Squishy’s leg “Drumstick” needs surgery

Five years ago, I adopted Squishy from a rescue, where she was 2 days post surgery on her rear left leg.  In her previous home, her leg had been broken, possibly because she’s 7lbs and got underfoot but whoever had her, didn’t fix her leg.  :(

At the rescue they contemplated what to do with her injured leg.  It was atrophied and her knee was destroyed so should they remove her leg? Should they try to do what they can so she’ll have some use of it for balance, perhaps?  They went with the latter so I brought her home with a cone on her head, pain meds and an armature on the outside of her leg to hold it together.  Over a month of weekly vet visits till the armature was removed and Squishy could fully get on with things.



She's done well with her leg, that has affectionately become known as "Drumstick" since her leg is straight and when she walks, it hits the ground like a drumstick on a snare.  Luckily the bones healed well and fused so its strong and she uses it to walk, balance but most importantly, scratch that left ear when it gets itchy.  (*see video for how well she runs and walks with Drumstick)

https://youtu.be/BLqoatQ0OIE

Over the past year she began licking the scar area on Drumstick more and more.  A hole appeared over her knee and it seemed to constantly be infected.  On another visit to the vet, they stuck a swap in the hole for a culture and the vet saw something shiny.  Turns out, in her surgery, they used metal wire around her broken bones to hold them together and twisted the wire like a twist tie, only now the metal was starting to work its way out.  It all makes sense why she was constantly licking it and I can imagine her discomfort. The vet told me it needs to come out because of the infection, its not needed anymore and her body is rejecting it.

Many of you know how much Squishy means to me.  I call her my first daughter because I've always had boy dogs and always wanted a little girl.  You've also probably been annoyed by me calling her "my pumpkin squish latte, my cinnamon roll, my little ginger snap" because of her beautiful red fur.  She is the kindest little soul and not a mean bone in her body....unless you have a pork chop tied to your ankle then all bets are off!

Today she is in surgery to take out the metal twist ties and get the infection under control.  Unfortunately I haven't worked since March 16th because of the pandemic so funds are short and a friend was kind enough to put the surgery on their credit card for me.  I need to pay them back so I'd appreciate any donation you can spare, even $5 because it all counts.

Thank you helping me save little Squish and Drumstick!