Star has settled in very well in his foster home and he loves his foster mum and the other dogs in the home. With his bent front leg we have been unable to start looking for a home for him until we could get the leg checked out.
Last week Star went to the vets for x-rays on both front legs. These were then sent off to a specialist in Fife for an opinion. We now have that opinion and it really leaves him between a rock and a hard place.
The specialist can operate on his leg but he is guarded about the final outcome. There will not be just one operation. He will need one operation now with possibly another or more to follow. Then once hiis bones have finished growing he will need another operation and will need an external framework for a time while his leg heals. It will take lots of trips to Fife for the surgery as well as months of recovery and restricted exercise. At the end of it all he may be completely sound but it is possible that he may still be lame.
The alternative to that surgery is for his leg to be amputated.
The concerns we have about going ahead with the surgery is that Star will go through months of discomfort and some pain. He will not be able to run around and play like a normal puppy. He will also have all the upheaval of trips to the specialist, operations and recovery. It will be difficult to socialise him adequately due to having to keep him from damaging the leg. He will also not be able to settle into a permanent loving home.
We have therefore decided that the best course of action for Star is for him to have the leg amputated. It sounds extreme but once it is done he will very quickly adapt and will soon be able to find his forever home and be a normal puppy. We have seen lots of dogs that live happy and fulfilled lives with three legs and see no reason why Star shouldn't do so too.
He will be having his operation as soon as possible so that he can start to get on with his life without being hampered by that wonky leg. We will of course keep you informed of his progress.
