It’s Friday and it’s time for another cool case. Sometimes it’s hard to call these “cool” cases. Most of them were so traumatic to the pet and the owner. Maybe the better word sometimes is “interesting.” Today we meet Annabelle (name changed for privacy). Annabelle and her mom were in town visiting family. They had driven up to the Midwest from the South, and were just in town for about a week.
Annabelle was a new addition to the family. A sweet and energetic little Golden/Poodle mix of about 6 months of age. This was a bit of a family reunion and other extended members of the family were in town as well. As is common practice, we travel with our dogs. So, sweet little Annabelle was not the only dog at this family reunion.
On this beautiful Saturday morning, a few family dogs were outside running around. One of the other dogs was a 100lb Dogo Argentino, and he was unfortunately not friendly. Poor Annabelle was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and this other, quite mean dog raced over and attacked her. The family could not get to the dogs fast enough. When help arrived for Annabelle, she was on the ground under the larger dog. When they were able to move him away, they saw she had sustained numerous bites to her right hind leg, and was unable to stand.
Annabelle’s mom was a sister to a client of mine, so they called my emergency line that Saturday morning. I asked them to rush her over to the Animal Hospital so I could see her. When they arrived 15 minutes later, they carried Annabelle inside.
I always start with a complete physical exam while getting more information on the situation from the owners. She was alert but her gums were slightly pale due to trauma and stress. Her heart and lungs sounded normal, and her abdominal palpation was normal as well. When I supported her to see if she could stand on her right hind leg, she was not able to support any weight at all. There were obvious puncture wounds on her right hip and leg, with a fair amount of bleeding. After giving her an injection of pain medication and making a comfortable spot for her to lay on her side, I got to work trying to locate, shave, and clean all of her puncture wounds. The jaw size on a 100lb Dogo Argentino is LARGE, with very LARGE teeth. Therefore, these puncture wounds were not small. Many went through the skin and down to the muscle tissue. But, my concern was for more than skin and muscle. Why could she not walk? Was it all due to pain? Could there be nerve or bone involvement?
I asked her mom if I could take an x-ray, and she was very willing.
Here you see poor Annabelle’s x-ray. That 100lb Dogo Argentino broke her right femur in multiple locations. There was a crushing injury at the femoral head where it attaches to the hip, and a more obvious fracture ⅔ down the femur. This was a case that needed immediate referral to an orthopedic surgeon.
Living in a small, very rural town, the closest Animal ER with an Orthopedic surgeon was 2 ½ hours away. After a quick phone call to the ER to alert them she was on her way, we bandaged her limb, got her as comfortable for the drive as possible, and they were off.
Annabelle lost her leg that day in surgery. The fracture ⅔ down the femur was very fixable, but the crushing injury to the bone near the hip could not be repaired. Her best chance for mobility was amputation. That’s tough news after recently bringing home a new puppy. But, she was young, and would heal fast. Getting around on 3 legs would take some adjustment, but dogs and cats with 3 legs do AMAZING. There are canine frisbee champions with only 3 legs.
Annabelle and her mom were back in town a year later and stopped over to the Animal Hospital for a surprise visit with me. She was a happy, healthy, and beautiful 3 legged dog, so full of energy, and very graceful on those 3 legs. Mom was very grateful for the help I gave her that day a year ago, and wanted to stop in so I could see how well she had adjusted.
There is a lesson to be learned from this case. I am sorry if some of you are offended by this, but there are some breeds of dogs THAT ARE NOT FRIENDLY. A 100lb intact (not neutered) Dogo Argentino can be a prime example.
I’m not saying that 100% of these and similar breed dogs are mean, but the percentage of friendly ones pales in comparison to the percentage of those that are aggressive. Dog parks, family reunions, or playgrounds with children are NOT PLACES to socialize aggressive dogs. Every dog needs training classes, but some breeds need training in a controlled environment with professional handlers.
Annabelle was a new addition to the family. A sweet and energetic little Golden/Poodle mix of about 6 months of age. This was a bit of a family reunion and other extended members of the family were in town as well. As is common practice, we travel with our dogs. So, sweet little Annabelle was not the only dog at this family reunion.
On this beautiful Saturday morning, a few family dogs were outside running around. One of the other dogs was a 100lb Dogo Argentino, and he was unfortunately not friendly. Poor Annabelle was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and this other, quite mean dog raced over and attacked her. The family could not get to the dogs fast enough. When help arrived for Annabelle, she was on the ground under the larger dog. When they were able to move him away, they saw she had sustained numerous bites to her right hind leg, and was unable to stand.
Annabelle’s mom was a sister to a client of mine, so they called my emergency line that Saturday morning. I asked them to rush her over to the Animal Hospital so I could see her. When they arrived 15 minutes later, they carried Annabelle inside.
I always start with a complete physical exam while getting more information on the situation from the owners. She was alert but her gums were slightly pale due to trauma and stress. Her heart and lungs sounded normal, and her abdominal palpation was normal as well. When I supported her to see if she could stand on her right hind leg, she was not able to support any weight at all. There were obvious puncture wounds on her right hip and leg, with a fair amount of bleeding. After giving her an injection of pain medication and making a comfortable spot for her to lay on her side, I got to work trying to locate, shave, and clean all of her puncture wounds. The jaw size on a 100lb Dogo Argentino is LARGE, with very LARGE teeth. Therefore, these puncture wounds were not small. Many went through the skin and down to the muscle tissue. But, my concern was for more than skin and muscle. Why could she not walk? Was it all due to pain? Could there be nerve or bone involvement?
I asked her mom if I could take an x-ray, and she was very willing.
Living in a small, very rural town, the closest Animal ER with an Orthopedic surgeon was 2 ½ hours away. After a quick phone call to the ER to alert them she was on her way, we bandaged her limb, got her as comfortable for the drive as possible, and they were off.
Annabelle lost her leg that day in surgery. The fracture ⅔ down the femur was very fixable, but the crushing injury to the bone near the hip could not be repaired. Her best chance for mobility was amputation. That’s tough news after recently bringing home a new puppy. But, she was young, and would heal fast. Getting around on 3 legs would take some adjustment, but dogs and cats with 3 legs do AMAZING. There are canine frisbee champions with only 3 legs.
Annabelle and her mom were back in town a year later and stopped over to the Animal Hospital for a surprise visit with me. She was a happy, healthy, and beautiful 3 legged dog, so full of energy, and very graceful on those 3 legs. Mom was very grateful for the help I gave her that day a year ago, and wanted to stop in so I could see how well she had adjusted.
There is a lesson to be learned from this case. I am sorry if some of you are offended by this, but there are some breeds of dogs THAT ARE NOT FRIENDLY. A 100lb intact (not neutered) Dogo Argentino can be a prime example.
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