Thanks so much to Dr. David Crouch for saving my dog, Brueger’s, physical’s health and mobility for 3 different crucial and necessary surgeries starting in April 2009 for the first surgery and then a year and a half later for the second surgery when Brueger’s other knee went out! The first two surgeries which Brueger underwent fixed both knees which were originally genetically too angled, causing ligament tears and a lot of pain. These surgeries are called TPLO’s and Dr. Crouch specializes in this procedure…Both surgeries were successful but the rehab is quite critical and Dr. Crouch was quite thorough and specific in his instructions on Brueger’s regiment after surgery for a 6 to 8 week period. In June 20212, a year and half later after the 2nd surgery, Brueger suffered a broken hind leg, when he snuck under my trailer, unknown to any of us there at the time, and when I moved the trailer, I unwittingly ran Brueger over and he fractured his right hind leg right at the end of the metal plate he had in place from TPLO surgery. That dog never hesitated, after he had been run over, and hopped over, holding his very apparent broken leg in a holding position, to get in the truck with me, and letting me know, even with his broken leg, the pain and shock that he must have been experiencing, THAT HE WAS GOING WITH ME IN THE TRUCK..hell or high water! Adrenaline flowing, I lifted him into my car, yelled at my poor 16 yr old daughter, ready to go off to the Tryon barbecue..GET IN AND HURRY UP! We are going to the vet! I rushed him to Western Carolina Emergency Center in Hendersonville, where after a short examination they told me I have 3 options with a 10 year old dog with a badly fractured leg..1) Put him down and avoid any suffering or costs (NOT AN OPTION IN MY BOOK) 2) See if leg will heal on its own if assisted with a reinforced cast (NOT going to happen with an older dog) 3) Call a good surgical vet and hope one will agree and then attempt to surgically put his leg back together, but it will PROBABLY be very expensive..(Can you put a price on your love for such a loyal and faithful companion that Brueger has been to me..”if you want loyalty get a good dog!” and he has been that and much more in the last 10 years of my life.
After hearing the diagnosis and my options, I knew who I needed to get hold of..the best vet that I have dealt with in all my animal years! Dr. David Crouch..not only is he a compassionate and brilliant veterinary, but he took the time on the weekend to look at Brueger’s x-rays and asked that I transfer Brueger to his office first thing Monday morning for emergency surgery. Needless to say, I was so relieved that he saw hope in repairing Brueger’s leg even though other x-rays showed a shattered Tibia bone. He underwent his surgery…June 2012.,was in a cast for 4 weeks (each week we returned for cast and color change) and today, September 4, 2012, Brueger had his last visit ( NEVER SAY NEVER) with Dr. Crouch and staff and has been declared 100% sound and the bone has healed..he is “good to go!”
I will be forever grateful to Dr. Crouch and his staff for making Brueger’s life what it is today.. HAPPY AND HEALTHY! And for me, an opportunity to look forward to those golden years, I am able to spend with my most loyal friend and companion, BRUEGER!