Elliot's Wheelchair and Support
Donation protected
Hello! You may know me as Dean.
English isn't my first language, so I apologize for any grammar/language-related misunderstandings.
If you follow me on certain social media, you may also know that I am disabled and had a 5 month old Service Dog in Training named Elliot. He is from here on out my ESA-- as his short and long-term health is just as important as my own.
Elliot went to classes biweekly with me by his side.
Around his 4 month mark, I realized he was starting to become irritated during the classes. Not only did he get irritated, he started to become more visibly uncomfortable to the point of being unable to focus at all. It was then that we went to the vet for any answers we could find and he was diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia (HD).
"Hip dysplasia in dogs is a disease of the hip in which the ball and socket joint is malformed. This malformation means that the ball portion and its socket don’t properly meet one another, resulting in a joint that rubs and grinds instead of sliding smoothly."
Even with OFA cleared lineage, there is still a 12% chance of a puppy from an OFA cleared litter getting HD. Even if the rest of his litter and every litter before/after him had good hips-- Elliot happened to get the short end of the genetic stick.
This was devastating news to me.
I had thought that the quality of his life would be lesser. I was so worried that he wouldn't ever have the same ability to run and live as much as a high energy dog (such as himself) wanted, ever again. His health and happiness will always be my priority.
Upon talking about the options with our surgeon, he said that Elliot qualified for a surgery only for puppies up to 5 months of age called Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (JPS), but only if done ASAP. It was cheaper, less invasive that the other options and also has the idea that the dog's hips and health can return to "normal" from growth.
This page here is super informational and explains JPS really well. There are drawn diagrams, x-rays and no graphic pictures on the page.
Essentially, the pelvis gets cauterized so that it stops growing. The joint sockets continue to grow around the joints, simulating "normal" hips when the puppy is done growing.
After pooling every resource I had and the help of people in my life, Elliot got this surgery done a few weeks ago. He has recovered phenomenally!
But--
He still has hip dysplasia.
It is now a matter of him growing up and growing into the surgery effects. Which our vet told us will take another 6 months or so. 6 months of "taking it easy" for a high energy working line Czech German Shepherd. Elliot scoffs in the face of "taking it easy".
As I said, Elliot is an EXTREMELY high energy dog. Medications meant to make him sleep or "chill out" tend to not work in the slightest. Pre-diagnosis, it would take him about 2 hours of vigorous excersize within his physical limits to tire him out. He cannot do that anymore.
Ontop of that, I haven't been able to take him away from the house to do things such as see other dogs, go out in public, generally anything he previously loved to do aside from going for a walk around my home area. (Mostly because he is about 90 pounds currently and he cannot climb in and out of the car without severe pain).
He is so smart and loves to push his limits both physically and mentally. I cannot risk him making his hips worse by wanting to do mundane things away from the house with how bad his hips are currently.
The only way to get him to rest is to keep him indoors; which is not only unfair to him, but will directly negatively effect his socialization and mental health. I do not want that at all for him.
Which is where a dog wheelchair and support comes in!
I will be getting a Rear Support wheelchair and "Walkabout Hoistabout" to assist his hips for possibly the rest of his life from k9carts.
He will still have use of his back legs and will be able to continue to do the things he loves while not straining his hips nearly as much. It will help him keep and build muscle, and to walk longer with less pain. As opposed to not being able to do much of anything due to his high energy, and not actually being allowed to fullfill his high energy expending requirements. The wheelchairs are adjustable and can be adjusted as he grows. It will give him the chance to be outside, around people and dogs again.
I love Elliot with all of my heart. He continues to enrich my life as both ESA and best friend. It is my duty to make sure he is well taken care of and can continue to do the things he loves; primarily, getting to still be a dog-- and getting to still be a puppy.
Every $1 counts. It would mean the world to both me and Elliot.
I am so grateful for everyone who has been there for me and my animals now and in the past.
If you read this far, thank you so much!
English isn't my first language, so I apologize for any grammar/language-related misunderstandings.
If you follow me on certain social media, you may also know that I am disabled and had a 5 month old Service Dog in Training named Elliot. He is from here on out my ESA-- as his short and long-term health is just as important as my own.
Elliot went to classes biweekly with me by his side.
Around his 4 month mark, I realized he was starting to become irritated during the classes. Not only did he get irritated, he started to become more visibly uncomfortable to the point of being unable to focus at all. It was then that we went to the vet for any answers we could find and he was diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia (HD).
"Hip dysplasia in dogs is a disease of the hip in which the ball and socket joint is malformed. This malformation means that the ball portion and its socket don’t properly meet one another, resulting in a joint that rubs and grinds instead of sliding smoothly."
Even with OFA cleared lineage, there is still a 12% chance of a puppy from an OFA cleared litter getting HD. Even if the rest of his litter and every litter before/after him had good hips-- Elliot happened to get the short end of the genetic stick.
This was devastating news to me.
I had thought that the quality of his life would be lesser. I was so worried that he wouldn't ever have the same ability to run and live as much as a high energy dog (such as himself) wanted, ever again. His health and happiness will always be my priority.
Upon talking about the options with our surgeon, he said that Elliot qualified for a surgery only for puppies up to 5 months of age called Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (JPS), but only if done ASAP. It was cheaper, less invasive that the other options and also has the idea that the dog's hips and health can return to "normal" from growth.
This page here is super informational and explains JPS really well. There are drawn diagrams, x-rays and no graphic pictures on the page.
Essentially, the pelvis gets cauterized so that it stops growing. The joint sockets continue to grow around the joints, simulating "normal" hips when the puppy is done growing.
After pooling every resource I had and the help of people in my life, Elliot got this surgery done a few weeks ago. He has recovered phenomenally!
But--
He still has hip dysplasia.
It is now a matter of him growing up and growing into the surgery effects. Which our vet told us will take another 6 months or so. 6 months of "taking it easy" for a high energy working line Czech German Shepherd. Elliot scoffs in the face of "taking it easy".
As I said, Elliot is an EXTREMELY high energy dog. Medications meant to make him sleep or "chill out" tend to not work in the slightest. Pre-diagnosis, it would take him about 2 hours of vigorous excersize within his physical limits to tire him out. He cannot do that anymore.
Ontop of that, I haven't been able to take him away from the house to do things such as see other dogs, go out in public, generally anything he previously loved to do aside from going for a walk around my home area. (Mostly because he is about 90 pounds currently and he cannot climb in and out of the car without severe pain).
He is so smart and loves to push his limits both physically and mentally. I cannot risk him making his hips worse by wanting to do mundane things away from the house with how bad his hips are currently.
The only way to get him to rest is to keep him indoors; which is not only unfair to him, but will directly negatively effect his socialization and mental health. I do not want that at all for him.
Which is where a dog wheelchair and support comes in!
I will be getting a Rear Support wheelchair and "Walkabout Hoistabout" to assist his hips for possibly the rest of his life from k9carts.
He will still have use of his back legs and will be able to continue to do the things he loves while not straining his hips nearly as much. It will help him keep and build muscle, and to walk longer with less pain. As opposed to not being able to do much of anything due to his high energy, and not actually being allowed to fullfill his high energy expending requirements. The wheelchairs are adjustable and can be adjusted as he grows. It will give him the chance to be outside, around people and dogs again.
I love Elliot with all of my heart. He continues to enrich my life as both ESA and best friend. It is my duty to make sure he is well taken care of and can continue to do the things he loves; primarily, getting to still be a dog-- and getting to still be a puppy.
Every $1 counts. It would mean the world to both me and Elliot.
I am so grateful for everyone who has been there for me and my animals now and in the past.
If you read this far, thank you so much!
Organizer and beneficiary
Sara S
Organizer
Bloomingburg, NY
sharon stantial
Beneficiary