Success Story Smoke

Smoke

Smoke came to us from a racetrack with an injured rear leg. Her calcanious bone, which is the main heal bone, was torn from it's normal position and this made it hard for her to walk and very painful. This damage can be repaired surgically but is costly. Smoke is in our Special Needs program until she can have her surgery and recover. Once recovered, she will be able to walk and even run without pain.

Smoke was seen by an orthopedic surgery specialist and surgery is being planned to stabilize her ankle joint and make it possible for her to walk on her leg again without pain. There are many factors in the success for this surgery, mainly because the damage was several months ago and there has been a lot of tissue built up in the joint. That built up tissue can cause problems with the surgery and recovery so we will be very careful in her recovery and physical therapy. Fortunately, we have great orthopedic surgeons to rely on and they help us do the best thing for Smoke.

It took several weeks of resting in a cast for the bones to heal and the leg to become strong again. Smoke tolerated the cast and wore it for about four weeks until it could be removed. Since her surgery, Smoke has recovered well and is walking on her leg again without pain. She worked on gaining strength and she was being allowed more activity each week. Her foster home enjoyed her company as she became a happy, healthy Greyhound again. Smoke had about 8 weeks time in recovery and was ready to start looking for her permanent home.

In January 2010, Smoke met her new family at a Meet A Retired Racer Day in Clackamas, Oregon. It was love and she was adopted a few weeks later and is currently doing great. She walks well on her leg and is pain free again thanks to all the support of our Sponsors, her foster home and the Special Needs program.