Last week when I took Widget in for her eye surgery, I also had our new arrival Timmy along for his initial exam with our vet, Dr. Brenda Culver. It was clear when he first came that his front leg was a problem for him -- he can't move it, and it hangs off of him like a dead weight, so when he tries to run or scamper about, it throws him off balance. We'd watch him lurch downwards every time he hit his stride on that side of his body. In other words, when he would have put a normal leg down on the ground in the course of walking or running, instead it causes him to lurch, and the foot sometimes smacks the ground in the process and bounces off. Then he has to try and recover by pulling himself back up while maintaining his gait. It makes him look like he's stumbling.
We had thought when we first saw him that he might have a contracted biceps tendon, like our dog Jasper (long since adopted out to a wonderful new home). When Jasper wanted to run, he would pull his leg up, tuck it under him, and take off like a rocket. But we quickly realized this wasn't like Jasper's leg at all. In Brenda's orthopedic exam, she found there isn't anything left to work with in terms of surgical repair or rehab -- the leg is too far gone, and there is radial nerve damage which may still be causing him pain. This is the result of trauma of some sort, and we can see the scars on his foot.
Brenda's recommendation is that we amputate the leg. But that's going to have to wait, because he turned out to be heartworm positive, which makes surgery risky. So this past weekend he was at the clinic being treated for heartworms, and will spend this week there on cage rest. Once he returns to the ranch, he will have to be on strict cage rest for another month. It will be at least another month after that before Brenda will be able to take care of his leg.
It's an odd thing, but all of our three-legged dogs have always been among the fastest, most athletic animals here. While it's too soon to know how fast Ella will be, I have no doubt that Timmy will be racing around soon enough.
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Please vote for the ranch in the Shelter Challenge -- and you can vote every day! We're currently in third place, putting us on track to win $3,000 for the animals. Enter "Rolling Dog Ranch" and our state postal code, MT, for Montana, and it will bring up our listing.
Vote in the Shelter Challenge here.Last year we won $3,000 in the first round and then won the $20,000 Grand Prize in the second round, so your votes really do add up and make for a wonderful gift for the animals here.
Thank you!
Timmy I hope the time flies by & you will be racing as fast as you can around RDR....many hugs & prayers for a speedy recovery & for the pain you might experience now to be little or none!
Thank you for caring for Timmy & making it possible for him to have a healthy life.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | March 04, 2010 at 07:19 PM
Thank you for taking care of Timmy.
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | March 04, 2010 at 01:32 PM
Timmy, I'm sending you huge hugs and positive vibes for your upcoming treatments. I'm sorry that whomever had you before was such a nasty, careless person to not make sure that you got Heartworm preventative treatment! That always makes me so mad. Ignorance is not always bliss when it comes to things like that. I'm so sorry that you're going to have to go through all that, but I know you are going to get the best possible care. You're in the finest place right now, so try to relax, sweet boy. Your life has just become better than your finest dream!
Warm hugs all around,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger, Tobias & Tlingit | March 03, 2010 at 05:54 PM
Please keep us updated on the progress of all the new dogs at RDR. It absolutely makes my day. And thank you both for all you do for these animals!
Posted by: Taz | March 03, 2010 at 05:51 PM
Is it true that the heartworm test can't determine the level of infestation (larvae or worms)? Our chocolate lab/something mix showed up heartworm positive and went through the treatment. We never did crate him, just didn't allow him to run or over exert. He sailed through just fine.
Posted by: Lynne Parker | March 03, 2010 at 04:08 PM
RDR is on the main homepage of Best Friends website today!!
AWESOME!
Thoughts and prayers for Timmy!
Posted by: Leslie - PA | March 03, 2010 at 02:26 PM
Thankfully Timmy is now in your - and your wonderful vet's - good hands!
Posted by: Dawn | March 03, 2010 at 11:39 AM
Bless all the humans who worked to save Timmy so he could live out the rest of his life at RDR...from now on he will be loved and cared for in a wonderful home!!!
Posted by: Brenda | March 03, 2010 at 09:50 AM
Hope Timmy's feeling well soon. Thanks for what you guys do. Every day is like a miracle.
Posted by: Adele in the Bronx | March 03, 2010 at 07:57 AM
Thanks for the update, Steve.
Poor Timmy, he's not going to have much fun in the next few weeks...:-/
But once he's heartworm free and recovered from his amputation, he'll be a rolling dog in no time, that's for sure!:-)
I'll be keeping Timmy, too, in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | March 03, 2010 at 03:18 AM
Bless his little heart, he has so much to deal with. But with all the wonderful medical care, love and affection, he'll be bouncing around soon! Sending good vibes for a successful heartworm treatment and surgery.
Posted by: Ann | March 03, 2010 at 01:27 AM
He has the sweetest, calmest, most adorable face!!! I'm so glad he's found Rolling Dog!
Posted by: Kenna | March 02, 2010 at 11:02 PM
How does one make sure an active young dog gets bedrest? That sounds like a tall order, but I am sure that you 2 are well versed and practiced on how to do that. Poor Timmy sitting in a crate for months. Surely the outcome will be positive.
Has Ella warmed up to her new human family members yet? How is her mobility?
Have you chosen new names for Stevie and Helen yet? How are they doing?
How is Miss Widget? Somehow I am certain that she has adjusted very well. Thank you very much.
I hope the twine issue is behind you now. You have too many other things to focus on, I am sure.
Best wishes.
Posted by: Ev | March 02, 2010 at 09:36 PM
Heartworm positive. I might have guessed. Just like Ella.
I'm sending a small donation towards their treatment. Thank you again for all you do.
Posted by: Lynn (in Louisiana) | March 02, 2010 at 09:33 PM
Timmy (I love the name Timmy), you will be all right with three legs. It doesn't seem to slow anyone down and it sure sounds like a good idea to get rid of that bad one that you have. Then you'll really be able to run like the wind and enjoy yourself. Which you're going to do for the rest of your life anyway.
I know the confinement for heartworm will be tough, but you'll look back on it and won't even remember it. Get well soon, sweet boy. I want to see some Timmy action shots real soon.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | March 02, 2010 at 08:30 PM
Oh, poor Timmy! Trauma and a bum leg that has to come off are quite enough, I think; the heartworm truly adds insult to injury! I hope he will tolerate the cage rest for so long, although he may actually welcome it. Hang in there, Timmy, ol' boy!
Posted by: Vicki Small | March 02, 2010 at 08:18 PM
Thank you Steve.....I have been waiting for a Timmy update. That is too bad he has heartworms....so many dogs do not seem to get the preventative measures to stop this plague. Poor babies like him have to suffer the results. I am so looking forward to the day his leg is out of the way and he can run like the wind.
Posted by: Marla | March 02, 2010 at 07:56 PM
Sweet little boy! We'll be praying for his quick recovery and then his surgery.
What???? No words about twine today?? You are a good sport! We just love ribbing you, cause we love your posts that keep us chuckling and bring joy to our day!
Posted by: Leila - Washington | March 02, 2010 at 07:30 PM