Sayler's OCD Problems Continue
Just a few weeks after the hock surgery, Sayler started limping on her left front leg. I had thought she was transferring the weight because of the hock surgery. Back to the Referral Center we went to find OCD in her front elbow, another surgery was suggested once again to eliminate her pain. However, we did wait for the rear leg to heal before proceeding to the front elbow.
 | To University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
I have had the breed for about 34 years and never had these kinds of problems. After the series of troubles and Sayler not walking well, I felt I needed to get another opinion so off we went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in July of 2002 (Sayler was not quite a year old yet). I was informed by the Doctor there, that after evaluating Sayler and reviewing her x-rays she had numerous, what seemed to be genetic problems such as hip & elbow dysphasia with end stage arthritis in the left front elbow and OCD in 3 out of 4 legs. The bottom line was, that I should consider putting her to sleep. He saw the devastation in my face and tears running down my cheeks and as I started to leave he said there may be one other option. There was a vet at Iowa State University by the name of Dr. Mike Conzemius. He had an 80% success rate with elbow replacement even though it was still in the experimental stage. It was almost a 4 hour trip home and all I could think of is how much I love Sayler and what could I do to help her. |
The Third Surgery at Iowa State University
The next morning I called Dr. Conzemius and arranged to send him x-rays and a video of Sayler. We eventually made the 9 hour trip for her evaluation late Oct 2002. His finding on her exam, was the left front elbow did, in fact, have end stage arthritis but the majority of her problem was coming once again from the rear hock and he saw signs of OCD in the right front elbow. His option was to leave the left front elbow alone, fuse the right rear hock and scope the right front elbow. He did give us some hope for some quality of life for her. I decided once again to try and help her.
 | She stayed there for three days and we made the journey home. It would be 8 weeks in the splint and restricted activity for several months. Dr. Buback the Appleton vet, would do all the follow up care from here on. Several visits where made to the Referral Center to reposition the splint so no sores would form, ect. The trips to the Center were about 2 hours round trip. |
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