Kitt's New Elbows - Bilateral Elbow Replacement

Hi All,

I'm Kitt Hillier-Trytten and I'm a 2 year-old German Shepherd/Husky mix from Edmonton, AB, Canada! My parents adopted me at 3 months old from Saving Grace Animal Society in April 2023. I was a typical puppy with lot of energy, trying anything that would fit in my mouth, making doggie friends, and living life to the fullest!

Around my first birthday, my parents noticed I had developed a limp in my left front leg. Earlier that day, I was playing hard with some buddies in the park, and they initially thought it was overexertion, however it was tender and persistent over several days. We saw the wonderful care team River Valley Veterinary Wellness Clinic that week to investigate further. Being a big dog, I was still actively growing at that point, and we decided to continue to monitor and take a few days of rest. The limp subsided, and I was back in action!

The following month my limp was back and worse than before, now effecting the right side. I wasn't feeling very stable on my feet, and we were referred to Boreal Veterinary Centre for a surgical consult. I met the talented Dr. Lindsey Kurach, who quickly won me over with a generous handful of lamb liver treats. She could see both my elbows were swollen, painful, and lacking mobility. We scheduled a CT scan and bilateral arthroscopy for both elbows the following week to get a better understanding of the problem. She removed a few small pieces of broken bone in the area, but ultimately discovered that there were defects in the cartilage development (likely genetic) and I was in the beginning stages of bilateral elbow dysplasia. Elbow dysplasia in dogs is a condition involving developmental abnormalities of the elbow joint, often leading to pain, lameness, and arthritis, particularly in large breeds. I was 14 months old.

Needless to say, it has not dampened my positive outlook on life! We started various medications and treatments to prolong the use of the joints, while closely monitoring any changes with monthly vet visits.

I now desperately need new elbows, as my current ones are failing me. It's been a challenge this past year for my parents to watch me slow down and develop such severe stiffness that I can't bend my front legs anymore. My body no longer matches my enthusiasm for adventure, and I can only walk for a few minutes before I need to lay in the snow or grass, and rest awhile. I continue to enjoy sitting in sun, watching the birds in the trees and snuggling with my cat-siblings.

Elbow replacements in dogs are a new surgical option, with the first procedure performed successfully in 2018. As a result, only a handful of veterinary centers can do the operation, all located in the USA. Dr. Kurach is working closely with Dr. Randy Acker at Sun Valley Animal Center in Idaho who pioneered the TATE Elbow™ orthopedic surgery for dogs (named after his own yellow Lab, Tate). They are working together to ensure my trip to Idaho is successful and I receive the care I need. My parents are pretty anxious about the financial cost and impact of the surgery, especially right after they get married. Along with the initial surgical expense, there will a year of weekly rehabilitation appointment, specialized medications and treatments to fully recover and re-learn how to walk.

But hey, I might be one of the first dogs in Alberta (maybe even Canada?) to receive new elbow joints, how cool is that? My parents always tell me that I'm so special to them, and that they would do anything to help me live a long, healthy life. A commitment they made when they adopted my sweet and furry face!

If you wish to contribute to this fundraiser, we would graciously accept all donation to Kitt's life-changing surgery. He's our whole world and we want to do all we can to ensure he lives life to the fullest.

All our Love,

Jenna, Mark and Kitt