Help Teak, Rescue Dog, Get A Hip!
Donation protected
Near the end of August, I adopted Teak from D'Arcy's ARC in Winnipeg. My sister volunteers there and she had texted me that she thought she'd found the right dog for me. It had been 3 years since I'd had a dog and I felt it was the right time to start looking. I went to the shelter to meet him. (Just look at his face!)
He had been found running as a stray out in the countryside and brought in to D'Arcy's. He was very sweet and friendly but was very reluctant to let anyone examine his hind end. It was obvious something was wrong but they just weren't sure what. He didn't fully weight bear on his right hind leg, but would trot around the exercise area okay and would lift either leg to pee, so when he was taken to the vet to be neutered, they did a full exam when he was under anaesthetic. This included xrays of his entire spine, both hips and both knees to make sure they could check everything out.
Before adopting him, and after having spent a fair bit of time getting to know (and totally fall in love with) him, I wanted to talk to the vet who had examined and xrayed him. She was very pleased to meet the potential adopter of one of the animals she had treated... not something she usually gets to do! His spine was great, as were both knees and his left hip. His right hip was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia. Given that we think he is a golden retriever german shepherd mix, it is possible he was born with this condition. And given that he is at least 5 years old, he has managed very well with a hip that must pain him tremendously.
This is an xray that I found on the internet, but it looks almost identical to Teak's. You can see the dramamtic difference between the left and the right.
Teak is such a good natured dog, despite having to live with the pain of this destroyed hip. He is learning to play with other dogs (his history is unknown and because of his disability, he is quite defensive until he gets to know the other dog) and loves to run, but must bunny hop with his back legs when running, and is often lifting his right hind leg off the ground after he plays. When standing he does not put full weight on that leg, and even when lying down, he positions it to take as much pressure off the joint as possible.
You can just see his paw under his bum. He tucks that leg underneath himself to open up the hip joint so the bones don't grind together. He has become quite inventive on how to stay as comfortable as possible. He is on daily pain medication, which is expensive and hard on the gut, so must also be on medication to protect his stomach.
Teak is a lively sweet dog and has lots of spirit. I would really love to give him a new hip so he can blossom to his full potential but I just don't have the money to pay for this surgery.
Please help me give Teak a new hip so he can live pain free and be the active, happy dog he deserves to be!! All funds raised in excess of what is needed for his procedure and rehab will go directly to D'Arcy's ARC's account with their vet to help support all the good things they do for the animals they rescue.
He had been found running as a stray out in the countryside and brought in to D'Arcy's. He was very sweet and friendly but was very reluctant to let anyone examine his hind end. It was obvious something was wrong but they just weren't sure what. He didn't fully weight bear on his right hind leg, but would trot around the exercise area okay and would lift either leg to pee, so when he was taken to the vet to be neutered, they did a full exam when he was under anaesthetic. This included xrays of his entire spine, both hips and both knees to make sure they could check everything out.
Before adopting him, and after having spent a fair bit of time getting to know (and totally fall in love with) him, I wanted to talk to the vet who had examined and xrayed him. She was very pleased to meet the potential adopter of one of the animals she had treated... not something she usually gets to do! His spine was great, as were both knees and his left hip. His right hip was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia. Given that we think he is a golden retriever german shepherd mix, it is possible he was born with this condition. And given that he is at least 5 years old, he has managed very well with a hip that must pain him tremendously.
This is an xray that I found on the internet, but it looks almost identical to Teak's. You can see the dramamtic difference between the left and the right.
Teak is such a good natured dog, despite having to live with the pain of this destroyed hip. He is learning to play with other dogs (his history is unknown and because of his disability, he is quite defensive until he gets to know the other dog) and loves to run, but must bunny hop with his back legs when running, and is often lifting his right hind leg off the ground after he plays. When standing he does not put full weight on that leg, and even when lying down, he positions it to take as much pressure off the joint as possible.
You can just see his paw under his bum. He tucks that leg underneath himself to open up the hip joint so the bones don't grind together. He has become quite inventive on how to stay as comfortable as possible. He is on daily pain medication, which is expensive and hard on the gut, so must also be on medication to protect his stomach.
Teak is a lively sweet dog and has lots of spirit. I would really love to give him a new hip so he can blossom to his full potential but I just don't have the money to pay for this surgery.
Please help me give Teak a new hip so he can live pain free and be the active, happy dog he deserves to be!! All funds raised in excess of what is needed for his procedure and rehab will go directly to D'Arcy's ARC's account with their vet to help support all the good things they do for the animals they rescue.
Organizer
Pamela Austman
Organizer
Selkirk, MB