Two Shattered Limbs and One Chance to Save Them
When two injured dogs, Yukon and Snoopy, were carried onto our Mobile Rescue Unit in Texas recently, it was because our shelter partners knew these animals needed more than basic care — they needed a place that would fight for their futures. They needed the expert team at our Pet Health Centers.
Both arrived with severely fractured right front legs. Senior Vice President and Chief of Veterinary Staff, Dr. Mark Verdino examined them and saw that their injuries required urgent orthopedic surgery. “Dogs don’t do as well with a forelimb amputation, so if there’s any chance we can save the limb, we do everything possible,” he said.
Both arrived with severely fractured right front legs. Senior Vice President and Chief of Veterinary Staff, Dr. Mark Verdino examined them and saw that their injuries required urgent orthopedic surgery. “Dogs don’t do as well with a forelimb amputation, so if there’s any chance we can save the limb, we do everything possible,” he said.
Yukon, a 4- to 5-month-old terrier mix, had suffered a fracture of the humerus that had been left untreated for at least two weeks. “The two ends of the broken bone were not even in the same zip code,” Dr. Verdino explained. He inserted a long metal rod down the center of the bone, secured it with wire, and carefully aligned the shattered pieces. Yukon had held his injured leg bent for so long that the ligaments and tendons contracted around it. “He does have motor function, so the prognosis is good,” Dr. Verdino said. “Once the bone heals, we can begin physical therapy to improve mobility. We’re optimistic he’ll regain some, if not all, function.”
Snoopy, a two-year-old hound mix, arrived wearing a splint. X-rays revealed, however, that the splint was doing more harm than good. “His radius and ulna were completely fractured, and the bones inside the splint had shifted,” said Dr. Verdino. “If left to heal that way, the leg would have ended up several centimeters shorter and completely nonfunctional. Ultimately, it would have been amputated.” Instead, Snoopy underwent surgery to stabilize the limb. “We placed a metal plate and screws on the radius and a small pin on the ulna. Surgery went well, and he’s already weight-bearing. His long-term outlook is excellent.”
Today, both Yukon and Snoopy are safe, loved, and finally on the path to recovery, but they have a long road ahead. Their surgeries, and the chance to save their legs, were only possible because of the generous support of our Help Me Heal Program. Advanced orthopedic repair, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and the intensive care these dogs require come at a significant cost, and we rely on compassionate supporters to help us provide this level of treatment.
