Hip dysplasia is difficult to predict, as veteran SAR dog handler, Vikki Gross, and her young SAR prospect, Dazi, recently discovered. Despite excellent and good hip ratings on Dazi’s parents, she was diagnosed with dysplasia in both hips. Due to the severity of the dysplasia, and the shape of Dazi’s femurs, the veterinary surgeon Vikki consulted in Alaska recommended that she take Dazi out of state for surgery, as soon as possible. Dazi is scheduled for total hip replacement surgery on one hip in October and will have the second hip operated on a few months later. Vikki’s veterinary team is cautiously optimistic about Dazi’s chances of a full recovery: total hip replacement surgeries in dogs have high success rates, and, if all goes well, Dazi will be able to resume SAR training and an active lifestyle, with no restrictions, once the second hip has healed.

 

Though Vikki has pet insurance for Dazi, it’s unfortunately not going to cover most of Dazi’s surgery costs (about $7,000 per hip). Please chip in if you are able to; every little bit will help defray the costs for Vikki and allow her to give Dazi the life she deserves. Anyone who has met Dazi knows she has a wonderful personality, loves people, loves to work, and shows great promise as both a trailing dog and a cadaver dog. Together, Vikki and Dazi are making excellent progress towards their certification goals (this will be Vikki's third certified SAR dog). Vikki is currently a member of Alaska Solstice Search Dogs and has earned National Search Dog Alliance certifications in Avalanche and Human Remains Detection, with her late canine partner, Taiya.