Frodo came as a 12 week baby from Western Australia. At the age of one and a half we realised he was holding up his right hind leg during walks and when running. Our Angaston veterinarian sent us to Roseworthy Veterinary Hospital where several Xrays showed Frodo had a congenital weakness of the hip and would benefit from a titanium hip implant. Apparently there were no surgeons in Adelaide at this time who could perform surgery of this type on such a small dog so we were referred to a surgeon in Melbourne. The surgery was successful and for seven years Frodo enjoyed life. Frodo is an adventurous and enthusiastic go getter who absolutely loves living and eating.
Earlier this year we noticed that during our walks, and especially when running, Frodo’s operated leg went up again. We ignored this for a time as he wasn’t doing it all of the time, but when Frodo became consistent off we went to the Golden Grove Emergency Hospital for Xrays again. The Xray we received had us in tears (see picture provided). It isn’t known how long Frodo’s titanium implant had completely come away from his little hip socket but as can be seen there was basically nothing keeping his femur attached to his hip. Not once did Frodo indicate to us in any other way except his leg going lame that he was in any discomfort. The guilt we felt was overwhelming. Frodo is our sweet sweet boy.
Golden Grove Emergency Hospital sent us to SASH Adelaide for a consult with Veterinary Surgeon Dr Ryan Taggart who strongly advocated that the implant needed to come out and that he could perform a total hip replacement explantation. Frodo remained at the SASH hospital for two nights and was an absolute champion. His personal nurse Lauren sent us regular photos and endearing updates and as anxious as we still felt, the beautiful SASH team were so pacifying it was balm to our hearts.
We were advised Frodo would need two weeks to recover and to provide him with a highly low impact environment and restricted movement. We walked him with his brother in a newly purchased Doggy Pram which Frodo thoroughly enjoyed (see picture). After ‘only’ four days post op Frodo was ready to play and be his usual happy and outgoing little self, but we were having none of that. We returned to SASH two weeks post op to see Dr Andrew who in Dr Ryan’s absence agreed to remove Frodo’s stitches. When he saw how Frodo pulled voraciously away from entering the consultation cubicle, Dr Andrew remarked how incredibly well Frodo’s leg was performing for such a recent surgical procedure of a certain intensity. Frodo received 5 stars for healing and attitude. We were over the moon and ever so grateful to Dr Taggart and the SASH team.
I was so so afraid our happy four legged dog would be forever disabled and not as outgoing as he had been pre surgery but I was WRONG! We have our little bionic dog bigger and better than before and most definitely using his four legs at all times. Frodo is now four months post op and has almost completed his first physiotherapy course with a wonderful lady closely connected to SASH. We couldn’t be happier.
Thank you Dr Taggart and SASH for giving Frodo and us another chance and saving Frodo’s precious little leg. One of the solutions that had been suggested to us by another surgeon had been amputation – not on SASH’s watch.
– Adelaide SA
