Bulleit's Story (IOHC/HIF)
Bulleit, our 5-year-old Boykin Spaniel, was playing fetch—as he loved to do—on a peaceful Sunday afternoon, Mother’s Day, May 12, 2024. We had no idea that day would suddenly and dramatically change our lives. As he was running back with his toy, he suddenly collapsed. We could tell immediately something was very wrong with his front leg and that he needed urgent help.
Living in South Korea, we panicked as we frantically searched for a veterinarian without success. Finally, with the help of a kind Korean friend, we located an emergency vet clinic. X-rays and a CT scan revealed a devastating diagnosis: a shattered front leg caused by IOHC (Incomplete Ossification of the Humeral Condyle)—also known as HIF (Humeral Intracondylar Fissure). Surgery was required. We were in shock. How could this have happened? There had been no warning signs. We were heartbroken.
A few days later, Bulleit underwent his first surgery. We were told everything went well. But after 8 weeks with no attempt at weight-bearing on the surgical leg, we began to question his recovery. The surgeon reassured us, saying that although no bone healing was yet visible, we just needed to be patient. Still, something didn’t feel right.
Unsure where to turn for a second opinion in Korea, we turned to the internet. Eventually, we found a specialist in the United Kingdom—who would turn out to be Bulleit’s savior. He personally reviewed Bulleit’s scans and explained that the surgical technique used was incorrect. Bulleit would never heal as things stood. He recommended a revision surgery but warned us that the chances of success were slim. He even advised considering amputation.
We brought this new information to Bulleit’s original surgeon, who then referred us to a university veterinary hospital for further evaluation.
There, a team of doctors immediately got to work. They consulted directly with the UK specialist and together created a new surgical plan. They urged us not to proceed with amputation yet for several reasons: Front-leg amputations are particularly difficult for dogs, and more critically, new imaging revealed HIF in his other front leg as well. If that leg fractured, it could be life-threatening. Preventive hardware would need to be placed in the healthy leg eventually.
So, following the doctors’ advice, we proceeded with the revision surgery to repair the fracture and planned for preventative intervention in the opposite leg once he recovered.
Bulleit initially seemed to be recovering well from the second surgery. But sadly, he developed a serious infection. After several weeks in the hospital receiving IV antibiotics, he began to decline. The antibiotics caused severe diarrhea and weight loss. New scans showed not only a lack of bone healing but also loosening of the surgical hardware.
With heavy hearts, we made the decision to stop his suffering and proceed with amputation. It was devastating, but we could not bear to see him in pain any longer.
Remarkably, Bulleit thrived after his amputation. Once he recovered, he was a completely new dog. Having already adapted to using three legs for weeks, he now had more freedom without the burden of a painful, non-functional limb. Over time, his playful, loving personality returned. Though we were still cautious—since he still had HIF in his remaining front leg—we were overjoyed to see our boy happy again.
Eventually, after a much-needed break, Bulleit underwent preventive surgery to place hardware in his remaining front leg. Recovery was difficult, as he now had no fully functional front leg to support himself. It was heartbreaking to watch, but Bulleit, ever the fighter, pushed through. And finally—he healed. Successfully.
It’s now been a year. Bulleit is doing wonderfully. Life as a tripod is different, but he’s adapted so well. We still have to be cautious—no more games of fetch, which he absolutely loved—but we’ve found other ways to keep him engaged while protecting his leg. He remains nervous on hard indoor surfaces, so we use non-slip socks and rugs while he works to gain confidence. Everything about his care has changed—and so has our daily life—but it’s 100% worth it to still have him with us.
Living in Korea made this journey especially challenging—but also, in many ways, a blessing. Bulleit was the first known dog in the country to be diagnosed with this condition and to undergo these complex surgeries. It wasn’t easy to find the right care as we could have in the U.S.
But veterinary costs in Korea are far lower than in the U.S. Without pet insurance, we know we could never have afforded the level of care he received had we been in the States. Some might say he would have had a better outcome in America—but the truth is, we may never have even been able to afford the first surgery.
Things turned out exactly as they were meant to. Now, we move forward—grateful, hopeful, and deeply proud of our brave boy.
We are endlessly thankful to the incredible team of doctors who saved Bulleit, to our friends and family, and to the B&B Abroad online community. Your support helped carry us through one of the hardest times of our lives. Today, Bulleit is happy, healthy, and thriving. We cherish every moment with him.
We hope Bulleit’s story raises awareness of HIF/IOHC and offers hope to other families facing similar challenges.
🤎The Hacker Family 🤎
Living in South Korea, we panicked as we frantically searched for a veterinarian without success. Finally, with the help of a kind Korean friend, we located an emergency vet clinic. X-rays and a CT scan revealed a devastating diagnosis: a shattered front leg caused by IOHC (Incomplete Ossification of the Humeral Condyle)—also known as HIF (Humeral Intracondylar Fissure). Surgery was required. We were in shock. How could this have happened? There had been no warning signs. We were heartbroken.
A few days later, Bulleit underwent his first surgery. We were told everything went well. But after 8 weeks with no attempt at weight-bearing on the surgical leg, we began to question his recovery. The surgeon reassured us, saying that although no bone healing was yet visible, we just needed to be patient. Still, something didn’t feel right.
Unsure where to turn for a second opinion in Korea, we turned to the internet. Eventually, we found a specialist in the United Kingdom—who would turn out to be Bulleit’s savior. He personally reviewed Bulleit’s scans and explained that the surgical technique used was incorrect. Bulleit would never heal as things stood. He recommended a revision surgery but warned us that the chances of success were slim. He even advised considering amputation.
We brought this new information to Bulleit’s original surgeon, who then referred us to a university veterinary hospital for further evaluation.
There, a team of doctors immediately got to work. They consulted directly with the UK specialist and together created a new surgical plan. They urged us not to proceed with amputation yet for several reasons: Front-leg amputations are particularly difficult for dogs, and more critically, new imaging revealed HIF in his other front leg as well. If that leg fractured, it could be life-threatening. Preventive hardware would need to be placed in the healthy leg eventually.
So, following the doctors’ advice, we proceeded with the revision surgery to repair the fracture and planned for preventative intervention in the opposite leg once he recovered.
Bulleit initially seemed to be recovering well from the second surgery. But sadly, he developed a serious infection. After several weeks in the hospital receiving IV antibiotics, he began to decline. The antibiotics caused severe diarrhea and weight loss. New scans showed not only a lack of bone healing but also loosening of the surgical hardware.
With heavy hearts, we made the decision to stop his suffering and proceed with amputation. It was devastating, but we could not bear to see him in pain any longer.
Remarkably, Bulleit thrived after his amputation. Once he recovered, he was a completely new dog. Having already adapted to using three legs for weeks, he now had more freedom without the burden of a painful, non-functional limb. Over time, his playful, loving personality returned. Though we were still cautious—since he still had HIF in his remaining front leg—we were overjoyed to see our boy happy again.
Eventually, after a much-needed break, Bulleit underwent preventive surgery to place hardware in his remaining front leg. Recovery was difficult, as he now had no fully functional front leg to support himself. It was heartbreaking to watch, but Bulleit, ever the fighter, pushed through. And finally—he healed. Successfully.
It’s now been a year. Bulleit is doing wonderfully. Life as a tripod is different, but he’s adapted so well. We still have to be cautious—no more games of fetch, which he absolutely loved—but we’ve found other ways to keep him engaged while protecting his leg. He remains nervous on hard indoor surfaces, so we use non-slip socks and rugs while he works to gain confidence. Everything about his care has changed—and so has our daily life—but it’s 100% worth it to still have him with us.
Living in Korea made this journey especially challenging—but also, in many ways, a blessing. Bulleit was the first known dog in the country to be diagnosed with this condition and to undergo these complex surgeries. It wasn’t easy to find the right care as we could have in the U.S.
But veterinary costs in Korea are far lower than in the U.S. Without pet insurance, we know we could never have afforded the level of care he received had we been in the States. Some might say he would have had a better outcome in America—but the truth is, we may never have even been able to afford the first surgery.
Things turned out exactly as they were meant to. Now, we move forward—grateful, hopeful, and deeply proud of our brave boy.
We are endlessly thankful to the incredible team of doctors who saved Bulleit, to our friends and family, and to the B&B Abroad online community. Your support helped carry us through one of the hardest times of our lives. Today, Bulleit is happy, healthy, and thriving. We cherish every moment with him.
We hope Bulleit’s story raises awareness of HIF/IOHC and offers hope to other families facing similar challenges.
🤎The Hacker Family 🤎
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