Calypso is a 6 month old, pit bull mix puppy who was saved from a high-kill shelter in Southern California on her very last day (she was scheduled to be euthanized within hours). Calypso, like so many dogs especially pit bulls and their mixes, had a very rough start in life: she ended up in the shelter with 2 siblings after their mother was neglected and starved to death and the owner was arrested. Calypsos 2 siblings looked more like Labs and were soon adopted, leaving her alone and overlooked by adopters and rescues alike due to her plain black color (black dogs have a harder time getting adopted than other colors). I was contacted for help with her at the 11th hour and although I normally wont take in dogs without the backing of a rescue group I work with (and no rescues were able to help), I agreed to take her in as a independent rescuer. Right after Calypso arrived in my home, I noticed issues with her confirmation and her legs, she has collapsing of the wrist and ankle joints, a problem Ive seen over and over in my 15 years of doing rescue, and resulting from poor nutrition and improper housing during key developmental/growth periods. I wasnt too worried about that since those issues can usually be corrected with proper nutrition and supplementation. She also was diagnosed with demodex mange, a very treatable condition commonly seen in dogs that undergo poor care and experiance stress that weakeness their immune system. About a week after her arrival Calypso began limping on her right front leg, again being a vet technician and an experianced rescuer I didnt panic- I could tell there was no brake or dislocation, and was hopeful I was dealing with soft tissue injury caused by too much puppy rough housing. However, the limp although intermittent, persisted for almost 2 weeks and didnt respond to the anti-inflammtories and muscle relaxants I was using on her. I was already planning on taking her in to xray the right front leg, when suddenly one Sunday morning she woke up lame and extremely painful on 3 legs! We rushed her to my vet who after exam and xrays diagnosed her with hypertrophic osteodystrophy- a very rare condition, with no real treatment and a uncertain prognosis. However, the attending vet as well as several others who reviewed the xrays, had doubts about what they were seeing on the radiographs and what the correct diagnosis should be. I ended up getting a referral through other rescue groups to go see Dr. Arn at Desert Inn Animal Hospital who specializes in orthopedic issues and is much more experianced with cases like Calypsos. Dr. Arn reviewed the xrays and quickly and confidently had a diagnosis- Bilateral Radial and Ulnar Dystrophy. The condition is correctable surgically, she needs a bilateral (both front legs) ostectomy to re-open growth plates in her wrists to allow her leg bones to properly grow. Approximately one month ago and with the generous help of many wonderful people we were able to raise the $2700 needed for surgery. Calypso underwent surgery with an orthopedic specialist to correct the right front leg and is recovering very well, with obvious improvement in mobility in that leg and greatly reduced discomfort/pain. She will go back into surgery in about two weeks to repair the left leg. If all goes well and with proper post-surgery care and management Calypso will have a normal, happy, pain-free life. Once shes well shell be available for adoption to a wonderful, loving, forever home. Calypso will need ongoing medications, physical therapy, laser therapy treatments, and possibly stem cell therapy as last resort treatment. Our fundraising efforts continue to help cover the costs of ensuring she gets the proper post-surgical care and has best chance at recovery. Please continue to network Calypsos story and fundraising efforts and donate as mmuch as youre able to, everything counts and is appreciated. Please SHARE her story and fundraiser petcaring/calypsolives Please also check out her fb page facebook/calypsolives
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 03:16:25 +0000
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