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Tripawds ASAP Fund Pays for Dug’s Folllow-up

The Tripawds Foundation ASAP grant #5 goes to Tripawds member w979059 to help pay for Dug’s unexpected amputation follow-up surgery. Read on for his story, and learn more about the Tripawds Amputation Surgery Assistance Program to see if you qualify.

This grant is made possible by the charitable contributions of Greyhounds Rock Fredericksburg and Tripawds fans like you. Thank you for your support!

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Dug Needs Another Surgery

We adopted Dug from a small, local ASPCA as a 4 month old puppy. We noticed that his left front leg was shaped awkwardly and he rarely used it to bear weight. We took him to our vet who recommend x-rays. While trying to get x-rays they realized he could not extend that leg without being in pain. The x-rays showed that the growth plate in his ankle had fused together, likely due to some injury as a young pup.

Dug
Dug the day we got him with all 4 legs, and his x-ray pictures.

The longer bone in his leg continued to grow while the shorter bone did not. It caused his leg to curve and the more he grew the worse it got, it was beginning to pull his elbow out from his shoulder. We opted for amputation which he recovered from beautifully. However, a few months after his amputation, we noticed his “nub” was swollen.

Dug
Dug recovering from surgery the first time.

We rushed him back to the vet, they drained it and found it was full of fluid. Over the next three months we worked with our vet with daily visits. We tried everything from steroids, draining, and leaving it hoping it would fill with scar tissue. Every two days we were draining 12 mL of fluid from it so our vet opted for another surgery. During this surgery she found an unexpected surprise. What she expected was a seroma, however, she found a thick, rubbery membrane as if his body was creating a joint on the end of his nub.

Dug
The swelling of Dug’s “nub” and what we were dealing with.

Her best guess as to what happened was that his growth was so stunted as a puppy from the fourth leg that he then grew about 2” more than anticipated forcing his bone to rub on the soft skin forming this membrane. It was cut out and his skin stretched and reshaped to fit his new surgery site.

Dug
Dug at home sleeping with his best friend, and the results of the second surgery.

Surgery went well but as he woke up from anesthesia he panicked and ended up bumping into a wall which resulted in the surgery site being broken open and a lot of bruising. This led to more daily visits to the vet for the next two weeks. Dug is now healing well and adjusting to the changes like a champion!

—Ashley, Dug’s Mom (aka: w979059)

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