Milo’s Story: HOD, Vaccinations, and the Fight of His Life
Milo was originally under the care of a community carer who kindly arranged for him to have surgery in the city following a hit & run.
Milo was left with multiple broken bones which needed urgent attention which he received promptly. He was discharged to another carer in Istanbul & sadly things began to go wrong for him.
One of Milo’s little legs grew stiff, and his joints began to swell painfully.
He visited vets & physiotherapists in Istanbul but nobody could reliably diagnose what was happening to him or how to treat it.
At this point I offered to take Milo on as a patient & we arranged to have him sent to our consultant veterinarian who was delighted to accept him.
Milo was diagnosed with a condition commonly called HOD, Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy, a painful bone disease that affects growing puppies.
What is HOD?
HOD is an inflammatory condition of the growth plates in young, large-breed dogs. It causes lameness, swelling, and severe pain. Treatment often involves strict rest, pain management, and intensive supportive care. Recovery can be slow and difficult, and in some cases, the disease leaves long-term health consequences.
Because HOD is an autoimmune-related disorder, Milo’s immune system was already compromised. Vaccinating a puppy with an unstable or suppressed immune system can trigger severe complications, which is why it was absolutely essential that Milo was not vaccinated while he was battling HOD. His little body simply would not have been able to cope with the additional challenge of processing vaccines.
He began his treatment plan & was discharged back to his carer in Istanbul.
Protecting Milo During His Recovery
Instead of vaccination, the best way to protect Milo was through careful management of his environment. His carer was advised that:
He must be kept away from unvaccinated dogs.
His contact with outside environments should be strictly limited.
His health would depend on herd protection, meaning those around him needed to be vaccinated to reduce the risk of exposure.
Unfortunately, this advice was not fully followed. Milo came into contact with unvaccinated dogs, and the consequences were devastating.
When Distemper Struck
Distemper is one of the most dangerous viral diseases a dog can contract. It is highly contagious and can be fatal, particularly in young or immunocompromised dogs like Milo. Despite all he had already endured, Milo contracted distemper.
The virus attacked his nervous system, and Milo fought for his life yet again. He survived but only just.
Distemper left him with lifelong neurological damage, conditions that will affect his mobility, balance, and overall quality of life forever.
The Fight Back Begins
Supportive treatment began, and all we could do was hope that, against the odds, our little boy would survive.
Milo had to be isolated for several months while he recovered from distemper, as the disease is highly contagious and could easily spread to other patients.
During this time, his constant companion was his dedicated nurse, Seçkin, who provided the comfort and companionship Milo so desperately needed
The stiffness in Milo’s leg, which we mentioned earlier, was eventually traced to a failed surgical plate.
Sadly, while not common, plates can sometimes fail, and in Milo’s case it caused further complications. A replacement plate was fitted, but damage to the surrounding muscle from the original procedure meant that his recovery was severely hindered.
For months, Milo struggled to carry the useless limb, which was clearly slowing him down and preventing him from thriving. After much thought and discussion, we made the difficult but compassionate decision to amputate.
Milo is loved and safe now, but his future will always be shaped by the choices others made on his behalf. His courage and resilience remind us of the responsibility we carry for every animal in our care.
Milo’s journey back to health after the car accident would have been so much smoother if he had been in our care from the very beginning but sadly, that was not the case.
What comforts me now is knowing that he survived every ordeal and has emerged on the other side as the healthy, happy boy we love so dearly.
I also feel I must mention the cost of his care. I would never put a price on the life of any dog, least of all our beautiful Milo, but the decisions made before he came to us left us with a staggering bill of £8,000 just to repair the damage others poor decisions inflicted on him. That figure & his suffering still stings
Standing With Milo
At Dog Desk Animal Action, we see stories like Milo’s far too often.
Prevention through education and vaccination saves lives and we will continue to fight for awareness so that no dog has to endure what Milo went through.