​Fur Kids Foundation 2019 Success Story: Tikka

This beauty is Tikka, a 4 year-old red heeler/American bulldog mix. Tikka was recently hit by a vehicle, which caused a tear in a ligament in her back leg that required emergency surgery. Tikka's mom said she, "can't imagine life without Tikka," so they applied for help with Fur Kids Foundation to help with the Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO) surgery.

According to VCA, an FHO is a surgical procedure that aims to restore pain-free mobility to a diseased or damaged hip, by removing the head and neck of the femur (the long leg bone or thighbone). 

An FHO restores mobility to the hip by removing the head of the femur. This removes the ball of the ball-and-socket joint, leaving just an empty socket. The muscles of the leg will initially hold the femur in place and, over time, scar tissue will form between the acetabulum and the femur to provide cushioning that is referred to as a 'false joint'. Although this joint is anatomically very different from a normal hip joint, it provides pain-free mobility in most patients.

~ VCA Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) in Dogs

The following hip conditions can benefit from an FHO:

• Hip fractures
• Severe arthritis
• Legg-Perthes disease
• Hip dysplasia in cats and dogs

Tikka's dad was laid off from work for a while. After getting a new job, he was laid off again, and her mom was transitioning to a new job. We were happy to help Tikka and her family with the emergency veterinary surgery.

We’re happy to report that Tikka has recovered from her FHO surgery and she's on her way to recovery and living pain free. We’re very pleased to have helped with Tikka’s quality of life.

If your dog is ever hit by a car, it's very important that you take them to the vet to be evaluated. 

Fur Kids Foundation is 100% ran 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.