Vet visit #1 - Time for a plan of action

Well, we went to see Dr. Scott today, April 22. I now weigh 44lbs. Dr. Scott commented on my muscles so I guess my workouts are working!
Dr. Scott said my 1/2 leg is not the major problem, my bowed leg is. Mom suspected this but didn't realize how bad it was. My ulna bone actually twists both up at the top of my leg and down at the bottom near my ankle. If he put pins in it, it's likely I would bend the pins and be worse off for the effort. Dr. Scott recommended that I go visit the vets at the Michigan Veterinary Specialists office and see what they can do for me. Perhaps putting plates in my leg will be the answer.
If something isn't done, it's pretty certain I'd end up with some very painful arthritis from the way my joints are already wearing down and twisting.
Specialists cost a lot of money but Mom is going to take me anyhow and pray for the best. She really believes in me. That feels good!

Endurance is not my thing...

I love to run and play but GOSH! I need to stop and lay down a lot to catch my breath. Sometimes Mom will massage my legs for me when I do this and I can charge into action again. Hope the vet can help me. I'm happy but if I could catch up to Lucy one of these days, maybe I'd have a chance in catching her eye. Goodness knows she's caught mine!

Building Up & Beefing Out

I was thinner than this when I came to live with the Fords. Mom said I needed to gain weight and put some muscles onto my rear legs. The plan is that once I'm muscular enough in the hind legs, she can teach me to sit up pretty and maybe eventually learn to walk on my back legs. It's been said that may not be possible since I was born with front legs that nature may tell me to behave differently. There are dogs who do walk on their back legs quite well but they were born without the front legs. But, hey, circus dogs learn to do it when they have all 4 legs so why not me? I'm a smart boy. Time will tell.

A New Home

My breeder could have euthanized me at birth but he just couldn't do it. But after having me around for 9 months, he felt he was running out of options. Who would want a deformed dog? And the vet bills to fix me would be much too large. Not to mention I had to have been an embarrasment to keep around when he had other litters to try and advertise.
No, my deformity was not genetic. I was born this way but it was a fluke thing. Two veteranarians agreed to that fact. But people still judge...
That's when John and Janet Ford decided to take me home. Redbone breeders themselves, it was strange to figure out why. Let's just say Janet has a love for the underdog. That's me! ... the underdog! She said that there had to be a purpose for my life. She wants to help me find it. I think I'll call her Mom.