Joey is a beautiful 12 year-old black female Doberman. She has known Dr. Paige Garnett and the wonderful team at Care Animal Hospital since the day she came home in a baseball cap at 4 weeks old. Joey had a tall order to fill, as she was not the 1st “Joey” but the 4th in a row for her owners. Even then, Dr. Garnett knew she would be the best Joey of them all.
Joey enjoyed many happy, healthy years helping with chores and chickens on her Broomfield ranch. On a routine exam, however, when Joey was ten, Dr. Garnett noted a subtle change in her gait. Joey was rotating one of her front feet slightly inward. She had no pain or evidence of trauma. Within a month, her condition progressed and she began to limp. Concerned that Joey was showing signs of possible Wobbler’s Syndrome, a neurological disorder caused by pressure on the spinal cord, the team at Care Animal Hospital immediate referred her to Dr. Patricia Luttgen at the Neurological Center for Animals. MRI results confirmed that Joey had a bulging vertebral disc in her neck, and had successful neurosurgery to relieve the pressure on her spine. After several months of marked improvement, Joey again became lame, this time due to a genetic condition of the spine for which there was no surgical solution. Joey’s owners were heartbroken. Unable to walk or stand without falling, there seemed little else that could be done. Once again, Dr. Paige Garnett and the team at Care Animal Hospital came to the rescue. Home acupuncture, provided by Dr. Donna Harris, and a round of steroids produced a miracle dog who could walk and play again.
One year later, Joey developed swelling in her hock (ankle). Suspecting an orthopedic injury, Joey was referred by Care Animal Hospital to Dr. Patsy Mich at Ortho Pets Center for Animal Pain Management and Mobility Solutions. There she was diagnosed with a ruptured Achilles tendon. When surgery was ruled out, the Ortho Pets team developed a customized device to support her fallen hock and prevent further strain. Joey wore her brace proudly, much to everyone’s delight. Several months later, unfortunately, Joey tore a cruciate ligament in her opposite hind knee. A condition that typically required surgery or the addition of a second brace, it was decided to give this miracle dog a break and focus on making her comfortable. A daily regime of steroids and pain meds were added, and acupuncture was resumed at the Ortho Pets Pain Management Clinic.
Today, Joey is a happy, active senior citizen, whose favorite things are taking out the trash, Cool Whip from the can, wearing “Survivor” scarves, sleeping by the fireplace, and keeping up with her little sister Lucy.
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