06/08/2026
In an instant, a playful puppy found herself needing advanced orthopedic surgery.
Holly, an energetic young pit bull puppy jumped from the window of her family's moving vehicle! At first glance she appeared to have escaped the ordeal with mostly just scrapes and bruises, but upon closer inspection her parents noticed she had lost the ability to bear weight on her right hind leg. Her family acted quickly and rushed her to their trusted primary care veterinarian.
After radiographs revealed a serious fracture of the femoral head growth plate (known as a capital physeal fracture), Holly's veterinarian recognized something important: this injury did not necessarily mean losing the hip joint. Drawing on previous experience, they knew Holly had an opportunity for a much better long-term outcome through specialized orthopedic repair.
Holly was referred to SOVSC the very next day.
Following a comprehensive examination and pre-anesthetic testing, our surgical team confirmed that Holly was otherwise healthy and an excellent candidate for repair. During surgery, Dr. Fugazzi carefully realigned the fractured hip and stabilized it with orthopedic pins, preserving her natural hip joint and restoring normal anatomy.
The results were exactly what everyone hoped for. Post-operative radiographs showed excellent alignment and stabilization, Holly recovered smoothly from anesthesia, and she was already placing weight on the leg before heading home the very same day. Today, Holly is using her leg well and is on her way back to being the playful puppy she was meant to be.
Cases like Holly's highlight the value of strong partnerships between family veterinarians and specialty hospitals. Her primary veterinarian recognized both the severity of the injury and the opportunity for advanced repair, helping ensure Holly received the specialized care needed to maximize her long-term comfort, mobility, and quality of life.
Great teamwork. Great medicine. And one very lucky puppy.
