Jasper the dog with the crippled leg
Jasper
was found abandoned in the Bull Mountains in eastern Montana.
He had a crippled front leg, which he held up in the air.
A rescue group in Roundup, Montana, took this German Shorthaired
Pointer to a local vet, who determined that the leg should
be amputated. Then, on second thought, the vet suggested euthanizing
the dog instead because "no one wants a three-legged
dog anyway."
Nonsense, of course, so the rescue group had another vet in Billings examine this sweet young dog. The vet suggested they try physical therapy on Jasper's leg. After four months in a loving foster home, the rescue group realized the therapy wasn't working and sometimes seemed painful for the dog. Deciding they had done all they could for Jasper, they asked if we could take him in.
He arrived at the ranch in early December 2002. We promptly took him to our small animal vets in Helena. After a physical exam, X-rays, and consultations with a radiologist in Spokane, we got the diagnosis: Jasper suffered from a permanently contracted biceps. It was caused by blunt trauma that had never been treated. The contraction was why he always held his leg up in the air. Lack of use had left his muscles in that leg completely atrophied.
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There was only one possible treatment, with a 50/50 chance of success: cut the main biceps tendon to relieve the contraction and allow the leg to drop. Then he could learn to use it again … hopefully. And at least he wouldn't be in any more pain.
On the operating table, once the vet snipped the tendon, Jasper's cocked leg went "bo-ing!" and jerked forward. That confirmed the diagnosis. But our vets cautioned that it could take many months before we'd know for sure if Jasper would completely regain use of the leg. Progress would come in fits and starts.
On New Year's Eve, we saw Jasper finally bear weight on that leg for the first time. He did again on New Year's Day, and has off and on since. As of late February, however, we haven't seen much more progress, but our vets remind us to be patient, that there is a long road ahead for the young lad.
In the meantime, this gentle, intelligent dog doesn't let his handicap slow him down. He races around the dog paddock, crippled leg flopping around, zooming as fast as he can go … faster than most of the dogs with four good legs. We nicknamed him "Hop-along" for his endearing, energetic stride.
