Please help my Dexter to heal and walk again

DEXTER is curious, energetic, loving and optimistic… but “baby he was BORN this way.” Now if he could just run and play!

 

Here is the short story:

    Hi, I'm Wednesday. I'm a retired retailer of 50 years that went through an accelerated retirement due to a major surgery. As I was recovering, with medical limitations to my mobility, during the pre-vaccine period of the Covid panic, I was confined to solitude at home alone with my TV movie streaming channels and cable news. One night a shelter posted Dexter's picture and it was love at first sight. I picked him up the moment the shelter opened on 8/15/2020, and immediately I saw improvements to my leg and my heart as only love can...

Unfortunately, the rescue shelter did not tell me that Dexter might have/ did have major medical issues of his own.

     His birth defects (which will cause further deterioration of his activity, pain, and ultimate immobility) remained a surprise until seeking a personal Houston vet for future care.  At his initial visit, the vet explained that there would no way to tell how his legs would naturally develop. He could be fine, or they could get worse and need surgery. Unfortunately, the only thing we could do was wait until his bones fully developed. 

   Now, as his bones have fully formed over the past year and a half, the full scope of his disability is evident. Sadly, both front legs need expensive specialized surgeries to correct. $9000 (approximately) estimate per leg from Texas A&M vet school is attached. GoFundMe is the best way to help me raise the needed money to help him heal! It is a daunting cost and ANY amount (large or small) will be appreciated and put exclusively towards his care. I THANK YOU for your time and invite you to read on if you want the whole story.

 

 

 

Here's a short video and as you can see, Dexter is a happy little pup that tries to keep up with Mom, but due to the pain of walking, his angular limb deformity tires him out quickly

 

 

The estimated breakdown of his treatment is:

 

Attached is the estimate document for Dexter's single side angular limb deformity correction which covers just the surgery.

 

 

 

 

This makes the total cost of helping Dexter walk again is potentially over $11,000! I am not asking for the full amount, but anything you can donate to the worthy cause will be appreciated!

 

                 For those of you seeking more detail: Here is Dexter's full story:

 

    My first canine love is named DEXTER (when accidentally confused with “Baxter” he responded, and it stuck). On 8/15/2020 I adopted this mighty little dog with a big gentle heart, noted in his heart shaped front leg stance. It seemed like a good time for my first dog, as I was recovering from a surgery that had left me in a brace, and on a cane. With medical limitations to my mobility, combined with loss of companionship during the pre-vaccine period of the Covid panic, I was a prisoner at home alone with my TV movie streaming channels and cable news.

     During the adoption I found out he had been previously adopted and then returned to the shelter. When asking “Why would anyone bring this adorable little fellow back?” I was told he did not like, or get along with, the prior family’s big dogs….it never crossed my mind that he was returned due to the potential cost of a medical condition. Even before considering that his “cowboy bow-legged” stance was perhaps not normal or unique to his breed, Dexter had already begun to share more companionship and laughter than ever anticipated.
   
   In the beginning and still now, he LOVES to feel the wind in his face, but reluctantly understands when we need to “chill.”  He has a great sense of humor and becomes a real ham for the camera.

 

     We were at the vet within days of bringing him home, to check him over. It was at that initial visit that I was told that his feet, ankles, and legs were NOT normal and in fact were the result of a birth defect: Angular Limb Deformity. That he was ok at that point, but as he aged his legs would become increasingly painful, and he would not be able to run and jump as he clearly loved to do. ALSO disclosed in that delivery of sad news was that it was a “pre-existing condition”. Because of that diagnosis, none of his care for this condition would be covered by his pet insurance.

In spite of the news, it was never an option to break his heart with a second return to the shelter.

      The initial frustration with the shelter was that I had not been made aware that we were facing a crippling and costly disability. Believing that things happen “for a reason” reminds me that although not as I would have imagined, this is clearly the way it was intended to be and that in sickness and in health… Dexter and I are in this together. I am his advocate and am blessed with the ability to share his story with you.

     Since Day One, he has been a joy to take out in public. In any cart, and in every store, he sits quietly and studies his surroundings. EVERYONE wants to come and pet him and being a big flirt, he gets lots of stranger loving, and is shameless in soliciting belly rubs.

     Sadly, the predicted worst-case scenario has become reality and he is showing increasing pain daily. 

     After much research I was referred to Texas A&M’s acclaimed veterinary school for consult. It is clear that although there are good days, and energetic moments in most days, he is in increasing pain and likely will be lame before he is 5 years old. The problem is only with his two front legs and mis-facing feet, but the right one is the worst. To correct the problem requires a specialized surgery that will replace bones with metal rods and turn his outfacing foot at the ankle to face forward. There are multiple surgeons there who have experience with this condition and will give us the best likelihood of sucess.

       After the surgery is performed, there will be a 10–12-week recovery, and he will likely need support from his local Houston Vet, additional imaging, and Physical Therapy, to aid and speed his healing. The total cost of all this without the support of pet insurance is approximately $9,000 PER LEG. My plan is to start with the worst leg first and see if he can heal successfully before embarking on the second one. I am praying that his strong will to run and romp with his guy friends, race, and flirt with his girlfriends, and jump on “mommy’s bed” will propel him to work at his physical therapy and become fit and strong again.

 

This request is to ask if you can help us. Not being able to work increases the financial need beyond my reach. Whatever amount you can give to him/us will be a blessing.

If I cannot raise the money, he will not be able to have the needed surgery.

ALL funds raised will go towards helping Dexter be able to return to his energetic and joyful spirit he was BORN to be. Thank you in advance for your caring!