Our series of articles about animals and their owners who’ve found help and healing at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital continues with the story of Lani.
While vacationing in Hawaii this past spring, Tom and Tammy Richardson of North Salem, Indiana, received unexpected news from back home. A young dog had been found injured and alone near a gate on their country road. Neighbors quickly stepped in, taking the dog to their own veterinarian and caring for her for about a week. Realizing that her condition remained serious, they brought the dog to the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital’s (PVH) Emergency and Critical Care Service.
Tammy, a Purdue College of Pharmacy graduate, and her husband Tom, have been longtime PVH clients, bringing their dogs, horses, and cattle to the hospital for care over many years. Now, with this new case, the Richardson’s stayed in close contact with the PVH team, even from more than four thousand miles away, and approved surgery to repair the dog’s broken leg.
When X-rays of the broken leg were performed, they revealed a chronic femoral fracture that likely had happened a while before she was found and was not healing. Chronic fractured bones pose a greater technical challenge for surgical repair and make it more difficult to achieve successful healing. The PVH orthopedic surgery team led by Dr. Sun-Young Kim, a board-certified small animal surgeon, and Dr. Kristin Reichert, a small animal surgery resident, performed the surgery the next day and the dog continued to receive care over the weekend until the couple returned to pick her up that Monday. Dr. Reichert also led the post-operative care and handled the communications with the Richardsons.
This case exemplified a true veterinary medical team effort. From the PVH emergency room team’s initial intervention to the vital roles played by the radiology, anesthesia and orthopedic surgery services, the patient’s care and treatment involved several veterinary technicians, assistants, house officers, and attending clinicians who ensured that the dog received the best care possible.
Now named Lani—a Hawaiian word meaning “heaven” and famously used in the name of Queen Liliuokalani—the dog has become the newest member of a busy farm family that already includes Duke, a senior outdoor dog, and two older dachshunds. Lani’s recovery has been steady, with follow-up appointments including X-rays and a final clearance to resume activity two months after her surgery. She was spayed in early August and is continuing her recovery with the determined energy characteristic of her breed.
Today, Lani joins the Richardsons during daily feedings on the farm, enjoys play sessions with Duke, and has even started chasing a frisbee. While the dachshunds remain skeptical of their new housemate, Tammy is gradually introducing them through supervised walks, hopeful that time and patience will help the transition.
The Richardsons’ positive experience with the immediate and follow-up care that the PVH provided to Lani reflects the hospital’s strong commitment to expert, compassionate service. In that light, Lani’s story of resilience and healing serves as a wonderful reminder of the essential role veterinary care plays in helping animals thrive.