Pets surrendered to Lollypop Farm often require veterinary care before finding their way to a new home. From vaccinations to spay or neuter surgeries, all pets who come through the shelter visit our Klingenstein Veterinary Clinic to receive compassionate care from our veterinary team. However, some pets will come to us in need of much more extensive surgeries, and sometimes, emergency lifesaving care.
Broken limbs are an example of a more extensive surgery we often see at the shelter. Previously, the clinic at Lollypop Farm was unable to perform advanced fracture repairs utilizing metal plates and external fixators. These expensive fracture repairs may have once meant that pets had to travel to Cornell University’s Companion Animal Hospital for pricey services and extended stays. But new training is allowing Medical Director Dr. Cristina Cadavieco to perform such surgeries in-house, and help even more pets stay on all four legs.
Earlier this year, with the support of two generous local animal lovers, Dr. Cadavieco completed a course on Advanced Fracture Repair and was able to purchase the necessary equipment to perform these types of surgeries at Lollypop Farm. In October of this year, the veterinary clinic performed its very first surgery using an orthopedic plate to repair a fracture. The benefit of using orthopedic plates to repair a fracture involves their ability to appropriately stabilize the bone while still allowing blood supply to the area.
This first surgery was performed on a 7-month-old Chihuahua mix named Jo Jo, who came to the shelter with two broken front legs. Injuries like these are relatively common in Chihuahuas, some of whom have long, spindly legs, and a tendency to jump off of high places. Jo Jo’s surgery was successfully performed by Dr. Cadavieco, and Jo Jo is now spending a few weeks on crate rest while she heals in a foster home.
While performing these surgeries at Lollypop Farm will save some essential funds and travel time to Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, they are still considerably expensive. When you make a gift in support of lifesaving care for pets in need, you’re ensuring that we can keep even more injured pets standing tall. Literally!
Now through the end of the year when you make a gift in support of pets in need, your generosity will go twice as far. Thanks to a generous local donor, all gifts now through December 31 will be matched, dollar for dollar. Consider making a gift this holiday season that supports lifesaving veterinary care for homeless and abused pets in our community: www.lollypop.org/holidays
