Bradshaw is an adorable six-year-old Chihuahua mix. He was found abandoned at a schoolyard and taken to the Everett Animal Shelter. His owner is a volunteer at the shelter and adopted him despite his apparent health issues. Bradshaw was handstand walking as his back legs were atrophied and painful. Further examination revealed that his stifles were shattered. They surgically attempted to repair both back legs but they were beyond repair and had to be amputated.
Bradshaw’s front legs were also compromised because he had been compensating for his back legs for so long. This, unfortunately, led to an enormous amount of breakdown of his carpals, or wrists. Over the last three years, Bradshaw’s owners had been problem-solving with carpal braces, wraps, and carts. Bradshaw currently has carpal braces on his front legs that, every two days, his dedicated owners remove so they can wash and dry his front legs, coat them with Duoxo calming gel, dry them with a blow dryer and cover them in baby powder before they put them back on.
This doesn’t stop Bradshaw though. Bradshaw’s owners aren’t able to leave him for more than two days, so they take him on adventures with them. In November, his owners took Bradshaw to the Oregon Coast to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. It was his first time at the beach and he loved every minute of it, especially the sand and crab shells! Although Bradshaw’s owners have bought multiple carts for him, he doesn’t have the strength he needs to move about safely. So, his family is his cart! They place one hand under his chest and the other hand under his belly. This allows him to go up and over rough terrain so he can explore his surroundings like a dog should.
Bradshaw sees the Animal Medical Center of Seattle’s internal medicine department for cold laser therapy treatments of his front legs every two weeks.. Laser therapy is used for treating chronic inflammation in some of our patients. He is also on leflunomide, an immunosuppressive drug, and has an Assisi Loop, a device to treat pain and inflammation, used on him three times a day.
Bradshaw shares his home with three other dogs and two cats, so he’s got plenty of company around him at any given moment. Although the last three years have been an emotional and financial roller coaster for Bradshaw and his family, it’s also been a wonderful three years and they hope for many more with him. His family is grateful for the care he has received here at the Animal Medical Center of Seattle, and we are grateful to be a part of Bradshaw’s life! Thank you for bringing so much love and joy to the world Bradshaw. <3
