Upon arrival at SDF’s campus, potential candidates for our program undergo routine medical screening, which allows us to check each dog for possible health issues. In most cases, the medical tests reveal a healthy pup. In Cooper’s case, however, we were shocked when we saw his X-rays—this tough boy had been running around on a broken leg for quite some time! While the source of the fractured femur is unknown, one thing was certain: it was up to us to help Cooper get back to feeling his best!
Because the fracture had healed improperly, we knew surgery may be necessary to correct the injury. We consulted with a surgeon who confirmed that operating would likely provide Cooper with the best quality of life in the future. Thankfully, the surgery was a success! However, Cooper’s health journey wasn’t over quite yet—in collaboration with Cooper’s doctors, our canine care team created a post-op recovery plan to get this very good boy back in tip-top shape!
The first part of Cooper’s recovery plan entailed plenty of rest and gentle mobility exercises, which were carried out with the help of his amazing foster family.
After a few relaxing weeks of rest and recuperation, Cooper was itching to get moving again, so as part of his rehabilitation, he was introduced to our underwater treadmill! With the underwater treadmill, he could exercise without putting his full weight on the injury, allowing him to safely build up his strength and mobility.
After several sessions with our rehabilitation practitioner, Cooper felt great—he was finally ready to head home to begin his new life!
We’re happy to share that Cooper was officially adopted by his former foster family in November, and he’s been loving life with his adoring humans ever since! While we may never know the exact circumstances of Cooper’s past, we’re so grateful that his path led him to SDF so we could help this lovable boy with a rough start in life find his way into a wonderful home where he’s cherished and loved. We wish all the best for sweet Cooper, and we can’t wait to follow along with all of his adventures to come!
Click here to learn more about our Canine Placement Program!