Community-Based Veterinary Programs Save Dog with Severe Gunshot Wound
Olympus, an approximately 2-year-old male neutered Anatolian shepherd, sure picked the right house in Covelo, California to approach for help after he was shot in the back left leg. The Good Samaritan who lived there knew of a community veterinary clinic happening nearby and brought the injured dog to it.
The Covelo Clinic, run by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and other community volunteers, is part of Accessible Veterinary Care at UC Davis, which works to address societal needs through student and community engaged outreach clinics.
The Covelo Clinic partners with a local nonprofit organization, Better Options for Neglected Strays (BONES) Pet Rescue, to conduct three field clinics each year, each serving hundreds of patients in the span of two days. The clinic strives to improve animal health and welfare in Covelo, a small town in Mendocino County that struggles with pet overpopulation and access to veterinary care due to its remoteness. These clinics provide vaccinations, preventatives, spay and neuter surgeries, owner education, and general health care. Each clinic is completely volunteer run, with veterinarians, veterinary students, veterinary technicians/assistants, undergraduate students, and community members coming together to provide care for the animals of Covelo.
One of the first volunteers to help Olympus upon his arrival at the clinic was Kelly O’Keefe, a (UC Davis supporter) Boehringer Ingelheim sales representative who enjoys volunteering with various outreach programs. At a recent industry event, O’Keefe met some UC Davis employees who invited him to join them at the next Covelo Clinic.
“I fell in love with Olympus as soon as I saw him,” said O’Keefe. “He was in a lot of pain, but he’s such a gentle giant.”
O’Keefe helped to comfort Olympus while veterinarians, technicians, and students examined him. Discovering a broken femur, the team knew Olympus needed much more help than they could provide at the clinic. Dr. Barbro Filliquist, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon volunteering at the clinic, examined Olympus and determined that he would be a good candidate for another UC Davis Accessible Veterinary Care entity, the UC Davis Fracture Program for Rescue Animals. Dr. Karen Vernau, who was also volunteering, reached out to the Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and they agreed to take Olympus into their rescue and work with the Fracture Program to repair Olympus’ leg.
Another Covelo Clinic volunteer, Joy Smith, director of Fieldhaven Feline Rescue, had a large enough vehicle to accommodate Olympus and agreed to transport him to Sacramento SPCA for ongoing care. Fieldhaven and Sacramento SPCA work with many shelters and rescues throughout Mendocino County, including BONES, to see that animals throughout the area receive needed care.
The Fracture Program repairs long bone fractures in homeless dogs and cats from animal shelters and rescue groups. These surgeries provide additional learning opportunities for veterinary students and residents of the Orthopedic Surgery Service and the Community Surgery Service at the school’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Amy Kapatkin performed the surgery to repair Olympus’ shattered femur. First an interlocking nail was placed to take the leg out to length. Then two locking compression plates, placed orthogonally, were used to further stabilize the fracture. The plates were generously donated by Depuy Synthes VET to assist the Fracture Program in its efforts to provide life-saving care. These implants will remain in Olympus’ leg forever.
Because of Olympus’ size, the interlocking nails and bone plates used in his surgery are the largest made for veterinary patients. During the healing phase, the plates could bend or break if Olympus was too active. Because of this, and to promote the best healing environment, he was confined to a small area with no running, jumping, or playing allowed. He was given short, controlled leash walks four times per day. As his healing progressed, Olympus’ activity was upgraded to increased leash walks. Now, four months after surgery, he is doing well.
O’Keefe never lost track of him throughout all this, and when the time came for Olympus to find his forever home, O’Keefe’s parents adopted him. Olympus now enjoys a safe and happy life on their six acres.
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