This is the story of another discarded pet. Just another statistic from a city shelter. We don’t know how he found his way to the shelter, not that it matters. Most of those explanations leave you incredulous. Thank goodness for the people who are committed to the welfare of innocent and abandoned animals. If it were not for dedicated and passionate rescuers, more than 4 to 5 million cats and dogs would be destroyed annually. Municipal facilities have neither the money, staff or the space to keep all of those animals alive. A tragic reality in today’s world!
Mason was rescued by a small group of dedicated volunteers. This organization was contacted because the city shelter it was over its capacity for large breed dogs. The situation was so extreme that they were having to euthanize those dogs that had been there for more than 72 hours, to make space for new intakes being dumped at their front door.
The rescuers were also called because Mason was the sweetest boy, making friends wherever he went in that shelter. Unfortunately, he was also very ill with a respiratory infection. The shelter had no intention to medicating him because why waste money treating a large dog that probably would not get adopted. Small full-blooded or small mixed breed dogs are in demand by the public at this moment, so they find homes quickly, but large dogs get euthanized.
The rescue organization picked up this handsome Lab/Great Pyrenees mix and immediately took him to a veterinarian to be treated for his upper respiratory infection. With good care, slowly, his struggle to breathe lessened. Soon, he began to focus on food. By the end of his course of antibiotics, Mason had gained eight pounds. But there was something else that had caught the veterinarian’s attention. The vet noted that Mason had some difficulty walking and putting any weight on his left hind leg.
At his second vet visit, Mason’s leg was X-rayed and diagnosed with a luxating patella. Patellar luxation occurs when the kneecap slips out of place. If left untreated, this condition can be painful and may lead to lameness, arthritis and other serious orthopedic issues for a dog.
In Mason’s case, he needed surgery to remedy this condition. The injury is either congenital or due to trauma — and Mason is not talking!
Mason had a procedure that is called a medial imbrication with a trochleoplasty. The goal of the surgery is to keep the patella in its appropriate place. Imbrication is the tightening of the joint capsule and trochleoplasty is the deepening of the trochlear groove to better contain the kneecap. The chance of total recovery following this procedure is very good. With this surgery, his kneecap should become totally stable.
Mason after surgery
Post-op care at his foster home consists of monitoring Mason’s incision for evidence of infection. His activity will have to be restricted for the next eight weeks. He will be confined to a crate. Physical therapy will not be required unless Mason does not place some weight on his leg within five to six days of his surgery. He was given an injection of a long-acting antibiotic during surgery, as well as pain medication. He has a re-check scheduled in two weeks to have his sutures removed, and a final vet checkup in eight to ten weeks.
Please find it in your heart to help us pay for Mason’s surgery by making a donation to Animals Abused & Abandoned here. Mason was indeed very lucky to have been saved.