for this sweet girl and I will keep you informed of our progress. I think she isn’t the only one who is going to lose weight in the future! Here she is in our field.
