Lottie
In late May, National Great Dane Rescue were contacted by Pumpkin and Friends, a charity for disabled animals, asking if we would be able to help and take on a disabled twelve week old black Great Dane puppy. After a transfer of ownership the puppy came into our care.
Lotties comes into our care
In late May 2024, National Great Dane Rescue were contacted by Pumpkin and Friends, a charity for disabled animals, asking if we would be able to help and take on a disabled eleven week old black Great Dane puppy. The disability took the form of loss of use of the rear and front legs. This was believed to have been the result of accidentally being rolled on by the pups mum.
After a transfer of ownership, the puppy came into our care and was fostered by Andrew and Dawn Thomas, the former, a committee member. We found little or no movement in her limbs but the puppy would crawl and we named her Lottie.
After a couple of weeks Lottie was able to move and shuffle around, and occasionally would stand but rather awkwardly, and not for long. She was evidently a happy dog, loving attention and play, including with our Great Dane, Maisie, who was very gentle with her.
A visit to the vet for blood tests and X-Rays
Our local vets, Valley Veterinary Group, undertook a blood test and X Rays which resulted in a referral to see a consultant at ‘The Queen Mother Hospital for Animals’, where further specialist advice and detailed scans were undertaken.
After this examination and subsequent report by Dr Mathew Pead, we were given various courses of action. These were primarily, amputation, knee fusion and a possibly complex series of operations on the badly damaged rear right leg to try and fully repair the problem. Fortunately, whilst the rear right leg is effectively redundant and gets in the way rather than aiding movement, Lottie did not appear to be in any pain.
Despite Lotties severe problem it is fortunate that she is small for a Great Dane.
The outcome of those tests
Following the above and the sending of an updated video, we had a long conversation with Dr Mathew Pead of Queen Mother Hospital, who was very impressed by Lotties progress.
On the basis of this, Dr Pead advised that a major leg operation to try and correct everything, including knee reconstruction, would likely have a high risk of failure and need more than one operation. Amputation was obviously still on the cards but straightening the leg and fusing the knee did appear to be the way to go. This was hoped to be a single operation, and at the time it was thought would have a 50% plus success rate. Dr Pead would do the operation but not until skeletal maturity. Lottie was 6 months old at the time.
Lottie, at 8 months was 27kg and went for a second consultation at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, where they were again pleased with her continued progress.
Decisions had to be made
Following this it was decided and confirmed that the full and likely multiple operations on her bad leg to try and fully restore, was not in the dog’s best interest in part due to the potential failure rate. Consequently, we had Amputation and Arthrodesis (fixing the joint) left.
The Arthrodesis operation would involve breaking the knee joint, shaving of the bone either side of the knee which would allow fusion with a substantial metal plate as structural support. The leg would be set to mirror the good leg position when standing. It was hoped only one operation would be necessary and this would be in the new year.
A diagnosis of hip dysplasia
At 12 months old in March 25 and following further scans and X-rays, it was confirmed Lottie’s growth plates had closed but the nature of the healing and moderately severe hip dysplasia now identified to her rear left leg increased the risk of surgical failure.
With Lottie being a very happy dog and not in pain, we decide, as a committee with Dr Pead’s advice, not to undertake any surgical intervention at the moment and to let Lottie continue to lead a happy life. We would deal with any issues on an if and when necessary basis.
Now that decisions had been made to only deal with her rear legs when it actually proves to be a problem, we then had to make the decision about putting Lottie up for adoption. However, Lottie had spent most of her life with us and we knew her complex limitations and needs, and therefore we decided that Lottie would officially become part of our Thomas household.
We will need help to finance Lottie's operations
In the time Lottie has been with NGDR we have had costs approaching £6,000, the majority of which were medical. In the near future Lottie will probably need one entropean operation as well as possibly medical intervention prior to either a hip and or Arthrodesis operation. The costs for this would be around £10,000.
We have had some donations from kind members and the general public, but unfortunately, indicated financial help from the charity who approached us for help in the first place, has not been forthcoming, as yet.