Solo’s mom (Kate) was bred by surgical implant of frozen semen to FC AFC Rebel Ridge Cody's Mischief on June 13th, 2003.  Even though an ultrasound was done on her 28th day and showed approximately 4 pups, she gave birth to only one on August 13th, 2003.  Because of that we named her “Solo”. 

Okay, you’re saying – “What the heck does that have to do with the way she looks!”  Please read on.

Because she was a singleton she was given a lot of personal attention.  Solo was housebroken at 5 weeks old and was already starting to show signs of a strong retrieve drive and precise marking on puppy throws.

Then tragedy struck. She startled a “soon to be first time mom” by trying to nurse from her when she wasn’t expecting it and Solo got bit in the face!  She was immediately rushed to our vet, Dr. Patrick Skipton.  It was on a Sunday, so he was called at home and met us at his practice in Damascus.  He examined her and due to the severity of her injury, he called The Emergency Animal Center in Hyattstown and gave them all her vitals and instructed them that we were on our way to their practice - at a high rate of speed!  They didn't give us much hope and wasn't sure she would even make it through the night.  We arrived early the next morning to find out that she had made it through the night and that the VCA Veterinary Referral Hospital in Gaithersburg was already expecting us.  She was later diagnosed with a Maxillary fracture and Mandibular instability (temporalmandibular joint luxation). 

We first saw Dr. Beth Herman who then referred us to one of their top surgeon's Dr. Sherman Canapp.  He performed the amazing surgery with custom made pins.  See pictures below.

Solo remained in the hospital for approximately 1 week.  We visited her on a regular basis although she was pretty much “out of it”.  We even brought her a stuffed Labrador Retriever toy to snuggle with.  After she came home the pins remained for another week.  After that additional week, some of the hardware was replaced with rubber bands so she could then open and close her mouth.  Dr. Herman said not to let her pick up anything for another week.  Have you ever tried to keep a labrador retriever pup from putting anything in their mouth - it can't be done.  I watched her almost every minute of every day and there was no holding her down!

After all her broken bones had healed, we thought all was well.  That was until her adult teeth started to come in.  A lot of them were damaged by the pins and never erupted, so she had to go in for dental surgery.  I think 3 adult teeth were removed because they remained in her jaw in broken pieces.  She came through like a real champ!

At about 6 months old, this fiesty young pup was a retrieving machine.  She had no idea that she had a handicap.  I decided to get her eyes certified and get preliminaries of her hips and elbows and if all was good, send her to my trainer Pat Nolan - www.ponderosakennels.com for an evaluation.  After being with Pat for 3 months, she moved quickly in the yard work and  double T.  However, after throwing her lots of marks she just didn't have the nose it would take to run field trials because on constant nasal problems.  Solo is now back home with me and remains a Champion in my heart.

Mike and I would like thank all those who were responsible for healing our precious pup.  A special thanks to the entire staff at Woodfield Veterinary Clinic www.woodfieldvet.com in Damascus MD and at the Emergency Animal Center in Hyattstown MD.  Also special thanks to Dr. Beth Herman and Dr. Sherman Canapp at VCA Veterinary Referral Hospital in Gaithersburg - without them, she would have been lost.  And Dr. Brown at the Animal Dental Center in Towson MD.