By any measure, two-year-old Maverick is a lucky dog with a story that could have had a much different ending.
Arthrex Vice President of International Business Brett Jones and his wife adopted the 130-pound Italian Mastiff—also known as a Cane Corso—from Collier County Domestic Animal Services in Naples, Florida, after the dog was abandoned by his original owners.
“He was taken to a pet sitter, and they never came back to pick him up,” Brett said. “He’s a big dog, he’s strong-willed and boisterous, but we think he had been loved.”
The issue, Brett believes, is that Maverick turned out to need surgery to repair two torn cranial cruciate ligaments (CCL), the canine equivalent of a human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
“Perhaps they couldn’t afford to fix his knee problems, or he was just too much dog for them,” Brett said.
Experienced mastiff owners, Brett and his wife had been searching for a new dog after losing theirs six months earlier. That’s when Arthrex Executive Assistant Alison Peters spotted Maverick on the Humane Society’s website and reached out to Brett. He and his wife went right away to meet him.
“We love big dogs, and he had some spirit in him,” Brett said. “They can be intimidating, and he was agitated when he was in his cage. But when he came out, he was sweet and soft and gentle with us.”
They brought him home that day but noticed Maverick had a slight limp and took him to see their veterinarian, who happens to be Alison’s husband, Brian Peters, DVM (Naples, Florida). X-rays revealed that Maverick had a torn CCL, with early signs of arthritis, and that he would need both knees repaired eventually.
“He’s part of our family now,” he said. “There was never a question that we would take him back. We decided to do whatever it takes for him to live a full and active life.”
Brett reached out to Arthrex Vet Systems Senior Product Manager Matthew Houbre and Senior Director of Engineering for Orthobiologics, Vet Systems, and Spine Josh Karnes for a referral to a veterinary orthopedic surgeon. As luck would have it, Arthrex Senior Director of Vet Systems Nina R. Kieves, DVM, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR was both willing and available to jump in to help.
“Dr. Peters (who does not do this type of surgery) offered to let us use his facility for the surgery, and I was more than happy to help,” Dr. Kieves said. “It was such a great opportunity for me to give back and help not only Maverick, but also a fellow Arthrex employee.”
After simulating Maverick’s procedure using surgical planning software, Dr. Kieves determined that the Arthrex 3.5 mm TPLO broad plate was the right choice to restore stability to his knee.
“Maverick is a big boy, but no matter what size the dog, we have an appropriate implant in our TPLO Locking Plate System,” Dr. Kieves said. “The surgery went perfectly. The team was outstanding, and he should have a very good outcome.”
Dr. Kieves says that CCL tears are a common hind limb injury in dogs and are largely due to degenerative disease. Over half of dogs who end up with a tear in one knee will need surgery on their other leg within two years.
“We already know that Maverick needs his other leg repaired, too,” Dr. Kieves said. “His bone will heal in about eight weeks. Overall, he will need three to four months of controlled activity. Since he only has an early tear of his other knee, we will plan to do the other side in the spring.”
Today, Maverick is recovering well and lapping up the love in his new home.
“He’s energetic and wants to run, but we’re keeping him quiet and on the lead for now,” Brett said. “We’re so grateful to Nina for doing such an excellent job. I first met her as a colleague, but it was wonderful to meet her as a surgeon. She is very calm, confident and capable and made us feel so comfortable putting Maverick in her hands.”
And he says he is more grateful than ever for the support of his Arthrex family.
“We wouldn’t even have Maverick if it wasn’t for Alison to start with,” Brett said. “We are so grateful for the way the whole team rallied around us to help, it’s really a full circle moment.”
