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Gabe
Gabe, aka Rapido Gabe, is a cute 4-year-old black male born June 2, 2000. He is the offspring of Splishin Vallie and Rapido Gerty. Gabe's racing career spanned 112 races starting April 5, 2002 in Corpus Christi, going to Multnomath and ending his career with a broken hock at Valley Race Park in Harlingen in February 2004. His leg was put in a cast by the racing kennel, but has not healed properly. He will hardly stand without holding it up.
Dr. Scott Bertrand of the Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center has seen Gabe and diagnosed him needing an E-Tarsal Arthrodes Partial, which translates into fusing the area below his ankle, which will not impede the movement of his ankle, but will stabilize the area.
8/13/04
Gabe's surgery was performed on Thursday, August 12. Dr. Scott Bertrand says the partial tarsal arthrodesis went very well. A plate along with 8 screws was inserted along with artificial bone graft material. Gabe will go in every 2 weeks for a bandage change and check. It is expected his cast will be on a minimum of 8 weeks. He will be leash-walked only and will be confined to his x-pen when not under direct supervision. It is very important that he remain quiet during his post-operative period, as his care during this time is as important for a successful outcome as is the surgery itself. Gabe's foster mom and dad are monitoring him very closely.
8/17/04
from his foster mom
Gabe
is doing well following his surgery last Thursday. His leg is wrapped
down to his toes, with two little toes sticking out, and he is not putting
any weight on that foot. He has learned to move himself around very well
by tripoding it. It was hard for him at first to figure out how to lay
down and get up, as of course his balance is affected. He does not want
to be by himself, so we put the x-pen (graciously loaned by Carol Sahlfeld)
in the den, so he can see me and my other dogs. He has been sleeping right
through the noise. He raises his head to check on everyone, and when he's
happy that he knows what's going on, he lays his head back down--as if
to say, "OKAY, I'm good, continue on."
He is still such a chow hound, he does not want to miss a morsel, nor does he want to miss any action in the kitchen.
Gabe is a very beautiful young hound and he was just too cute when we picked him up with a lime green vet wrap to match his lime green collar. Talk about handsome (even Dr. Bertrand agreed). He's a great boy, this Gabe.