Dr. Joseph Harari, our board-certified veterinary surgeon at Veterinary Surgical Specialists in Spokane, came out to the ranch today for a visit with a friend of his. I took the photo this afternoon of Joe and Alayne with our recent arrival, Trooper. Joe had examined Trooper last week, the morning after he arrived from a shelter in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Joe suggested today that we have Dr. Britt Culver, our internal medicine specialist in Helena, do the surgery on Trooper's hip -- it's essentially a femoral head ostectomy, or FHO, which Britt has done before on a couple of our dogs. Trooper's hip joint has been obliterated from trauma at some point in the past, which also had broken his pelvis. The FHO procedure will "clean up" the joint and make it easier for him to use that leg. Once Trooper has healed from this procedure, Joe will proceed with the more complicated surgery on Trooper's left front leg.
In this next photo Trooper is fascinated watching Spark, one of our barn cats, walk by the isolation yard. You can see how that left front foot turns outward:
Trooper, by the way, is no longer the shy, quiet fellow he pretended to be when he first arrived. No, sir. He's become a happy, bouncing, jumping-with-joy character. He's also found his voice, and he sounds like ... well, a hound dog. To match those ears of his.
Merry Christmas, Steve and Alayne, and everyone at RDR.
Posted by: Linda | December 25, 2007 at 07:06 PM
What a laugh I got imagining Trooper woofing it up, hound dog style, around the ranch. Add another satisfied, loved and comfortable client to the list of RDR.
It was nice to see Spark from a far too; I have a real fondness for his Mom and sibling.
Posted by: Boundforglory | December 25, 2007 at 07:18 AM
I love Trooper, so glad he made it home for Christmas!! Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Mary Young | December 24, 2007 at 07:38 AM
Makes sense that Trooper would understand he'd found his home so quickly.
Posted by: Janet | December 24, 2007 at 06:13 AM
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!! Atta' Boy, Trooper You keep on enjoying your new home. You are safe and will get the medical care you need , then you will be a really HAPPY dog. Tooper,dear, young hound dog,please try to remember, cats are nice "people" ,too.
Posted by: Taylors from Olympic Peninsula in WA | December 24, 2007 at 06:03 AM
When a dog finds his voice, it's a good sign, isn't it?:-) Trooper is going to have a great Xmas this year, probably for the first time in his life,thanks to your TLC!
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | December 24, 2007 at 04:48 AM
I wish I had a little trooper like that, please keep us informed on his progress.
Posted by: Andrew | December 24, 2007 at 01:15 AM
Glad to hear it didn’t take Trooper long to feel at home at RDR, and I look forward to future updates on this gorgeous fella.
Posted by: Shirley & James, Portland, OR | December 23, 2007 at 09:34 PM