My Yorkie's Leg...he is limping!! Already had X-ray!

[TheKipfers]

I am new to this forum! I alway come here for answers but today I couldn't find mine! My husband and I have 2 yorkies, Charlie just turned a year old Tuesday and Bentley is five months.

We were visiting NY this past weekend and my friend's toddler, out of nowhere, ran over to and tackled Bentley. He cried for five minutes and then settled. In the morning we took him to the vet to have an X-ray bc he was not walking on his leg still(back, left). It was negative, meaning nothing is broken. They have him pain meds for two days and he started letting it down a little more and more. He walked on it maybe half a day and occasionally here and there. But he's not showing any real improvement in use.

I can wiggle and push and pull on it and he does nothing. No sign of pain. But he still isn't walking on it. Could he be faking or milking it out of fear? I called the vet back in FL, where we are and that they always see, and they don't really have anything to say except bring him in. I get frustrated by just taking him there for nothing but pain meds bc it's obviously not hurting that badly when I push and pull.

Any advice on healing times or what the next step should be? Is it possible he just has a muscle memory or is just scared?

His energy level, eating, playing and popping are all completely normal. We are having a difficult time keeping him from wrestling with Charlie.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by TheKipfers

I am new to this forum! I alway come here for answers but today I couldn't find mine! My husband and I have 2 yorkies, Charlie just turned a year old Tuesday and Bentley is five months.

We were visiting NY this past weekend and my friend's toddler, out of nowhere, ran over to and tackled Bentley. He cried for five minutes and then settled. In the morning we took him to the vet to have an X-ray bc he was not walking on his leg still(back, left). It was negative, meaning nothing is broken. They have him pain meds for two days and he started letting it down a little more and more. He walked on it maybe half a day and occasionally here and there. But he's not showing any real improvement in use.

I can wiggle and push and pull on it and he does nothing. No sign of pain. But he still isn't walking on it. Could he be faking or milking it out of fear? I called the vet back in FL, where we are and that they always see, and they don't really have anything to say except bring him in. I get frustrated by just taking him there for nothing but pain meds bc it's obviously not hurting that badly when I push and pull.

Any advice on healing times or what the next step should be? Is it possible he just has a muscle memory or is just scared?

His energy level, eating, playing and popping are all completely normal. We are having a difficult time keeping him from wrestling with Charlie.

Great......just loving those toddlers! As far as your baby is concerned, I would for my own piece of mind, have him seen by an orthopedic specialist. I would want to be absolutely certain the xray was shot then read correctly.....not only leg, but up to include hips. Bentley is a baby....you want to be sure there has been nothing missed that is going to set up problems for the rest of his life. This is just me...I always err on the side of caution.....

[yorkietalkjilly]

Could be a torn or sprain tendon and an orthopedic specialist would be necessary to determine that, more than likely. If it's completely torn and retracted from the bone, it will become very disabling and even partial tears of the CCL and so forth become nightmares at times. I'd crate rest your little one when you can't watch him and keep the dog from all jumping or play until the specialist's examination. Dogs are stoic by heredity and programmed not to show pain for fear of showing weakness which can lead to attack and death by another predator and with most dogs, no amount of domestication has re-programmed this tendency to mask pain.

[Verbena]

I agree. orthopedic specialist is the way to go.

[TheKipfers]

Update!!!***

We took him back to the vet last night. They suggested a re-X-ray, which we did. They found two fractures, one very close to the growth plate. They cast him all up and gave us pain meds. They also referred us to an orthopedic specialist which we will see Monday afternoon.

I feel so bad for him. He's just dragging that cast around, but it is a bit cute!

Next advice I would be looking for is what is the difference between recommended surgery and necessary surgery? I want to go in knowing, some what, what they are saying and what is actually necessary. Both vets believed his ligaments and tendons to be okay but the surgeon will triple check I'm sure. The fracture near the growth plate is what they're most worried about as far as needing surgery.

Please let me know if you have any advice, experience or suggestions about when, or if, to proceed with surgery should they recommend it. Thanks!!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Usually with orthopedic type procedures in people, medically necessary surgery is to save the integrity of the bone/limb and recommended or elective surgery is to prevent worse things happening secondary to a poor healing, such as arthritis or an inflammatory condition, both of which may cause lameness in the leg.

[gemy]

Yes I would be worried too, if the fracture is very near the growth plate.

Try googling and go to well respected sites, to see options for surgical intervention for this type of fracture. Stem Cell treatment might be an option here.

Why wasn't the fracture picked up on the first set of Xrays?

[TheKipfers]

I'm not sure. I'm hoping to get that $130 back. I've requested a copy of the X-ray be sent to me and compare it to the current ones I have. Maybe I will be able to see something. It might be a few days because the old X-ray will coming from ny and we are in Florida

[gemy]

Originally Posted by TheKipfers

I'm not sure. I'm hoping to get that $130 back. I've requested a copy of the X-ray be sent to me and compare it to the current ones I have. Maybe I will be able to see something. It might be a few days because the old X-ray will coming from ny and we are in Florida

I think I see, Fla is where you live now, and New York was where the accident happened and you went to a vet there?

I would definitely show the previous Xrays to your current vet, and see what they say about whether the old views were taken correctly, and or if an actual break was observable on the old Xrays.

[TheKipfers]

Yea I will when I get it for sure. So frustrating. Then the poor little guy was walking around for five days with a broken leg and we thought he was being dramatic! it's so sad to watch him with his little cast and leg dragging behind. He's one tough boy! If this happened to Charlie she would be as dramatic and sad as ever, but his spirits are pretty good!

[Yorkiemom1]

[QUOTE=gemy;4262702]Yes I would be worried too, if the fracture is very near the growth plate.

Try googling and go to well respected sites, to see options for surgical intervention for this type of fracture. Stem Cell treatment might be an option here.

Why wasn't the fracture picked up on the first set of Xrays?[/QUOTE]

This is exactly WHY most docs (and vets)want to re-ray injuries....they wont often go by what the first doc says is wrong, or take his interpretation of what he sees on xray. The quality of the original xray may not be good, and the doc may not be good at reading the xray. We like to jump and think this next group of vets or docs is just trying to get more money, but that is not the reason for doing their own tests. I am happy for the direction your case has taken, as far as treatment and appointments....The ortho specialist will be able to give you options and alternatives and help deciding what would be best for you and your baby....

[yorkietalkjilly]

Any chance it was just hairline or even Greenstick fx. at first and walking around on it or pushing/examining it extended the fx's? That happened to my sister when a doctor examined her fractured fibula BEFORE XRS. X-rays then showed the fracture communicated into the joint! It could be that her original fracture didn't but stressing the joint as the doctor I worked for at the time did during exam, putting it through full range of motion BEFORE the x-ray, sure could have extended it. That's only a possibility if the first XR was taken fairly early on and read as negative - though apparently misreads and/or poor film quality or XR technique can badly affect a reading. When there is kind of blunt force trauma like this involved and a limp persists, a second set of XRS was in order anyway, especially as time had elapsed which could have furthered any original injury. I sure hope that your specialist can fix him up and give him a leg that will be healthy throughout his long life. He's got a lot of running, playing, chasing squirrels and jumping to do.

[gemy]

[quote=Yorkiemom1;4262788]

Originally Posted by gemy

Yes I would be worried too, if the fracture is very near the growth plate.

Try googling and go to well respected sites, to see options for surgical intervention for this type of fracture. Stem Cell treatment might be an option here.

Why wasn't the fracture picked up on the first set of Xrays?[/QUOTE]

This is exactly WHY most docs (and vets)want to re-ray injuries....they wont often go by what the first doc says is wrong, or take his interpretation of what he sees on xray. The quality of the original xray may not be good, and the doc may not be good at reading the xray. We like to jump and think this next group of vets or docs is just trying to get more money, but that is not the reason for doing their own tests. I am happy for the direction your case has taken, as far as treatment and appointments....The ortho specialist will be able to give you options and alternatives and help deciding what would be best for you and your baby....

In Canada now many good vets have digital Xray machines, and software that allows them to send onto the specialist the views they have taken.

Thank God, I don't have to transport Xrays from one doc to another.

It is why with any Xray basically speaking I go to an ortho vet. They have the equipment and expertise. I go to an ortho vet for screening Xrays on Hip and Elbows for Certs on them. I usually already know from them, what offa will likely say.

It saved me some money when my ortho vet was able to email or transfer those Xrays to another specialist. And not paying for double views of something.

It is also a good thing for your general vet to have.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I think both of the vet clinics Tibbe goes to use digital x-ray equipment. My own doctors all do, too. Makes the world an easier place.

[capt_noonie]

Poor baby. I would be furious with my friend if her toddler did that to my baby AND the vet in NY. This is why many rescues will not place a yorkie in a family with young children. It's not the kid's fault, they don't know any better, but accidents can happen at any time, and with toddlers they happen quite often.

If the vet in NY won't refund your money, I would at the very least write a review on them. Not only did they not take or read the xray correctly, their incompetence made your baby walk around with a broken leg in two places for days!