MEET RALPH
He was 4 months old when he was hit by a car on the streets of Ireland. He was taken to a vet by some passersby where he received medical treatment for his injured leg and stayed there for 4 to 5 weeks. Ralph then went on to Pat & Ed's kennels whilst awaiting transport to the UK.
He arrived here on January 6th and was fostered by Alan for 4 weeks. During this time Alan noticed poor Ralph was becoming progressively lame on his left foreleg, the 1 that was injured in the accident. He was taken to a local vet on Jan 27th 2011 who said this was serious and it would need X rays, which would cost £500 to £600. He also prescribed rimadyl for pain relief.
Ralph was to stay on controlled exercise and we started taking him swimming to help him build up muscle and get some exercise to burn off his typical puppy energy. He is still not too sure about the swimming but he does have to go.
The Rescue managed to get Ralph an appointment with another vet sympathetic to Rescues and their dogs so Ralph was taken to see him on 1st February 2011. These X rays showed the radius bowing and the vet recommended that the X rays be sent to a specialist orthopaedic vet for a full diagnosis.
Toachim House Veterinary Surgery
17-19 Shunters Close,
Faversham,Kent,ME13 8GF
Fax: 01795 542350
Tel: 01795 531313
Vat: 786 2417 03
Email:info@thvs.co.uk
Web:www.thvs.co.uk
Date Description Qty Net Vat Cost
08/02/2011 10:33 Consultation Referral
08/02/2011 10:33 Anaesthesia induction dog large
08/02/2011 10:33 Anaesthesia maintenance dog large per 15 mins
08/02/2011 10:33 Drip setup double line Y 2 pumps
08/02/2011 10:33 Hartmans 1lt
08/02/2011 10:33 Saline 100ml
08/02/2011 10:33 Zantac inj 2ml vial
08/02/2011 10:33 Durogesic 100 patch
08/02/2011 10:33 Durogesic 75 patch
08/02/2011 10:33 Zinacef 750mg vial
08/02/2011 10:33 Marcain 0.5% 10ml steripack
08/02/2011 10:33 Morphine 30mg/ml per vial
08/02/2011 10:33 Theatre pack - hip replacement
08/02/2011 10:33 Corrective osteotomy
08/02/2011 10:33 Implant - ESF wires
08/02/2011 10:33 Fixator hire - large construct
08/02/2011 10:33 Xray 1st plate
08/02/2011 10:33 Xray subsequent plates
08/02/2011 10:33 Hospitalisation - per 24 hours
08/02/2011 10:33 Vet exam hospital case
Total £2,277.42 455.48(Vat) 2,732.90 Total Post operative x-rays will be required approx 6 weeks later. The price for this is £235,
Ralph then went to his new home and new family, who have continued to give him the love and care that he needs. He also has a new pal in Woody, a GSD/Staff, which allows Ralph to play as long as it doesn't get too boisterous.
The Rescue went into full swing to raise the funds needed to give Ralph his operation. Luckily the orthopaedic vet was also sympathetic to Ralph's plight and agreed to reduce the cost of the operation by 15% and the operation would go ahead as soon as we had raised half the cost and allow the Rescue to pay back in installments. We achieved this, so on 23rd February 2011 Ralph went to the Vet hospital and we fully expected him to be in overnight, coming out with an external fixator and frame on his leg.
Ralph is 1 lucky little man, the vet phoned to say that, in his opinion, that the intended operation was unnecessary. Ralph had had more X rays and these had shown that the radius bone had straightened because of the growing he had done. The growth plates in his carpal joint have helped this happen. At the same time this growth spurt has caused problems in the left elbow, leaving a larger gap in the ball and socket joint than should be. The specialist vet is hoping that this will close in the coming 6 to 8 weeks when Ralph returns for more X rays. If not, the vet is proposing to remove 1 or 2 slivers of bone from the radius which hopefully will allow the joint to tighten up. He also has a problem on the growth plate in the carpal joint, but this shouldn't cause any problems. His right elbow has been traumatised at some point, shown by the roughening of the bone and some damage to ligaments and tendons but all the enforced crate rest has helped this heal so no pain in that region. We are waiting for a full report from the vet.
So, for now, Ralph is still on restricted exercise and swimming, he is still on pain meds but these are going to be gradually reduced to see if he can go without them.
The monies raised for Ralph are going into a new account, Ralph's Fund. If, fingers crossed, he doesn't require the surgery that was originally deemed necessary, this money will be held and used for any future dogs coming into rescue that need medical assistance.
Nicola is still doing her Skydive for Help Ralph Run and the auction continues, so we still need help collecting for Ralph. Thank you to everyone who has donated or helped to raise so much money to date.
Currently the vet has £700 left of £1300 paid in advance in anticipation of the op, and more will be used to pay for the next set of X-rays.
The initial X-rays, referral and pain meds (1/2/2011) amounted to £198.83.
As soon as the vet's report detailing his latest X rays is received it will be posted on here.
Ralph also has his own FB page http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001958875653
and a moving Youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdZb__u2aM0
This young man has endeared himself to everyone he has met, such a happy pup who deserves the chance to run...... and with our help he will!
Home 
he won't need surgery. 
I'm watching my cat friend in the garden, she might play with me later
I can sit when you offer me food!
My best friend Woody shows me how and I copy him even though I'm bigger than him now
[b
