Biography of Navia Rodriguez: The Three-leg Female Dog

Biography of Navia Rodriguez. Written by Maria Antonia Rodriguez. Her owner.

Navia was born on August 10, 2019. Her mother, a very beautiful chocolate-colored pitbull which accidentally got impregnated by a Creole puppy. The mother had eight puppies and Navia was the last to be born, she was the smallest of the herd and had a malformation in her right front limb.

Navia's little brothers were given up for adoption; Since they didn't come out of pure linage like the mother, they weren't sold.

Navia remained hidden, the owner thought that there was no one to take care of the little animal and it was likely that they would sacrifice her.

She was ten days old when it came into the hands of Toña, who was passing by the owner's house and saw that he was giving those puppies away. Two males were left.

Toña wanted a female and she made the owner know that. Then somewhat doubtful, the young owner entered the house, went to the patio and brought in his hand the newborn who was chubby but with fleas. However, that bright and tender look was a crush on its future adoptive human mother. A retired head nurse who always had the need and impulse to help others and more if they have less favorable conditions.

Her, now adoptive, mother took her home, gave her a bottle of vitamins-milk every three hours, took her to the vet and she grew healthy but her right front leg was still not fully developed, it grew as if it was always bent forward. So, when Navia was eight months old, Toña took her to the vet to review a possible surgery to help her stretch her leg, since this deformity was a problem: Navia got tangled up with other dogs when playing, crashed frequently and therefore she suffered pain and some injuries. The doctor said that it necessary to wait until she was a year old because by then she was not supposed to grow any more.

When Navia turned one year old, Toña took her to the vet again. On this occasion, she was evaluated by a dog orthopedist, a university professor who operated alone in a clinic located in the center of Ibagué, in Colombia.

She was entered into the system, her medical history was opened, just as it is done with humans. They recorded their data, date of birth, vaccinations, history, meals, habits and current weight among other data. The doctor ordered laboratory tests and an X-ray of the affected limb. By night all the results were ready and the orthopedist explained the findings to Toña. As for the blood, everything was normal, as for the X-ray, it showed that the humerus was very thin and curved. In the forearm the radius was missing and the ulna was also thin and curved.

To try to align these bones, the doctor would have to fracture them and then weld them together with pieces of platinum, otherwise he would try to put in a piece that would replace the radius. He made Toña sign an informed consent explaining the possible complications and that it could end in amputation.

Toña put all her faith in this veterinary doctor, after all, he is a specialist in dog bones. That night Navia was already hospitalized. The next morning she would undergo surgery.

The night for Toña was tinged with moments awake and thinking. The next morning she came at 9 in the morning, visiting time, and Navia had already had the operation and was still under sedation.

The coordinator veterinarian informed the owner that the specialist ordered five days of hospitalization to administer intravenous antibiotics to prevent infection. In her left extremity Navia had a vein channeled for this purpose and also to hydrate it. That first day, it was generally calm, Navia was dozing and did not receive food.

On the second day, when Toña comes at the time of the visit, the coordinator tells her that Navia leaned on her operated limb and that the surgery was damaged. It was not possible, Navia, she was immobilized.

Sadness, anger and frustration took over Toña. Faced with her doubts and complaints, the orthopedist, who never showed his face again, sent a message saying that this was to be expected and that I knew the possible risks. So, immediately afterwards, Toña asks for an amputation, she is not going to subject her to more surgeries that are not going to work, instead they would demand much more money from her than she had already paid.

At dawn on the third day Navia is taken to surgery, they amputate her right front limb, disarticulate it from the clavicle and suture it with a very strong nylon to prevent massive bleeding. Seeing her in the afternoon, numb, already without her limb, Toña felt like crying. She still felt anger and mistrust, so much money invested and the procedure had failed. They told her that Navia had to continue receiving antibiotics for another five days to prevent infection.

Toña brought meat and chicken to Navia, all roasted and with a little salt, rice, with a little broccoli, Navia ate but very little. What was left was given to an old, shaggy dog ​​who was called "crazy face." This dog did eat with desire. He was there because he had been bitten by a snake, that's what they said. Crazy face, he had no mobility in his hind limbs and dragged himself on the floor. They put a diaper on him to make things easier.

Toña kept visiting Navia, who seemed embarrassed by her current state. She lowered her head and her tender eyes were broken, always with tears, it was so painful to see her in that state, because she had always been a happy, loving dog and now she didn't even move her tail to greet her mistress.

On the fifth day, Toña took her home, with the promise of the clinic administrator that she would treat her daily at home.

That's how Navia, after a month and a half had already healed completely, the hole that was made in the wound and where blood was draining, finally closed. Margarita, who accompanied Toña, was an excellent caregiver and prepared healthy and exquisite food for her. Navia gained weight, she was happy again, she ran through the park, she licked again full of love, her tail danced with joy frequently and her brown eyes were the most beautiful in the dog world of that whole place.

Today, Navia and Toña are in good health, they are faithful companions. They are passing through the countryside while the Covid 19 pandemic is passing. They are waiting to find someone to make Navia her a prosthesis because although she moves very well and reaches a good speed running, it is better to prepare her for later in her old age.