There is a first time for everything.
Fortunately for Goose, he was the first puppy to undergo a surgical procedure to alter his bone growth to correct a progressing deformity in his knee.
The Great Pyrenees puppy was first admitted to the Ingersoll Animal Hospital in Des Moines where Dr. Michaelina Leithead diagnosed a condition that was affecting Goose’s knee. She quickly referred the puppy to the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital at Iowa State.
“Dr. Leithead’s proactive approach and communication with us allowed our surgical team to intervene early despite the common believe that surgery is only available when a dog is fully grown,” said Dr. Andy Law, clinical assistant professor of small animal surgery. “The early intervention allowed us to alter the puppy’s growth and achieve a good outcome and prevent further deformation.”
Goose’s surgery was the first time the Hixson-Lied team had performed such a surgery on a still-growing dog.
Law and his team put a plate across the growth plate on one side of Goose’s leg. By performing this procedure, the growth was stopped on one side of the growth plate while the other side continued to grow.
This resulted in Goose’s leg being curved back inward.
“If Goose didn’t have surgery, it is possible and likely that his deformity would have continued to worsen due to abnormal pull exerted by the luxated patella,” Law said. “In some case, it may lead to irreversible changes to how the joint comes together.”
If that had happened, surgical connections would have been in Goose’s future that would have involved bone cuts to reshape and realign the bone.
“That is significantly more invasive than applying a small bone plate across the growth plate like we did in Goose’s case,” Law said.
The ISU Iron Dog Fund helped support Goose’s family in paying a portion of the medical bill. The fund supports the medical and surgical treatment of animals hospitalized at the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center. It is used when the increasing cost of veterinary care and economic conditions can force owners to make difficult decisions based on financial constraints.
Goose is just one example of how the ISU Iron Dog Fund can assist animal owners in need. Funding is made possible through contributions from generous donors. Individuals wishing to contribute to the Iron Dog Fund to assist patients like Goose can find additional information online.
October 2025