Mango's Story
Domestic Short Hair, Age 11 months

Mango’s owner brought him to CVRC when he was shot with a pellet gun, after which he was severely limping on his right front leg. Dr. Flynn diagnosed a fractured elbow and advised Mango’s owners that he would need surgery in order to ensure proper healing of the fracture.

Dr. Flynn took Mango to the OR and stabilized the fracture using several wires. Mango tolerated the surgery well and happily went home the next day with his parents and littermate, Tango. He would have to be completely confined to a crate for at least the next 8 weeks, with no running, jumping or playing with his brother until the bone had completely healed. He would also undergo daily physical therapy to maintain his range of motion in the elbow and prevent muscle atrophy.

Gradually, Mango’s use of his leg improved, and at his six week recheck appointment, he walked with only a very subtle limp and no pain. Radiographs showed that the fractured had healed well and that the wires implanted in his elbow were stable and comfortable enough that Dr. Flynn would not need to remove them. Mango’s owners were told that they could gradually allow him more activity, and by ten weeks after surgery, Mango was playing blissfully (and pain-free!) with his brother Tango.               

Radiograph of Mango's repaired elbow fracture.