Fur Kids Foundation 2020 Success Story: Blue

This big beauty is Blue, an 8 year-old Cane Corso. For her age, Blue is considered a senior citizen who happens to be dealing with pain. At the vet's office, Blue's mom learned that she had a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), as well as arthritis in her hips and knees; not uncommon for dogs this size.

For those who don’t know, the CCL, which is called the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans, is a tough band of tissue that connects the back of the femur (the bone above the knee) with the front of the tibia (the bone below the knee). The CCL keeps the tibia in place beneath the femur, and stabilizes the knee joint. In dogs, a ruptured CCL is the most common orthopedic injury and results in a painful and unstable joint. 

According to Pet MD: 

A dog’s symptoms might range from having a hint of lameness to being unable to bear weight on the injured leg. A dog with a CCL injury may also have swelling on the inside of the knee. 

One indicator of a torn CCL in dogs is the presence of the "drawer sign." This means that when the veterinarian holds the dog’s femur in place, the tibia can be pulled forward in a manner similar to a drawer sliding open. However, the lack of the drawer sign does not mean there is not damage to the CCL. ​

Unfortunately for Blue, torn ligaments do not heal on their own. Blue's mom is on a limited income and wanted to do the best thing for her dog, but wasn't sure what that was with what she could afford.  

She applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help, and we were able to help with blood work, pain medicine and anti-inflammatory medication. Blues mom is going to keep an eye on her, do what she can to help with her arthritis. She will continue with blood work and purchasing medication to keep Blue comfortable. 

About Fur Kids Foundation
Fur Kids Foundation is 100% run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money with events, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. You can see a list of those who support us on our Supporters page. Check out more Success Stories.