Help Ozzie Thrive After Amputation

In 2017, I welcomed Ozzie into my life and she quickly became my everything, quite literally. It turns out Ozzie is one special pup who happens to be allergic to just about everything - grass, dust mites, ALL meats, and even the most unexpected things like barley and oats! This has made it quite challenging (and expensive) along the way for me to find suitable food for her, resulting in a vet-prescribed diet (if you know, you know).

In 2021, Ozzie developed a mass on her foot, which began to grow a few years later, causing concerns and prompting suggestions for removal. I proceeded with the decision and booked her for a mass removal appointment in March. Unfortunately, Ozzie experienced the worst possible outcome and, after enduring much pain and agony, ultimately lost her rear leg in April. Ozzie, a large dog weighing 92lbs with four legs and now 82lbs with three legs, was quite active before the amputation.

Presently, she is clearly struggling due to this unforeseen situation and will require a significant amount of support moving forward. Although she has been doing well, like most large tripods, she is starting to lean towards the amputated side, leading to further complications. Initially, I considered getting her a prosthetic, but her leg was amputated too high up, making her unsuitable for the option. My next idea was to get her a wagon or cart, but due to her size, it would only be practical for outdoor use. While this would improve her mobility (as she could not walk for more than a few houses' lengths without dragging her foot previously), she would still have limited movement indoors.

After an evaluation, it was decided that currently Ozzie would benefit most from a diet, Adequan injections (long term), hydrotherapy, and targeted pulsed electromagnetic fields to address inflammation and stiffness and to strengthen her limbs, hips, and shoulders, which are now under increased strain. Therefore, the targeted plan of action is hydrotherapy which will include underwater treadmill, therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage and targeted pulsed electromagnetic fields 2x/week for 4 weeks along with Adequan injections (2x/week for 4 weeks, and then weekly for 4 weeks, and long term every 3 weeks) in hopes to give Ozzie the best possible senior years as a newfound tripod. At 7.5 years old, I am aware that her health will only deteriorate further with time and age, so I want to be proactive. Nonetheless, she’s got a long, long road to recovery, but with a dedicated and good team, she will hopefully live her senior years as a tripod as best and smoothly as possible. Whether you've had the pleasure of meeting Ozzie or not, we would be incredibly grateful for any donations to support her unique needs. Thank you for considering helping my furry friend!

Ozzie’s 1st therapy session is scheduled for 7/22/24, and I will have the opportunity to be involved and help her settle in that morning. Fun fact about Ozzie, she HATES water so this should be a fun time going forward......