This is Max, a three year-old (estimated) Akita who is one super friendly dog! Sadly, he can’t play with other dogs due to his damaged knees.
Max, formerly known as Bear, showed up at a house in the Poconos, PA, dragging a four foot chain behind him. He was taken to a vet where it was found that both knee joints are problematic via x-rays. Both knees are causing Max a tremendous amount of pain. His condition is known as patella luxation which means that his knees pop in and out of joint. It becomes severe when it happens often or the knee doesn’t go back into the socket. This is what is happening to Max. As you can see in the video, his back legs aren’t bending. This only occurs in the back legs since the front legs don’t have knee joints.
Max is currently taking medication to ease his pain but it can’t change his knee joints. The only option available to help him is an operation on both knees. It will be extensive surgery. I had a dog, Shadow, who had this condition. The surgery corrected his patella luxation but required rehabilitation which takes time. After Shadow healed, he was like a brand new dog. He returned to his former self- a happy and playful dog who climbed a tree!!!
The Pocono Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is raising funds for Max’s surgeries. According to the orthopedic surgeon, “In regards of Bear’s injuries, since they had been very chronic, it would be dishonest from me to say that he will be 100% pain free in both knees. I know that he will suffer from occasional or residual lameness, just like anybody who have had knee or hip injuries and surgery. One thing that I can guarantee is that he will be able to perform activities that he is not able to do right now, he will live a long life free of knee instability and patella luxation. In other words he will have an excellent quality of life, by providing him with knee stabilization and patella luxation repair. He will be able to walk and have a great range of motion., he will be a pup again and when he has healed from both will be able to play with other animals or children. Anyway, I can say for sure without exaggerating that I can make him close to 80-85 % out of 100 % pain free, and this is because of the chronic side effects that had already occurred within the knees.”
The operations and rehabilitation will cost approximately $7000. PAWS appreciates ANY donation you can give. If we cannot raise all the money needed, the funds received will be returned to the donors.
Max is young and has too many years remaining to be happy and be able to play again without pain!
Donate by Check
To donate by check, send to:
PAWS
P.O. Box 787
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
* Checks payable to PAWS
* Please indicate your check is for Max.
Woof! Woof! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Max
Have a story, please email me at tevangelistaepp@yahoo. Like my tv page at https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues.
What a handsome boy. I hope they can raise the much-needed funds for him!! xxoo to Max.
Why can’t the surgeon give them a break on the cost of the surgeries? Why do vets have to cost so much to start? So many love our pets but can’t always afford to pay for expensive procedures for them. They have risen their prices where people are forced to give up their pets or euthanize them. It isn’t fair. They still make money even if they drop the cost of the operation. Give them a break.
Hello. You can Max struggling with his back legs. Patella luxation is very painful. I wish I was able to give money. Praying for you Max. I hope you get your operations and live out the rest of your life enjoying every minute of it. I love Akitas.
Poor doggie. Hope he gets the operations he so badly needs.
I hope Max’s knees were able to be fixed. He was dragging a four foot chain. Why even have a dog if you’re going to keep him outside? That never made sense to me. I don’t get it. If he’s on a chain, how is he protecting the home, the people or the property? People are stupid.