Service dog speeds toward recovery after surgery at UF's Veterinary Medical Center
Jennifer Fick, DVM, changes the bandage on Eagle Ray's left shoulder with the assistance of veterinary technician Stephanie Holloway, in preparation for his release. Surgery to correct Eagle's medial shoulder instability was performed on June 20 at UF's Veterinary Medical Center. (Photo by Sarah Kiewel/University of Florida)
A service dog named Eagle, whose unusual orthopedic problem threatened his ability to help his disabled owner, is speeding toward recovery after successful surgery Tuesday (June 20) partly funded by NASCAR champion Tony Stewart.
The Tony Stewart Foundation supplemented efforts already under way by the Orange City-based animal assistance group H.E.L.P. Animals Inc. to fund the cost of Eagle's operation performed at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center and the travel expenses of a visiting veterinary surgeon from Missouri.
The 3-year-old golden retriever is owned by Michael Ray, of Deltona, who was paralyzed in a road-rage incident when he was 27 years old. Ray said the dog was a godsend, moving in with him more than three years ago, a few years after his wife died of cancer.
"I am in a wheelchair and I'd never had a service dog," said Ray. "I knew my shoulders were going bad, as I'd been pushing a chair since 1978. I decided a service dog might be right up my alley."
Now it was Eagle who needed Ray's help.
The dog began showing signs of weight-bearing lameness of the front left leg last year. Although hind leg lameness is commonly seen and treated by veterinary orthopedic specialists, front leg lameness is rarer and frequently difficult to definitively diagnose and treat.
The problem persisted despite a regimen of exercise and rest, so UF veterinarians recommended surgery. Daniel Lewis, D.V.M., a professor of small animal surgery at UF, and Jennifer Fick, D.V.M., a veterinary surgery instructor who was part of Eagle's care team, noted that they could move Eagle's left shoulder to a markedly greater degree than his right shoulder.
"This was a finding that suggested possible medial shoulder instability, which can cause front leg lameness," Fick said.
UF veterinarians discussed their assessment with Ray and mentioned that James "Jimi" Cook, D.V.M., Ph.D., had recently published an article on medial shoulder instability. Cook, the William C. Allen endowed scholar for orthopaedic research and director of the Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, pioneered the procedure to treat this problem. He flew to Gainesville to perform the surgery and train UF veterinarians in the technique.
"I'm very happy with the end result," said Cook, who repaired two small tears in Eagle's shoulder and removed a small chip of bone from the dog's elbow. "The shoulder was the primary problem but I'm glad we got the elbow taken care of before it grew worse. We have now addressed all of the problems that would be making Eagle's limb lame."
Cook said Eagle's prognosis is very good.
"Time will tell, but he's a motivated patient," Cook said.
The surgery was made possible thanks to the generosity of many. Ray, whose sole income is from Medicare, had been concerned about finances. Surgery alone was estimated to cost approximately $2,500. Then there would be the additional costs associated with traveling to Gainesville and Eagle's postoperative care. Ray shared his dilemma with several friends -- including an assistant manager at a supermarket where Eagle had become very popular.
"There are no quick trips to the grocery store," Ray said. "They have kind of adopted him."
One day when Ray and Eagle were at the store, the assistant manager approached them and told Ray her mother volunteered for an organization called H.E.L.P. Animals.
"Next thing I knew, the H.E.L.P. Animals group contacted me and said they would try to fund Eagle's surgery," Ray said.
The group posted Ray's story and a plea for financial assistance on its Web site, www.helpanimalsinc.org.
Soon an anonymous donor gave $1,800 to Eagle's cause. Other funds were raised through a motorcycle run. Then a call came from the Tony Stewart Foundation.
"Someone had sent something to us soliciting our help," said Pam Boas, Stewart's mother, who helps manage the organization. "Knowing Tony's heart, I called them. He loves animals and that's why our foundation was formed, so we could actually do a better job of donating money to the things that really touched Tony and also touched kids and animals."
At that point, Ray contacted Cook and asked if there were any way he could assist in Eagle's case. Cook e-mailed right away and a plan was hatched to bring him to Gainesville. He agreed to donate his services and H.E.L.P. Animals covered the surgeon's additional travel costs.
"This was the best possible scenario for everyone," Fick said. "Eagle got the best treatment and we benefited from learning the procedure from Dr. Cook. Everybody wins."