September Patient of the Month- GD

GD, a 70lb, 3 year old canine mix is a water baby. She and her housemate can be found frolicking around the water most any weekend.  However, one day this summer play went wrong. While jumping off the dock, GD caught her left rear leg in the motor of a boat.

When she arrived at the HAH she was anxious, to say the least, and bleeding profusely. An exam and x-rays with Dr. Carlos showed a degloving injury* isolated to her foot with multiple tendon lacerations and two fractured metatarsal bones (foot.)  GD was very lucky.

Surgery was necessary and the wound was immediately prepped. Large amounts of dirt and grease from the boat motor were cleaned out prior to any repair.  The superficial extensor tendon was severed completely and un-repairable while the 2nd metatarsal bone was reconstructed using soft tissue and allowed to heal by callus formation. The skin was partially closed to allow for drainage and a splint was placed to stabilize the fractures.

 

 An extended schedule of antibiotics and bandage changes were then made. Over a period of one month, GD returned to the HAH for multiple bandage changes; some every few days and later, once a week. GD needed to keep calm and quiet to allow the wound/bone to heal. A task, easier said then done with all of her energy. During these weeks she continued her mischievous behavior chewing on her bandage and even jumping back in the water a few times.

However, today, GD is “back to normal”. While the bones are still in the process of healing, the wounds are gone and her spirits are better then ever. Complete bone healing will take some time and GD may always have a limp in her walk but most will never know the extent of her injuries.

GD was a love to have as a patient and a real trooper for all the bandage changes. She had a very interesting summer and certainly makes a great success story.

(The last few pictures are of GD's wounds and may be graphic to some)

 

Below are pictures of GD's wounds.

(THE PICTURE BELOW MAY BE TOO GRAPHIC FOR SOME)

May- Patient of the Month "Bella"

Orthopedic surgery, MRSA, Mast Cell tumors (MCT), Paralysis, Spinal Surgery.

These are only a few of the aliments that our May patient of the month had to overcome in the last four years.

Bella, a 7 year old boxer, was first seen in 2009 for orthopedic surgery on her knee by Dr. Jon. A year later, during her annual visit, she was diagnosed with mast cell tumors that had to be surgically removed. In the following year, more tumors were found and successfully removed but in 2012 she became acutely paralyzed. A referral to a neurologist resulted in spinal surgery and she was unable to walk for several months. Once she regained mobility she developed an aggressive MRSA skin infection and while being treated, additional MCTs were found.

Today, after a diagnosis and treatment for hypothyroidism, medical and supportive care for the skin infection and successful removal of the mast cell tumors, Bella, is as good as new!  But (clearly) the past few years have not been easy! 

Why Bella is so special to us though is not just for the various obstacle she has had to endure to regain her health but rather because of  the style in which she and her mom addressed them.

 As with many of our Patient’s of the Month, we find a highly committed pet and owner. Bella’s story is no different. This team stuck together through what may have seemed like insurmountable odds and obstacle only to be beautifully standing today.

This story has many more details. The day to day steps that both Bella and her Mom had to take to regain her life could fill pages. But today, we honor them both for their commitment and honor Bella as our Patient of the Month.

PETS OF THE MONTH

Two cats perished Tuesday morning and four were hospitalized when a Hollywood duplex caught fire, officials said.

Nobody was inside the apartment at the time of the blaze that began in the kitchen area, said Hollywood Fire-Rescue Division Chief Eric Busenbarrick.

A 911 call made at 6:37 a.m. reported that smoke was coming out of one the apartments located at the 1600 block of Dewey Street.

These four cats are our Pets of the Month for January!