Published: April 28, 2008 11:44 am            

Doing well after amputation

Knox County Great Dane gaining weight despite having leg amputated

Times-Tribune / Staff Report

Princess, the Knox County Great Dane that made headlines after its rescue by animal control earlier this month, has had surgery to amputate a leg that had been overtaken with a cancerous growth.

The dog had been found on April 8 barely alive and starved to half its appropriate weight.

On Tuesday, Princess had her leg removed at Clays Mill Veterinary Clinic in Lexington, which is providing her care at no charge to the animal shelter that had taken her in.

“She had two blood transfusions during the course of treatment but she has recovered well and is continuing to improve,” wrote veterinarian Dr. Craig Blair.  “She weighed 102.8 lbs on the day of surgery, up from 75 lbs when she was rescued on April 8! The amputated leg weighed 12.2 lbs.  She is still eating well and gaining weight.  Her current weight without the leg is 92.2 lbs.”

Thursday, Princess got her first chance to get out of the clinic on her three legs.

“I took her to my house and she spent the day lounging in the sun on our screened porch,” Blair wrote. “She is walking well on three legs.  That in itself is amazing because I thought it would take her four or five days to even be able to stand on three legs as weak as she still is.”

Princess’ story reached audiences across the nation. It also brought attention to the work of Knox County animal control and the Knox-Whitley Animal Shelter, which has since seen an increase in donations and adoptions since the Great Dane’s rescue.

        

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