Puppy With Upside Down Paws Given a New Lease on Life by Veterinary School Team

The Oklahoma State University's College of Veterinary Medicine was approached in May to conduct a procedure to correct a rat terrier puppy's front paws, which were upside down. "Siggi" underwent successful surgery in May and is now enjoying her newfound puppy life as she continues to heal.

This surgery came a little more than two years after another successful surgery on Milo, a foxhound puppy who was born with paws that were also facing upward. Milo's story reached national and international news.

It was because of that media exposure that a Dallas animal rescue group reached out to Dr. Erik Clary, an associate professor of small animal surgery and bioethics who also conducted Milo's surgery.

After a successful fundraiser coordinated by the animal rescue group, the surgery moved forward.

"As with Milo, Siggi's problem looked like it was in the paws but it was actually in her elbows," Clary said in a press release distributed by the College of Veterinary Medicine. "For reasons not fully understood, these patients' elbows come out of joint early in life and the result is severe rotation of the lower front limbs and an inability to walk."

Clary told Newsweek that Siggi's surgery was more complex than Milo's surgery because Siggi's bones had more deformities in the lower part of her elbow. It required him to fracture some of Siggi's bones to successfully complete the procedure.

Luckily, Clary and his team managed to finish the surgery on both elbows, rather than having to conduct two separate surgeries. He said puppies shouldn't be under anesthesia for a long period of time, but he and his team completed the procedure in about three to three-and-a-half hours.

Clary was joined by a resident, a fourth-year student and an intern, and he was also given an anesthetic team of two professionals. The intern and student weren't able to do much hands-on work, but they had the opportunity to get an up-close learning experience. A camera was also hooked up and a livestream was on display for students to watch in another room.

It's a rare condition for most veterinarians to come across, but this was the third time Clary conducted surgery to correct this condition and the fourth animal he has seen with it in his 30 years of practice.

"It's not a very common problem," Clary said. "There weren't enough cases to develop a specific direction for them."

He continued and said he suspects there may be more dogs born with the condition, but they may be euthanized by breeders.

After the surgery was completed on May 12, Siggi was outfitted with protective splints to allow the joints to heal. She remained under the care of the veterinary hospital for a few weeks before returning to Dallas where she lives in a medical foster home.

Clary told Newsweek he receives photos and videos of Siggi's progress and said he's pleased with how far she's come. He expects to see her next month.

"She still has more strength to develop in the limbs and the chest, but she's making a good recovery," he said. "She can play outside and chase a ball, the normal things puppies like to do."