Missy
Patient of the Month
Trauma (Dragged by car)
Warning: This page contains graphic photos of wounds.
Missy is a two year old Pit Bull. She was accidentally dragged behind her owners SUV. A bypassing car driven by Mr. Wagner and Mrs. Barrett noticed her being dragged for about 1/4 mile before they could flag the driver to pull over. Missy was taken to another veterinary hospital, where her previous owner was unable to afford her treatment. The Barretts decided to seek medical help for her on their own accord, and brought her to the Animal Medical Center of Lehigh Acres.
July 20, 2005
Missy presented with multiple abrasions on her left shoulder, pads of all four feet, both flanks and ventrum. Her most severe injuries were to her wrists. The top of her left wrist was completely worn away, to the point where some bone was worn away and the articular surface of her carpus (wrist) was exposed. Her prognosis for living was poor, and her chance of walking again even worse. However, the Barretts and Wagners wished to pursue treatment.
She was immediately started on IV (Intravenous) fluids, IV antibiotics, and IV CRI (Constant Rate Infusion) pain medications. Once she was more stable, Missy was placed under anesthesia, and her wounds were cleaned and dressed.
It is likely that Missy's treatment will require a month or more of hospitalization with daily anesthesia and daily wound treatment and bandage changes. Due to the extensive injury to her carpus, she will likely need orthopedic surgery on the joint costing $2000 or more, in addition to the daily hospital care.
 
Week of July 27, 2005
Missy stood on her own (against her doctors orders) for the first time three days ago. She is forming great granulation tissue (bright red tissue, normal healing) at all of her wound sites. Her deep wrist injury is begining to granulate over and is trying to close. The large wound on her hip was sutured closed early this week. The wound on her shoulder has a large scab of dead tissue, which is acting like a natural physiological bandage. The other wounds have been debrided to remove the dead tissue and appear to be healing well.
At the recommendation of a veterinarian in Naples who had a similar case, Dr. Whitney began placing sugar on the wounds under the bandages, and this has really improved the condition of the granulation tissue. By day four, Missy was removed from the CRI IV pain medications and started on Tylenol 3 with Codine tablets. She has been eating pretty well, and is being fed cooked hamburger mixed with her dog food.
  
Week of August 5, 2005
Missy has been getting outside a little each day to get some fresh air. She is wanting to move around a little more each day, although we still want her to stay off her front legs. This week her carpal wound finally closed over the joint with granulation tissue. The large physiologic bandage of dead tissue on her left shoulder finally came off today. Dr. Whitney removed the stitches in her left hind leg two days ago, and that wound has healed beautifully. Her attitude seems to be brighter, and she seems to appreciate all the attention she is getting by the hospital staff.
 
Week of August 8, 2005
Missy had her splint removed on Monday, and is walking pretty well. She still has thick soft wraps on both front legs, and bandages on both back feet. Her wounds are contracting down well. We expect she will be able to go home to Mr. Wagner and Mrs. Barrett within the next one to two weeks.
August 15, 2005
Missy went home today! Her new owners will continue the bandage changes on her front legs. The bandages on her back legs have been removed.
 August 22, 2005
Missy came in for a progress evaluation and she is doing great! We are going to see how she does with her front legs left unbandaged. Her wounds are contracting down well.
Missy has been featured in many news reports and articles. Dr. Whitney will be on WINK TV each Tuesday morning in August at 7:40 am for a brief update of Missy and to answer any of your pet questions.
WINK TV July 22, 2005
WINK TV July 25, 2005
Labelle News Paper
If you are interested in donating toward Missy's care, please contact the Animal Medical Center at (239) 369-0555, or mail to the address below, Attn: Missy
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