WSU Veterinary College aids homeless Tri-Cities dog with broken legs
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Chocolate
February 8, 2008
A Chesapeake Bay retriever that ran for months on two broken front legs and
has captured the hearts of many in the Tri-Cities area of Washington may now
get the help he needs.
“Chocolate” will undergo surgery today (Friday, Feb. 8th) at Washington
State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital to help repair his injuries
that healed improperly on their own.
The injured dog was seen wandering through fields north of Pasco, Wash., for
the past six months. Despite injuries that may have killed many other
animals, Chocolate taught himself to walk primarily by using his back legs.
The big dog, arrived in Pullman Wednesday night after being seen by a Dr.
Janine Swailes of the Meadow Hills Veterinary Center in Kennewick, Wash.
X-Rays revealed old, abnormally healed fractures in both forelegs, along
with several fragments from both a pellet gun, and a small caliber weapon.
“The injuries are extreme,” said WSU veterinary surgeon Dr. Steve Martinez
who will be performing the surgery. “He reminds me of a T-Rex in the way he
has taught himself to walk, most likely because of the severe pain from his
broken bones.”
The injuries appear to be months old and have healed improperly. The
WSU surgical team will work to realign, and strengthen the bones, while
working to return his range of motion to joints that have been partially
fused.
Dogs are remarkable creatures,” said Dr. Martinez, “Chocolate
has certainly demonstrated a resiliency that is critical to his
long-term recovery.” Surgery on both limbs is expected to take most
of the day Friday (Feb 8, 2008), and may even require follow up
procedures. Following surgery, Dr. Martinez says that Chocolate will
require extensive physical therapy to gain the use of his front
legs.
WSU has recently upgraded its post-operative rehabilitation
facilities with a state-of-the-art tool. A new underwater
treadmill for physical therapy was purchased and installed with
funds from two grateful donors to the college.
Despite his painful injuries, the team at WSU says Chocolate
continues to maintain a happy and even playful attitude. The WSU
team will have a better idea of his long term chances, after Dr,
Martinez completes today’s surgery.
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Dr. Steve Martinez, WSU Veterinary Surgeon
WSU veterinary student Kamala Severs
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Contact: Darin Watkins, WSU College of Veterinary Medicine (509) 335-4456
dwatkins@vetmed.wsu.edu
Photo courtesy: Henry Moore Jr. – BCU/WSU
See articles about Chocolate in the Tri-City Herald newspaper
Sunday,
March 16 2008
Tuesday,
February 19, 2008
Thursday,
February 14, 2008
Tuesday,
February 12, 2008
Sunday,
February 10, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Last Edited: May 06, 2008 3:32 PM
