Tiny Tinker is our pet cow. She’s very loved by her family and almost 20,000 fans follow her daily life adventures on various Internet sites. There’s a reason why. She’s adorable with a sweet disposition that instantly melts your heart when you come to know her. She brings hope, joy, love and a bit of farm life to many.
It was a rough beginning for Tiny Tinker. We didn’t know if she would survive the first few days after her birth. Not only was she three weeks premature, she had what appeared to be a dislocated joint. We later discovered that she had serious angular limb deformities. And, they will impact her ability to live a normal “cow” life. You’d never know that her struggles are real from her playful and loving attitude. She has received love and affection from her first day of life. This, without a doubt, has created a bond similar to what we experience with our dogs and cats.
Tiny Tinker will be a year old during this month (October, 2017). The bone cyst discovered early on has disappeared but replaced with more concerning health issues. You can read more about her first months of life at our blog’s post about Tiny Tinker the Cow.
Front Right Joint
Recent x-rays on her elbow and left front and left back fetlocks (ankles) show more than what we anticipated. Least of our concern is the arthritis we found. The medicine she now takes that help with inflammation appears to be working. Our original focus on the elbow joint is now replaced with taking corrective steps for her ankles. We want to do whatever possible to help reduce further injury and hopefully, correct some of the root cause of her problems. Apparently, as she is growing and getting larger she is putting more stress on her ankles which is causing them to turn and move incorrectly. This needs to be corrected for her to properly get up, basic movement and to have some normalcy in her daily life.
On Tuesday, October 17, Tinker will be visiting the Large Animal and Equine Surgery department and specialists at the New Bolton Center near Philadelphia, PA. They believe they can help her and it would possibly include surgery. This is a big step and one that is needed. We’re hoping to find answers and solutions to correct or help to further prevent serious damage. Additionally, we’re seeking their suggestions on diet, exercise and possibly rehabilitation routines to help her change the way she walks.
We’ve already discussed a few possible options. One suggestion was attaching special blocks to her hoofs to help her stop rolling on them as she walks. The front right elbow could possibly be fused. This process might encourage her to start using the front right limb, which will help prevent further break down on the left front ankle. The surgeon also mentioned that steel plates on the ankles might help and this will be fully analyzed as a potential solution when we visit.
The doctors are surprised by how well Tiny Tinker is getting around. It’s much better than they expected especially since she’s not on any pain medication. She’s at a good weight and stays on her feet long enough during the day that she has no sores (similar to bed sores).
We’re very positive as we move forward with the next steps. We can always allow Tiny Tinker to live out her life with the deformities and take the chance that it will not get worse. Or as many understand, that a pet is family member and if we didn’t act now on a potentially beneficial move, we may not have the opportunity to do so in the future. We love her dearly and she has touched so many hearts. How could we not do anything?
We are thankful that we have the ability to financially and physically help her. Unfortunately, many do not. Even though we don’t personally accept donations, many families and animals can benefit from your help. If you would like to make a donation honoring Tiny Tinker so that others get help they need, please check out three of our favorite pet loving organizations that we support or that have helped Tiny Tinker in many ways.
New Bolton Center – The highly specialized organization with doctors and specialists helping Tiny Tinker.
For Otis Sake – one of our favorite groups for helping animals find new homes.
Antietam Humane Society – a local organization we’re very fond of. A few of their team members are best of friends with Tiny Tinker.