The Surgeon Who Gave K9 Abrams a Second Chance at Retirement
When K9 Abrams hung up his vest for the last time, he had already given everything he had. Years of service, years of putting himself between danger and the people he was trained to protect. But retirement didn’t come with the peace he had earned. Instead, it came with pain. Severe elbow arthritis had left this retired military working dog struggling to get around, and the medications that had once helped were no longer enough.
This is the story of how a veterinary surgeon with a philosophy rooted in empathy, a nonprofit that refuses to let heroes suffer alone, and a cutting-edge procedure rarely performed in veterinary medicine came together to give one retired K9 his life back. Paws of Honor is proud to share the journey of K9 Abrams and the team that made his recovery possible.
Who Is K9 Abrams? A Retired Working Dog’s Story
K9 Abrams is a retired working dog enrolled in the Paws of Honor Veterinary Care Program, which provides medical care to the nation’s retired military and law enforcement K9s at no cost to their handlers. Throughout his career, Abrams served with the kind of quiet intensity that defines the best working dogs. His handler trusted him, his team relied on him, and the communities he served were safer because of him.
But the physical demands of service don’t disappear when the badge comes off. Like many retired military and law enforcement K9s, Abrams carried the toll of years of hard work in his body. His elbows had deteriorated significantly, with extensive joint damage from years of repetitive stress. He was diagnosed with severe elbow arthritis, and the medications managing his pain eventually stopped working. His handler knew something more had to be done. The medical expenses associated with specialty vet care were significant, but with support from Paws of Honor, Abrams wouldn’t have to go without the treatment he needed.
Meet Dr. Dycus: A Leader in Veterinary Orthopedics
Dr. David Dycus isn’t the kind of veterinarian who stumbled into orthopedics. His path was shaped long before veterinary school, on the athletic field. As a college athlete who went through his own orthopedic injuries, surgeries, and rehabilitation, he experienced firsthand what it means to be treated, healed, and returned to the life you love.
Dr. Dycus began working in the veterinary field in 2006, graduated veterinary school in 2009, completed a rotating internship in 2010, and finished a combined surgical residency and master’s degree in 2013. He has maintained a sole focus on orthopedics since 2015, and in October 2024, he opened Fusion Veterinary Orthopedics, bringing his vision to life.
A Sole Focus on Orthopedics
Fusion Veterinary Orthopedics is a veterinary specialty hospital with one focus: orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation. The concept of a veterinary subspecialty, focusing exclusively on orthopedic surgery rather than practicing as a general surgeon, is still relatively new in veterinary medicine. But that singular focus is exactly what allows Dr. Dycus and his team to provide a level of care that most facilities simply can’t match. In his words, “It allows us to be experts in our field and we are able to provide human-level care to our four-legged friends.”
A Different Veterinary Care Approach for Military Working Dogs
“If a working dog is injured, we get them in ASAP,” he explains. “In many cases, this may mean getting them seen the same day or within just a few days.” Their philosophy is simple: the handler stays with the dog at all times. The only exception is when the dog is under anesthesia or in the operating room. They understand the bond between a handler and their working dog, and they make every effort to maintain it throughout the treatment process.
The Surgery That Changed Everything for This Retired K9
K9 Abrams had been managed on medications for his severe elbow condition, but they had stopped providing relief. The team at Fusion Veterinary Orthopedics offered a solution not commonly performed in veterinary medicine: a total elbow replacement.
The procedure began with a CT scan of Abrams’s elbows. Unlike a ligament repair or a standard joint procedure, a total elbow replacement involves removing the damaged joint surfaces entirely and replacing them with a prosthesis. Dr. Dycus used 3D printing technology to fabricate custom cutting guides, ensuring the prosthesis would be placed with the most accurate position possible.
The surgery was a success. The dog who had been struggling to move was getting around again. In Dr. Dycus’s words, “It was a joy watching him get back to enjoying his life of retirement after everything he did for us throughout his career.” For Abrams, the elbow replacement didn’t just fix a joint. It gave him back the retirement he had earned.
Preventing Orthopedic Issues in Retired K9s: Dr. Dycus’s Advice
Whether active or retired K9s, Dr. Dycus offers one clear piece of advice: keep your dogs lean and active through daily exercise. And he’s specific about what that means. “The best form of daily exercise in the dog is going on daily leash walks,” he says. “While playing ball and running around in the backyard are fun, that is what I consider daily play time, not daily exercise.”
Leash walks provide controlled, consistent movement that supports joint health and overall conditioning. Backyard play, while enjoyable, doesn’t offer the same benefits and can sometimes contribute to injury if a dog is already dealing with underlying orthopedic issues.
Why This Partnership Matters – Support Retired K9 Veterans Through Paws of Honor
Paws of Honor covered the cost of Abrams’s treatment. That’s what we do. From routine wellness exams to life-changing surgeries, our Veterinary Care Program ensures that retired military and law enforcement K9s receive the best possible care at no cost to their handlers or former handlers. We provide veterinary care and products so that retired K9s like Abrams can go home with their handlers and enjoy life without the burden of mounting medical needs. We partner with specialists like Dr. Dycus and Fusion Veterinary Orthopedics because these retired military working dogs deserve access to exceptional care, and your charitable support is what makes it possible.
These retired K9 veterans gave their best years in service, now it’s our responsibility to give them the care they’ve earned.