Boss’s Saga

1:11 a.m. glared at me from the light on my phone. When I answered, a frantic young voice explained how her 5 month old puppy just got away from her and returned holding one leg up and in a lot of pain. I explained that a significant trauma had probably occured and he should be looked at ASAP at a emergency facility. She questioned the cost and I told her if she felt he could make it till morning I would see him first thing and determine how bad it could be. She decided that it was the only way she was able to financially provide the first steps in handling this accident.

Boss, a happy aussie/ husky mix was still wagging his tail while laying on the exam table, but I could tell he was in a lot of pain. Any movement of his leg illicted a yelp; a serious dislocation or fracture was an imminent diagnosis. My hope was dislocation of the hip joint — probably no surgery required, something this client could afford to manage if things went well. Pop it back in place. Sling the leg and a dog this young should heal well.

We sedated and anesthetized and got our survey xrays. The hip was not dislocated, but fractured–specifically, a growth plate fracture of the head of the femur. This has to be stabilized surgically. Usually pins are placed through the neck of the femur and driven across the fracture into the remaining head to stabilize and allow healing.

Growth plate fractures are special fractures that can lead to more complications, but overall we expect a good outcome from surgery and in the orthopedic world puppies are known as “healing machines.”

I call a couple of ortho surgeons and get estimates. $2500 -$3500 is where we’re falling for this 5 minute midnight escape. I have a distinct feeling that this whole situation is about to turn on money… and the lack there of. I cross my fingers hoping for a rich uncle or a pet insurance policy I don’t know about!