Success Boots

Boots
Male
Color: Brindle
Age: 3
Cats: Being Evaluated

Boots is one of a litter of Greyhounds raised locally here in Oregon. His racing career ended when he broke his leg in early February 2010. His owner contacted us and we brought him back home to repair his injured leg and find him a home. He was a happy puppy the last time we saw him, playing roughly with his littermates. At that time he still had "boots" on his feet and legs. Now that he is grown up, his boots are gone but his friendly, outgoing personality remains.

After an examination and x-rays with our orthopedic specialist, it was discovered that Boots had actually broken his leg twice. In a race in August 2009, he came up limping and finished last. That corresponded to a fractured Tarsal bone in his hock (rear leg). He was allowed to heal and started running again in late January 2010, then broke his leg in a different place on February 12th, 2010. The second break was more serious because it displaced the bone in his ankle that holds the tendon that operates his foot. That left him with a dropped foot and in some pain.

 

The x-ray images to the left show the broken Tarsal bone and the displaced Calcanious bone in Boots leg. The side view shows clearly that the Calcanious is at an angle, instead of being in a straight line with the foot. The Top view also shows a second fracture in the calcanious bone on the right side, called a Slab Fracture.

The older break in the Tarsal bone was already calcified and could not be repaired. The displaced calcanious bone was able to be corrected and that is the most important to give Boots good mobility and a pain-free life.

 

Our orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Petra Ost of VCA Southeast Portland Animal Hospital, moved into action and did surgery on Boots the very next day. She was able to completely straighten his calcanious (ankle bone) and stabilize the whole joint with a pin. This is great news for Boots and means that, once healed, he should have excellent mobility in that leg and no pain. He won't race again but he can run and play like the three year old that he is.

 

 

 

Boots found his home with a great family who just love him. He has another Greyhound to play with and will be able to visit other Greyhounds. His future is full of fun and happiness now and his leg is doing great.