Previously broken leg issues

[Kerryn915]

My boy broke his leg last February and he had surgery and it healed very well. He had to have pins put in and after 4 months of strict watching we were thrilled that he was healing and able to use his leg again. So now a little over a year since the break and he is not using his leg. Just hopping around with it up but not in pain at all and still eating and acting fine. I have to call the vet ASAP tomorrow and I'm sure I will have to go in for an X-ray. The orthopedic surgeon is only in the office once a week so I'm sure I will have to wait for him to have a look at the xray before we know what's going on. I'm sure it's not broken again bc I know he would be in pain. I was wondering if anyone that has had a previous break has experienced something similar? And what the outcome was. I'm so worried.

[Dayswalters]

I'm not sure I understood. Was he using it and then just recently stopped using it? If so, then I would be concerned about a new injury. It sounds like you are on track by taking him to the vet. Let us know what happens. Hopefully it won't be anything serious.

[Kerryn915]

Originally Posted by Dayswalters

I'm not sure I understood. Was he using it and then just recently stopped using it? If so, then I would be concerned about a new injury. It sounds like you are on track by taking him to the vet. Let us know what happens. Hopefully it won't be anything serious.

His leg has been perfect and I noticed yesterday he was limping a little but I have been watching him extra closely to make sure he's not jumping. But I do leave him in an Xpen when I leave the house and when I get back he is like a maniac jumping at the gate. And as soon as I let him out I saw that he was not bearing any weight at all on that leg. I inspected it good. He lets me touch it and move it around with no sign of pain. Very strange. No crying or shaking, absolutely nothing...just holding it up.

[OwnedByJezebel]

I wonder if he might be having trouble with the pins. That will happen in some cases and they have to come out. Something is bothering him to make him avoid bearing weight.

[Kerryn915]

Originally Posted by OwnedByJezebel

I wonder if he might be having trouble with the pins. That will happen in some cases and they have to come out. Something is bothering him to make him avoid bearing weight.

That was my initial thought as well. I have done some reading on that. I agree that something must be hurting for him to be keeping it up.

[yorkiemini]

Some times the pins have to be removed if they start to irritate. Keep us posted on the out come. A number of folks here on YT have had pins removed.

[Kerryn915]

Just got back from the vet. She did a thorough exam of all the joints and muscles etc... He didn't flinch in pain at all and she doesn't seem to think that it related to the previous injury. She said inflammation at the site of the pins is common and may cause arthritis like pain. She sent us home with a round of antibiotics in case of a bacterial infection in the bone and a pain med for 5 days. After he was "adjusted" he was walking fine on the leg again. Very strange. She said the X-ray wasn't necessary as of right now and to see if it improves. She said the pain may be coming from the shoulder joint and maybe even lymes??? In so confused but kind of relieved to know that it's not reinjured. Back home he's lifting it again so I will watch him closely. She said the fact that he's eating and drinking and just acting normal is a good sign that he's not in much pain. Hopefully her diagnosis is correct it seems like a guessing game at this point.

[gemy]

Alright pain meds mask pain, so if he had a short term positive response that might just be due to the pain meds.


Lymes disease was it tested for?


I would give it at the most 5 days and then if you notice the limping go to the ortho surgeon.


I am not too impressed right now with what tests your vet did and any rule outs she did not do...

[Kerryn915]

Yes bloodwork for lymes was done today and I will get the results in a couple days. He did have a slight fever which is why she was thinking some kind of infection. I agree with watching it for the next few days and if it's not better we will be in again for more testing. He is walking better so I'm trying to stay hopeful that her diagnosis is correct. I am actually holding off on the pain meds right now bc he doesn't seem to be in pain and I want to make sure we aren't masking the pain. Did I mention that my older boy was diagnosed with lymes 2 weeks ago so it's def a possibility.

[Lovetodream88]

If he is holding the leg up to me that's obvious there is some pain and I think with holding pain meds is not the right thing to do. I also would not wait to long to get it looked at by the actual surgeon. My dog had LP surgery on each leg and both times the pins caused big issues so it could be the pins. It can be extremly hard to recognize pain in dogs because they can hid it extremly well. Please give him the pain meds.

[ladyjane]

I would be at the vet asap just so I would know. My guess is that it is probably the pins...that is not uncommon.

Let us know how things go.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Kerryn915

Just got back from the vet. She did a thorough exam of all the joints and muscles etc... He didn't flinch in pain at all and she doesn't seem to think that it related to the previous injury. She said inflammation at the site of the pins is common and may cause arthritis like pain. She sent us home with a round of antibiotics in case of a bacterial infection in the bone and a pain med for 5 days. After he was "adjusted" he was walking fine on the leg again. Very strange. She said the X-ray wasn't necessary as of right now and to see if it improves. She said the pain may be coming from the shoulder joint and maybe even lymes??? In so confused but kind of relieved to know that it's not reinjured. Back home he's lifting it again so I will watch him closely. She said the fact that he's eating and drinking and just acting normal is a good sign that he's not in much pain. Hopefully her diagnosis is correct it seems like a guessing game at this point.

Somehow I missed this post..sorry. I don't understand no xray and guessing that there might be an infection. An xray would show if there is something going on....including pins that have moved and irritation/infection. I would be having xrays done and sent to the surgeon OR going directly to the surgeon.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by Kerryn915

Yes bloodwork for lymes was done today and I will get the results in a couple days. He did have a slight fever which is why she was thinking some kind of infection. I agree with watching it for the next few days and if it's not better we will be in again for more testing. He is walking better so I'm trying to stay hopeful that her diagnosis is correct. I am actually holding off on the pain meds right now bc he doesn't seem to be in pain and I want to make sure we aren't masking the pain. Did I mention that my older boy was diagnosed with lymes 2 weeks ago so it's def a possibility.

I would not withhold pain meds. Would you want to be in pain and not take anything to "prove" you are in pain? Give him the pain meds and get an Xray!

[Kerryn915]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

If he is holding the leg up to me that's obvious there is some pain and I think with holding pain meds is not the right thing to do. I also would not wait to long to get it looked at by the actual surgeon. My dog had LP surgery on each leg and both times the pins caused big issues so it could be the pins. It can be extremly hard to recognize pain in dogs because they can hid it extremly well. Please give him the pain meds.

Thanks for the input I gave him the pain meds tonight and he really hated the taste. But only 5ml so I got it down ok. He seems a little groggy is that normal? In your case did the pins have to be removed? I'm under the impression that the pins are pretty permanent as the bones were so tiny and the surgeon needed a bone graft to ensure that new bone would calcify around them.

[Kerryn915]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Somehow I missed this post..sorry. I don't understand no xray and guessing that there might be an infection. An xray would show if there is something going on....including pins that have moved and irritation/infection. I would be having xrays done and sent to the surgeon OR going directly to the surgeon.

Thanks for the input I will be following up with the surgeon when he is there on wed and see what he advises.