Cleo's Leg Surgery
Donation protected
Cleo is an overly-excitable and profoundly affectionate Staffordshire Bull Terrier'/American Pit Bull Terrier mixed with a dollop of Boston Terrier. She’s around 6-years-old and loves cuddles more than any dog I’ve ever known—and she will paw at you vigorously if you do not provide adequate cuddle-ability. What she lacks in manners she makes up for in face licks, playful grunts, and unbridled attention; she’s an extremely empathetic and emotionally-attuned pup who could easily be a therapy dog if some of her health issues are dealt with.
We fostered her to adopt a little over 4 years ago, and she’s been the furry light of our lives ever since. She definitely has a troubled history of abuse from her previous owners: She was extremely people-aggressive and she was hostile toward anyone who would enter our home. She also had a series of questionable bite-marks and scars on her face, which indicated that she may have possible been used as a bait-dog. Honestly, I was worried that I might have taken on more responsibility than I was comfortable with.
After a few months of personal obedience training, unyielding affection, and more gas-inducing treats that I could rightfully afford, she became the hopelessly lovable sister-of-two she is today.
When I first adopted her, however, I was informed that she seemed to have torn the meniscus in one of her hind legs. According to the vet I saw at the time, this was indeed true, and her prognosis was an expensive surgery option, which I certainly could not affford. I was also told that the tear wouldn’t completely inhibit her ability to be active, but scar tissue would form that could severely impact her mobility. Unfortunately, due to financial issues and a bit of ignorance, I had to forego any formal operation at that time.
Fast-forward to some years later: A few months ago, after running around and playing with her adoptive siblings (Riker and Vivvy), I noticed that Cleo had been troublingly limping, and upon further inspection, I noticed that her hind leg—not the previously affected one I mentioned—was lame (limp and hanging). Extremely worried, Kelly and I took her to a vet, who informed us that the CCL in her hind leg was indeed torn. (Again, this an issue separate from her other hind leg that has a torn meniscus.) Because of the fact that she had been favoring one leg quite rigorously due to her other leg’s torn meniscus, the pressure and strain eventually came to head and resulted in a CCL tear.
After a few more vet visits, x-rays, and having received a surgeon’s consultation, we have to face the fact that we'll either have to pay for an outrageously expensive artificial CCL modification in the form of tightrope surgery—which we can't come anywhere close to affording—or try to heavily moderate her activity so that even more scar tissue can form. Additionally, we have to consider her other leg’s torn meniscus and take the appropriate surgical steps for that leg as well. Obviously, the latter option can be extremely damaging psychologically and physically for her, and also puts her at further risk for future muscular issues—as well as a heightened propensity for arthritic issues in the future.
(For future reading on the meniscus issue, please visit this link: http://dogkneeinjury.com/does-my-dog-need-a-meniscus/
For future reading on the CCL surgery, please visit this link: http://www.saintfrancis.org/2013/07/cruciate-repair-tibial-plateau-leveling-osteotomy-tplo-tibial-tuberosity-advancement-tta/ )
It's miraculous that it took nearly 4 years for this to finally come to a head, so I'm grateful for that at least. For anyone who knows Cleo, you know that she loves to be silly and tumble around; the next few weeks—and years, hopefully—are going to be tough for us all.
Quality of life is the main issue we’re dealing with, and that’s why we’re asking for your help. We’re new homeowners, and although we’ve certainly weathered financial troubles already, we’re on the cusp of a new storm. To make matters worse, Cleo’s most recent tear happened after we bought our home—and after thousands of dollars in home expenses (new furnace, washer/dryer, etc.)
Quite frankly, $7,000 (roughly $3,500 for the CCL repair and $3500 for the meniscus repair and rehabilitation) is far out of our price range now. Even with our most concerted efforts, prioritizing our finances to support this surgery does not seem doable for at least a couple of years—time that will undoubtedly take its toll on Cleo’s health and quality-of-life. Even if we don’t come close to meeting our goal, every little bit helps us profoundly.
With these procedures, however, Cleo’s future could be a bit brighter—even after the months of post-surgical rehabilitation. She absolutely loves to run around and sprint into people’s laps, but it’s not difficult to notice the amount of strain and painful effort required for her to do so. She constantly sits on her newly-affected leg, and she makes it quite clear that said leg is deeply troubling her.
Cleo has always been a bit of a loafer, but she was been sedentary since the tear; instead of playing with Riker and Vivvy nearly hourly, she prefers to lay on her leg and stay perched on her chair or the couch. Still, her energy and playfulness will shine through, and she will spring up for a treat or a pet, but every time she begins to run or becomes increasingly excited, I find myself having to curb it out of fear that she might further injure herself while playing.
What I’m asking for is a chance for her to be able to run and play to her heart’s content, to be able to keep up with her brother and sister when they take off across the yard, and for the ability to push herself enough to catch up to the neighborly squirrel—which might be an impossibility even if she had the legs of a T-1000.
Please, help allow our girl’s love and lust for life to shine through for the rest of her life. She deserves it.
We fostered her to adopt a little over 4 years ago, and she’s been the furry light of our lives ever since. She definitely has a troubled history of abuse from her previous owners: She was extremely people-aggressive and she was hostile toward anyone who would enter our home. She also had a series of questionable bite-marks and scars on her face, which indicated that she may have possible been used as a bait-dog. Honestly, I was worried that I might have taken on more responsibility than I was comfortable with.
After a few months of personal obedience training, unyielding affection, and more gas-inducing treats that I could rightfully afford, she became the hopelessly lovable sister-of-two she is today.
When I first adopted her, however, I was informed that she seemed to have torn the meniscus in one of her hind legs. According to the vet I saw at the time, this was indeed true, and her prognosis was an expensive surgery option, which I certainly could not affford. I was also told that the tear wouldn’t completely inhibit her ability to be active, but scar tissue would form that could severely impact her mobility. Unfortunately, due to financial issues and a bit of ignorance, I had to forego any formal operation at that time.
Fast-forward to some years later: A few months ago, after running around and playing with her adoptive siblings (Riker and Vivvy), I noticed that Cleo had been troublingly limping, and upon further inspection, I noticed that her hind leg—not the previously affected one I mentioned—was lame (limp and hanging). Extremely worried, Kelly and I took her to a vet, who informed us that the CCL in her hind leg was indeed torn. (Again, this an issue separate from her other hind leg that has a torn meniscus.) Because of the fact that she had been favoring one leg quite rigorously due to her other leg’s torn meniscus, the pressure and strain eventually came to head and resulted in a CCL tear.
After a few more vet visits, x-rays, and having received a surgeon’s consultation, we have to face the fact that we'll either have to pay for an outrageously expensive artificial CCL modification in the form of tightrope surgery—which we can't come anywhere close to affording—or try to heavily moderate her activity so that even more scar tissue can form. Additionally, we have to consider her other leg’s torn meniscus and take the appropriate surgical steps for that leg as well. Obviously, the latter option can be extremely damaging psychologically and physically for her, and also puts her at further risk for future muscular issues—as well as a heightened propensity for arthritic issues in the future.
(For future reading on the meniscus issue, please visit this link: http://dogkneeinjury.com/does-my-dog-need-a-meniscus/
For future reading on the CCL surgery, please visit this link: http://www.saintfrancis.org/2013/07/cruciate-repair-tibial-plateau-leveling-osteotomy-tplo-tibial-tuberosity-advancement-tta/ )
It's miraculous that it took nearly 4 years for this to finally come to a head, so I'm grateful for that at least. For anyone who knows Cleo, you know that she loves to be silly and tumble around; the next few weeks—and years, hopefully—are going to be tough for us all.
Quality of life is the main issue we’re dealing with, and that’s why we’re asking for your help. We’re new homeowners, and although we’ve certainly weathered financial troubles already, we’re on the cusp of a new storm. To make matters worse, Cleo’s most recent tear happened after we bought our home—and after thousands of dollars in home expenses (new furnace, washer/dryer, etc.)
Quite frankly, $7,000 (roughly $3,500 for the CCL repair and $3500 for the meniscus repair and rehabilitation) is far out of our price range now. Even with our most concerted efforts, prioritizing our finances to support this surgery does not seem doable for at least a couple of years—time that will undoubtedly take its toll on Cleo’s health and quality-of-life. Even if we don’t come close to meeting our goal, every little bit helps us profoundly.
With these procedures, however, Cleo’s future could be a bit brighter—even after the months of post-surgical rehabilitation. She absolutely loves to run around and sprint into people’s laps, but it’s not difficult to notice the amount of strain and painful effort required for her to do so. She constantly sits on her newly-affected leg, and she makes it quite clear that said leg is deeply troubling her.
Cleo has always been a bit of a loafer, but she was been sedentary since the tear; instead of playing with Riker and Vivvy nearly hourly, she prefers to lay on her leg and stay perched on her chair or the couch. Still, her energy and playfulness will shine through, and she will spring up for a treat or a pet, but every time she begins to run or becomes increasingly excited, I find myself having to curb it out of fear that she might further injure herself while playing.
What I’m asking for is a chance for her to be able to run and play to her heart’s content, to be able to keep up with her brother and sister when they take off across the yard, and for the ability to push herself enough to catch up to the neighborly squirrel—which might be an impossibility even if she had the legs of a T-1000.
Please, help allow our girl’s love and lust for life to shine through for the rest of her life. She deserves it.
Organizer
Joey Agliata
Organizer
Chicago, IL
