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by Kelly M Shaw on 13 December 2009 - 00:12
My puppy Brix had a small fracture in his growth plate and it healed wrong which caused his bone to bowe out as he started to go into his growing spert. We were quoted at $2,000 to almost $3,000 for this surgery to be done. All the vets that I've talked to said Brix needs this surgery immediately. I talked to an orthopedic specialist for dog's and he said he will not touch it b/c it is a very complex surgery. He said that he will most likely need metal plates and screws in him and it will be a long recovery process. We are scheduled to go to MSU this coming Monday. As some of you know I just do not have this kind of money for the surgery that is needed for my Boo Bah to make him all better again. Some very good friends on a GSD forum I'm on suggested that I put up a ChipIn link on my website. I know times are very difficult for everyone right now with the economy, and the holiday's. If people can chip in .50 cents, a dollar anything, hopefully the miracle will happen for Brix to be fixed and no longer in pain. You will find this box ChipIn on my homepage of my website just under my last row of links. My link to my site is under my signature in this email. I also have some people that are willing to put this ChipIn box on their face book page, etc. Anyone/everyone is more than welcome to copy this box to put on their Face Book page/MySpace, etc. If you need the HTML code to put up on your website (which I would really appreciate), please email me if you can not get the code off of the ChipIn box. Anything/everything will help out my Boo Bah Brix. He is almost 7 months old, just for those that do not know. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to get a hold of me either by email or phone. I did not download his x-ray pictures on photobucket, but they are posted on my homepage of my website. You can also help out by spreading the word that Brix is in serious need for this surgery. If he can not get this surgery he will have a malformed leg, face many painful obstacles in the future, possible amputation, etc.
P.S. This boy is an extremely hard hitting boy with an Extremely high tolerance for pain. He NOT once showed me that anything was wrong. I found out by him (for the first time) galluping slowly towards me and saw that his leg was not right. I immediately took him to the vet for x-ray's. I have those on my site, but if you would like to see a bigger picture, please ask. If you Truly know me, then you know my fur coated kids are Everything to me, and that I will do everything I can to help them no matter what. Please help me to help Brix, my Boo Bah.
Thank You
Kelly S
www.boeselagerkennel.com
by hodie on 13 December 2009 - 01:12
If the cost of the surgery is so high, what about the long term? For example, what if the surgery leaves the dog still somewhat crippled and in pain? Then what? I know everyone always wants to do the right thing, but I have to point out to you that yes, money and resources ARE tight for everyone. I would bet there are 100 people on this site who are in need at any given time. Sometimes difficult choices have to be made. If the choice is amputation, the dog could live a long and healthy life on three legs and would be spared the long recovery the one vet specialist speaks about. The cost would be far, far less, and the likelihood of success is high.
You are a breeder, even if you only are breeding one or two litters a year. Perhaps the sale of pups could fund the surgery if you really wish to pursue it. I bring these things up for your consideration. If this were my dog, even though he is young, I would likely make a different decision. I know many who are stuggling to keep their dogs, to feed them, to take care of their families. Think about it.
by KellyJ on 13 December 2009 - 01:12
Kelly,
I am so sorry you are going though all of this. I sent you what I could at the moment. If I could give you every dime you needed...I would! I fell in love with Brix when you posted his pictures. Give him a big hug for me please....
I am sure everything will work out...Depending on how my tips go this week I will be send you some more....Ugh business has been so slow. Sorry I dont have more to give right now.
ps...remember to give him that hug from me.
Kelly
by Allieg on 13 December 2009 - 01:12
Kelly will make the right decision, not the easiest one.
I am sure she will look into the long term health when she makes a decision with a professional.
As for her getting another litter on the ground to pay for his surgery probably wouldn't work out.If it could wait months and if she has a female coming into season.She is very small scale so she can't pump out litters like some breeders can.
by Kelly M Shaw on 13 December 2009 - 02:12
Allie, thank you for understanding my position.
Hodie, the orthopedic specialist that will not touch Brix as well as 4 other's I have talked to said the surgery is needed immediately. Which most likely might mean when we go to his appointment on Monday to MSU, he will probably get the surgery done right there. I am sure they will tell me in detail the outcome of the surgery, if he will be in pain for the rest of his life, etc, etc. If they don't tell me in detail, then I will definitely ask. As Allie stated I'm a VERY small scale breeder and Brix's surgery can not wait months, it has to be done now. Also when breeding if you care about your dog's/puppies you should know that the small amount of money I do get from breeding goes right back into the welfare of my puppies and their mom, nothing left over, ever. Brix does not have months to wait. I will not have a litter until sometime next year any way. If you also read my post I did say QUOTE: I know times are very difficult for everyone right now with the economy, and the holiday's. If people can chip in .50 cents, a dollar anything. It's not like I'm asking for a vacation or for a boat. To be perfectly honest, I was very hesitant on putting this up on the PDB board b/c the way some people can get.
If any one has any questions, want to see picture's of his x-ray's don't hesitate to ask. Hell you can call Michigan State University if you want to make sure I do have an appointment for my boo bah. I do apologize if I sound snappy, but only getting 4-5 hours of sleep every day and being stressed out over all of this doesn't help. I have exhausted every resource (as well as myself emotionally) that I could with no help. I am unemployed too. If I was working I would be doing O.T. to pay for this on my own and not bother anyone on here. I will make the best decision for my baby boy that I can.
Thank You
Kel
www.boeselagerkennel.com
by KellyJ on 13 December 2009 - 02:12
Will you PM me the HTML link so I can put it on my Myspace?
by shepherdmom on 13 December 2009 - 03:12
I hope everything goes well at Brix's appointment on Monday and that he can get his leg fixed soon. I know that you want to do what's best for your boy, which is why you have the appointment at MSU, to find out your options and the prognosis, and that you'll make whatever decision is best for him. From my experience working in a veterinary clinic, growth plate surguries usually go well and have high success rates. We just had one earlier this week with a young Boxer and a growth plate in his tibia. In fact, he's feeling so well after surgery that he has to be kept on a low dose of sedatives so he doesn't reinjure himself.
Amputation is not always a great option, especially on a front leg of a large dog. Dogs, like people, can experience phantom pains from limb amputations. Also, the stress that it would put on the rest of his joints long term would likely be devistating.
As a responsible and caring breeder, you cannot count on the $$ from your next litter to pay for what needs to be done now. What if, god forbid, an emergency c-section is needed, or you have a single pup. Small hobby breeders rarely, if ever, make any profit from their litters as they are always putting that money back into the care and well-being of their dogs.
Good luck Kelly, and keep us updated on Brix.
by Caldax on 13 December 2009 - 11:12
I am so sorry that you have to go through this. My boy is facing this same surgery next month as well but on both of this front legs. They will do one at a time and then a third to remove the plates that they will use to stabilize his legs. He has a condition called Retained Cartilage Core, (it is a rare condition) and basically the ulnar growth plate closed early while the Radius kept growing. It has left him very deformed and very easty westy and if surgery is not done, he will most likely blow out his elbow joints in the future. His issue is genetic and not caused from an injury. But injury is one of the causes of this condition. He is scheduled for the 1st surgery Feb 1. He will turn 10 mos old on January 26 and the vet wanted to wait, just a little while longer on him, to get past his rapid growth. He is a big boy and has grown at a really fast pace and is 29" tall already at 8 mos. The total cost for my surgeries will be $3,500.00 but I am lucky that I had the foresight to get health insurance on him when he was 8 wks old.
My heart goes out to you with this surgery as it is a rough one but the prognosis is excellent for complete recovery and complete correction. Very few dogs that have this surgery have any further issues later on. The only real risk is infection and other related issues but if done correctly it totally fixes the dog without much lasting effect.
You can read about the condition here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=g6vHfAaE58oC&pg=PA95&lpg=PA95&dq=retained+cartilaginous+cores+in+the+distal+ulnar+physis&source=bl&ots=0G1Tx57DcT&sig=NDxUzJ4YYUdTVDoUjipIaBZfbCo&hl=en&ei=DtPwSqKZMtHolAf-zp2DCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CA4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Here is a link to the actual procedure that they do: It is called an Osteoectomy.
http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/saortho/chapter_41/41mast.htm
If you need a fellow shoulder to lean on - please contact me. I know how you feel and am facing the exact same scenario.
Good luck.
Sue
by AmbiiGSD on 13 December 2009 - 11:12
Taking the leg off not only is the cheaper alternative but also the fastest and quickest to heal.
But that's just me....
by arbeiter on 13 December 2009 - 12:12
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