Rocco

Rocco, a lovely natured, boisterous, almost 8 year old boxer, has had an interesting 18 months. His owners first reported some stiffness in the hindlegs when he presented for a dental early 2023. Nothing significant was found at that time.

Four months later he had a sudden collapse at home which may have been a seizure or a cardiac episode. Bloodtests, ECGs, ultrasounds and holter monitoring sessions were performed and a diagnosis of Arrhythmic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy was obtained. Cardiac medicine began. In March this year a further holter session found that his cardiac condition had worsened and he was at risk of sudden death.

In June he had hindlimb/stance abnormalities, with a wide-based hindlimb stance and difficulty on steps. Clinical examination diagnosed cranial cruciate ligament rupture in his left stifle. Typically we would operate on these stifles as a matter of course to improve their quality of life. Our problem with Rocco was the risks from anaesthesia were significant, and we may have lost him on the operating table. This was a risk the owners were not prepared to take so we had to look for medical options to maintain Rocco's quality of life. He was already on a mobility diet, neutraceuticals and NSAIDs.

Typically, as an orthopaedic surgeon I like to 'cut for a cure' and reserve braces and splints for short-term support until you can take them to theatre, or to support a limb while recovering from surgery. In this case we had to consider a brace as a long-term support for Rocco's stifle as he was not going to be going to theatre and his owners wanted him to have the best quality of life they could achieve conservatively.

We looked at bracing options, and settled on a new South Island company that produces bespoke splints and braces shaped to each individuals limb. Pawthotics sent us a measuring guide and casting material to provide a 3D shell of the left hindlimb from which an accurate, snug and therefore stable hinged stifle brace was modelled.

Picking the artwork on the brace was probably the hardest bit with the owners settling on a camouflage look to blend into his brindle coat. Fitting the brace when it arrived was a quick and simple affair and Rocco was walking around in it within minutes. He still needs to get used to the idea of having a supported limb but we think he will do just fine with such dedicated owners and a gradual build up back to normal activity.