Kris’s first reaction in seeing for herself just how skinny she was, was just sadness. She was just a young dog that appeared to have been hit by a car and dragged her little body around, trying to survive. No one helped her until she ended up on the kind lady’s porch.

After a much-needed flea bath, a vet appointment was scheduled and Lacy’s journey to recovery began. The initial diagnosis was heartbreaking. Lacy had recently had two broken hips – on the growth plates (both had healed somewhat). One of her hips healed in a dislocated position and the left thigh was very thin compared to the right. Her pelvis had multiple healed fractures and a free-floating piece of the pelvis that had broken off entirely. More information about her hip area was discovered later by the hip specialist at Texas A&M Orthopedics.

As if the bone issues weren’t enough, she also suffered from skin issues, bladder problems, and severe malnourishment. The pads of her feet showed that they had been burned by the hot pavement and were in various stages of callousing over. Yet despite all of this, Lacy radiated joy. Kris would take her out to run around the property, and she found such joy in splashing in the mud puddles! It was hard to believe she embraced life with such jubilance, knowing how broken her body was inside.

Kris suffers from Rheumatoid arthritis and has good and bad days. When she took in Lacy, it was the toughest rescue she had undertaken. She often watched Lacy, romping around, like she didn’t have a care in the world - which inspired Kris to live in the moment, even on the hard days when her body just hurt. Lacy is truly an inspirational dog!

Since she was still just a puppy, approximately 6 months old, her vet advised waiting until she was at least 10 months old to consider a total hip replacement (THR) and recommended an appointment with a specialist in the meantime. Texas A&M Orthopedics group felt like she was a perfect candidate for the THR but said it was also possible to do the salvage surgery called an FHO (femoral head ostectomy). The difficult decision was left to Kris. There were pros and cons for both procedures; however, the THR came with a $7,000 price tag. Kris went to multiple vets to discuss and did an enormous amount of research on which surgical procedure would be better overall.

The decision was made to move forward with the FHO from a board-certified Orthopedic vet that visited Lacy’s clinic every month or so. This procedure would remove the ball of the hip joint to reduce pain and improve mobility. Unfortunately, a few weeks after her surgery, it was clear that it was mostly unsuccessful. Because of all of the trauma her body had endured at such a young age, the scar tissue that formed was thick and causing her issues in the extension of her leg. The idea with an FHO is to create a false joint and let the scar tissue keep the femur (leg bone) from rubbing against the “socket” of the hip, but it still functions like a ball and socket with the “ball” being scar tissue, not bone. Her scar tissue was so thick it grew beyond the joint, causing her hip to “catch” when she would stretch, so she was hopping on three legs. She went back to Texas A&M Orthopedics for a new consultation, post-surgery, with her hip specialist. He indicated that he could still perform the THR, but it was not without serious risks. He created a 3D model of her hip/pelvis to see how best to do the surgery, at which time he learned that her pelvis was “tipped” from whatever trauma she endured when she was young. He was surprised no one had caught it until then with her having had so many X-rays done. The risk of her becoming paralyzed with an additional surgery was fairly high. He would have to work through an enormous amount of scar tissue to avoid the sciatic nerve. If he nicked the sciatic nerve, paralysis may or may not be permanent – there was no way to know. Together, Kris, Chuck and the specialist determined that they should hold off unless it is absolutely a last resort based on her quality of life. The Barbers decided to focus on water therapy and see how she responded.

Lacy went to a new local vet that specialized in water therapy. Her hip was measured and monitored during her therapy sessions. She did very well, but it wasn’t until she found her way into the Barber’s hot tub that everything changed for her! The hot tub is quite large and has a seat all the way around – at the perfect height for a dog to walk! She began getting into the hot tub on her own and walking in circles, almost every time she went outside to go potty. Sometimes she would just use her front legs and just let the back feet float, but she always has someone reminding her, “use your legs!” It helps to toss a ball in the hot tub – she can’t resist a ball – and miraculously, she uses all four legs!

As of now, Lacy is thriving without the need for surgery at this point. Water therapy has been her saving grace, as well as sparring with Gypsy, her bonded mate. Gypsy isn’t a pool dog, but she challenges Lacy every day. They chase each other around the pool and spar until one of them gives up and they go sit in the sun together. Lacy and Gypsy live together, snuggle together, eat together, and would have a difficult time without the other. They are a bonded pair and will remain together. The Barbers decided with Lacy’s extensive medical history and potential for more surgeries in the future, she would be considered a sanctuary dog. They wouldn’t break up the love that Lacy and Gypsy have for each other, so they will live out their lives together as RTTRS dogs.