VERMILION, Ohio–Little Breeze is unlike any other dog
“She was born with no front legs,” said Deborah Parker, director of Saint Francis Animal Sanctuary of Vermilion. “She has two little paws that come out of her chest, but she seems to be getting along fine. She’s very playful, energetic, she can go up and down steps.”
The one-and-a-half year old black lab came to the shelter last year. She is one of 50 pets–all of them have special needs.
“However, the repetitive trauma of going down on the ground with her body has caused a ‘seroma’ on the end of her stump,” Parker said.
The pressure on Breeze’s paws have caused them to swell up significantly.
Parker took the pup to Veterinarian Frank Krupka, of the Avon Lake Animal Clinic, for help.
“We’re trying to explore prosthetics, trying to find an artificial way to support the front end of the body,” Krupka said.
Orthotic provider William J. Leimkuehler has helped develop a prosthetic device for the dog–a tool that actually was made for humans.
Breeze started wearing her prosthetic this past week, and over time, the doctors will increase the device’s size to help the dog’s transition.
“She’s adjusting quite well,” Krupka said. “And we may find something that works really well, and the dog destroys it just in function of using or maybe chewing on it. A dog will lick a bandage or chew on a cast. We don’t know how well she will tolerate this even.”
If the device works, Breeze potentially will need surgery to gain permanent results.
“It’s good. It’s hopeful,” Parker said. “Every dog is hopeful. We don’t give up on anybody.
For more information on the Saint Francis Animal Sanctuary of Vermilion, click here.