Loving Goose Meant Making a Difficult Choice
The bone malformation in his right front leg was severe. He frequently limped or held the leg off the ground. As he grew, the leg continued to turn outward. Alyssa could see that he was essentially using it as a crutch.
Veterinary consultants with the rescue had already concluded that amputation would likely offer Goose the best change for a comfortable, active life. Once he was officially hers, Alyssa brought him to BluePearl Levittown for further evaluation.
She understood more than most what the surgery would involve. Before moving into the recruiting space, she had worked as a veterinary technician. While she understood what the medical evidence suggested, she still hoped the team could find another answer. “We desperately wanted to save his leg, but ultimately, we wanted his quality of life to be the best it could possibly be,” she said.
What she saw gave her confidence that Goose’s team at BluePearl Levittown was considering every option.
She watched as doctors, technicians and residents gathered around a computer to review the case together. It felt almost like watching a medical huddle as the team worked through scenarios. “It was fascinating to watch; but more than anything, it immediately gave me confidence that they were doing everything they possibly could to make the best decision for Goose,” Alyssa said.
Ultimately, the team agreed that amputation offered the best quality of life.
“While we always want to do all that we can to save a limb, our ultimate goal is improving quality of life and preventing pain,” said his surgeon, Dr. Lauren Deahl. “In Goose’s case, he had pain and deformity involving multiple joints. Surgical correction would have involved several staged surgical procedures within the first few years of his life without a guaranteed positive outcome.
“Puppies are extremely adaptable, and we felt that amputation at a younger age would prevent the development of chronic pain and allow him to enjoy his life with his new family as quickly as possible!" she shared.
Trusting the Team and the Decision
The surgery went well. Throughout Goose’s overnight hospital stay, his care team kept Alyssa updated. At discharge, they took time to walk her through his medications, what to expect, and what signs to watch for at home.
On his first day home, Goose tripped and fell several times as he learned to navigate on three legs. “There was definitely a part of me wondering if we made the right decision,” Alyssa recalled.
She did not have to wonder for long. By the next day, Goose seemed to have adapted. “He was getting around so well that you would never have known he just had a major surgery two days earlier,” she said.
Meeting the Puppy Who’d Been There All Along
Despite Alyssa’s fears about how such a young dog – just 14 weeks – would adjust to losing a leg, Goose seemed perfectly ready. Free from the pain and limitations of a malformed leg, he became so active that Alyssa put him back on a leash for a while to avoid potential falls.
It has been a remarkable change from the puppy who once clung to her and moved so cautiously. “You can genuinely see the difference in him,” she said. “He has so much more confidence, energy and curiosity, and he is finally acting like a true puppy again.”
There were still a few moments of concern during early recovery. When Goose seemed uncomfortable one weekend, Alyssa called his BluePearl care team. They evaluated him and adjusted his medications to help him feel more comfortable. For Alyssa, that continued support was another reminder that Goose’s care did not end when his surgery did.
