Need Veterinarian advise...or anyone with dog injury experience

Ravenlost · #1 01/30/05, 01:17 PM

This past Wednesday my 78 lb. Black Lab mix was run over in our driveway by the mail carrier. (Some of you may have seen my posts in the other forum). The front left leg and back right leg will not stay in socket. The vet hasn't even tried to splint the back leg and only kept a splint on the front leg for two and a half days. Now he wants to do surgery on the front leg, but only gives Tom a 50/50 chance of it staying in socket.

After doing some research online I don't think the splint was on long enough for the leg to heal. I have decided to call the vet in the morning and tell him not to do the surgery. Instead, put both legs in splints and let the dog come home to heal for three weeks. At that time, if the legs still won't stay in socket, I will consider surgery.

Am I thinking right? He has no other injuries from the accident other than minor cuts and scraps. He's eating well, but is in quite a bit of pain. He's only two years old and healthy as a horse.

I plan to find, or rig up, a "wheelchair" so he can be mobile to a certain extent...I want to avoid sores and stiffness due to lack of exercise. I am home 24/7 so will be here to care for him.

I need expert advice.

moonrunner357 · #2 01/30/05, 01:27 PM

Amory Animal Hospital ask for Dr David they do fantastic work.(Amory Miss)

Or

Miss St Vet School and talk to small animal they do great work also.

Cosmic · #3 01/30/05, 01:57 PM

Keep in mind a lot may depend on the size of the dog. The bigger the dog, the tougher it probably is, especially with the back legs. Sounds like my dog when it got hit by a car. She was medium a tad under 50 lbs at the time. Small dogs do better in these situations. Basically my dog was in a cast to hold the leg in the socket but could still exercise and move it as normal. Did quite well and only had the real pain for the first week or so. Was mostly on a mild form of asprin. They figure out how to maneuver themselves, the tough thing was how to lie down.

The regular vet said right away he didn't want to handle it. Another one tried to rook me into paying his mortage.

I basically got a specialist at one of the super clinics that did pretty much just these type of injuries.

Got to find the right doc, might want a second opinion. Be prepared for the bills. IIRC ran me something like $600. Never did figure out why they must always take those full body x-rays showing even the last bone in the tail?

GoldenMom · #4 01/30/05, 03:25 PM

I think moonrunner's suggestion was good. I'm a small animal vet and anytime I have a case that I think could be handled better by people with more expertise I send them to our vet school. I'm sure Miss. State has boarded orthopedic surgeons who could better give you options and the prognosis. Orthopedics is a field that is better handled by "experts," there's just so much equipment, etc. that's needed to do it properly.

As far as splints go, I'd definately have them put a splint back on the front leg, but I doubt if a splint would do much for the back leg (if I remember correctly in an earlier post you said they couldn't get the hip back in?). I've heard of ortho surgeons using kind a "rubber band" to hold in a hip in that doesn't want to stay (put in surgically, of course), otherwise Tom's probably in for a femoral head ostectomy (removing the head of the femur-a "false joint" is eventually formed-works much better in smaller animals).

So if at all possible get yourself and Tom to Miss. State or at least you or your vet should call and talk to the ortho surgeons.

Ravenlost · #5 01/30/05, 04:28 PM

Thanks everyone.

GoldenMom...they could get the hip back in, but it would just pop right back out. Afemoral head ostectomy is what the vet is wanting to do tomorrow, but I just feel like that front leg needs more time to heal.

I will definitely get in touch with MS ST. Starkville is about 3 hours from us.

Ragamuffin2004 · #6 01/30/05, 06:16 PM

I'm not an expert, but it is my understanding that FHO's are not typically done on dogs over 50 lbs. Bascially what is done with an FHO is that part of the bone (part of the ball that rides in the socket) is cut or shaved off so the top of the ball (sorry can't remember technical word) will not rub or pop out of the socket. There's nothing left bone-wise to fit in the socket, so there's nothing to pop out or rub against the hip socket. Hope this makes sense. Anytway, then a "false joint" of scar tissue, etc. is formed. It is my understanding that one reason a FHO is not typically done on larger, heavier dogs is because there is too much weight and stress on the fake joint for it to be successful. I would definitely consult an ortho surgeon before doing anything. An FHO just on one leg for a small dog like mine is expensive enough, about $1000, but it will be even higher for a larger dog. If there's a chance it won't do much good and another procedure would have to be done down the road, you certainly need to know your options now.

You properly should join the orthodogs list on Yahoo. A lot of good advice and experience from dog owners whose dogs have experienced ortho problems and had to have anything from a FHO to a total hip replacement.

Ravenlost · #7 01/31/05, 05:22 PM

I talked with the vet today (and spent a lot of time with Tom) and he is making arrangements for Tom to be seen by a veterinary orthopedic specialist in Memphis tomorrow.

YEA!!!