FEATURED DOG
Donahue
Donahue came to us recently from one of the farms here in Florida. The farm manager had told the trainer to send the dog back to her after he went down in a race at the end of May and there was a chance he had a broken hock. Instead of sending him back, he raced him twice more. Once Donahue did get back to the farm there was a question as to whether the leg was fractured or not. One vet determined that it was broken and placed the dog in a splint. When the farm manager took the dog back for a bandage change she was told to take him home, it was way too soon to change the bandage. The following week the dog stopped using his leg completely....he then tried to chew his leg and the bandage off.
Jade cut the wrap off and found this:
There are two more like it on the opposite side of the leg. We also feel that Donahue has blown a ligament as he cannot use the leg at all. We have him here at Grey Haven and are treating the wounds with wet to dry bandages and a collagen gel to help the tissue granulate. It looks worse now than it does in the picture....the tissue has pulled back and there is more of the bone exposed in all four wounds. We have a good healthy blood supply and we are changing the bandages every 24 hours. There is still a good chance that even after we get these wounds to heal, he will have to have surgery to be able to use the leg.
Donahue Update
Today was Donahue's first trip to the ortho specialist. We ended up doing films and an ultrasound to check the Achilles tendon (a first for us!).
Here's the story: since we don't have a great history on him we have to assume the hock was fractured in late June. After three vets hand their hands in diagnosing, treating, wrapping, x-raying and all around screwing up, this dog now has a wound on the point of the calcaneus bone that will not heal. What the ultrasound did determine was that the Achilles tendon was either severed or completely wrecked at the time of the tarsal fracture. Sadly none of the diagnosing vets even felt this was a possibility. And now we know why this dog has been three legging it for the last 2 1/2 months that we have had him.
Dr. Peck was happy to see healthy tissue with no infection.....the first issue is to close the wound. The second issue will be intense physical therapy to get the dog to use the leg again. For all practical purposes, healing of the fracture has taken place.
Monday Donahue goes back to Orlando where Stacey Maddern (she did Jerry Murray's amputation), the soft tissue specialist will either create a new wound, pull that skin over the old wound and suture it. Then we let the new wound heal. Or she will attempt a flap with it's own blood supply, much like they did with Jerry's flap. This is extremely expensive surgery and they have discounted it down to $1300 for us.
This very special boy has never once stopped wagging his tail and giving soft kisses.....his joy for life just amazes me. I ask for lots of good wishes and white light for him. To Alisha and Diane, I have nothing but gratitude to send your way. The upcoming auction will allow us to do what's right for this dog and then to take in one more. And you all know those needy hounds are waiting for our help.
Donahue Update
Donahue had surgery on Monday to close the hideous open wound that refused to granulate. He is now sporting a flap of skin taken from the inside of that leg along with it's own blood supply. Skin flaps are "iffy".....Jerry Murray had similar surgery and the first flap attempt failed, second was a success! If Donahue's fails, there will be no second chance. We have a back up plan but I am trying to be optimistic for him.
He came home with an E-collar on and has accepted it much better than I expected. I take it off when he goes out (he is leash walked only) and when he eats and drinks. He is rather pathetic looking with it on....
He is still sporting a morphine patch, takes multiple meds every 8 hours and I do hot packs every 4 hours to encourage blood circulation. This morning the flap was still nice and warm to the touch with no spots that appeared to be darkening which would mean the tissue was dying. He is very happy to be home and we are so glad to see him back! He is quite a trooper....never complains, happy to see his food bowl and is always looking for a cookie!
Donahue Update
I am supposed to be working on Holiday invitations but I had to stop and share. I was concerned with Donahue's flap...there are two areas (very small) that appear compromised and our appt is not till next Monday. I took some photos and emailed the surgeon. He told me to relax....the flap looks great. We just need to keep doing the hot packs until next week and then hopefully the sutures can come out.
I think the most amazing part of this whole experience is that Donahue has not used this leg since he broke it in June.....now he uses it more and more each day!!!
I know it's still too early to celebrate, but I feel so much better about putting him through the surgery.
Oh....the lump you see on the left is where they turned the flap of skin that came from the top of his leg...the suture line extends quite far up on the inside of the leg.
Amazing....huh??
