? about what to wear after broken leg surgery - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Angel4791 · 01-04-2007, 07:05 PM

Finnigen broke his front paw last night. After he was nutered we put a baby onesie on him so he wouldn't have to wear the E collar. Is there anything similar we can do after his surgery tomorrow so he doesn't have to wear the E collar?

Thanks in advance. Since we're off to the vet just after six am!

RoxyJosMom · 01-05-2007, 07:21 AM

What about a baby sleeper with the proper area cut out. Or maybe just the bottoms of a baby outfit with the feet in. Poor little guy. I hope he is feeling better and able to get around soon. Will he have a cast on his foot? Sennding prayers for a speedy recovery and Roxy send is sending lots of puppy kisses to Finnegen to help him feel better.

BellaWillow · 01-05-2007, 07:52 AM

Poor baby Finnigen. My little girl Willow got her back right leg broke over Christmas and had her surgery last Thursday to put a plate and pins in. I was very apprehensive when I was told she had to wear the e-collar . . . but then when I saw how well she adapted to it . . . it wasn't so bad. They make those little collars a lot more flexible and lightweight these days. She has no cast on her leg and no bandage either. She just has a very long incision with big thread cross stitches holding her incision closed. Her leg is very very shaved and it looks like a Chihuahua's leg rather than her beautiful Yorkie leg. I thought about putting her in a pair of those cute little jammies I have seen other little puppies in . . . but decided against it. I just wanted the air to get to her wound so it could heal as quickly as possible. They originally said she would have to have her stitches for two weeks . . . but her and I have done such a good job of keeping it dry . . . that she gets her stitches out on Monday . . . eleven days after her surgery.

Finnigen's front paw is broken and I would think that he could still lick it regardless of whether he was wearing an e-collar or not. Willow eats and drinks just fine with hers on. I might be tempted to put Finnigen in a little long sleeve light weight cotton t-shirt. When you are supervising him . . . you could take it off so the air gets to his incision. But then again . . . you might not want to be taking stuff off and on him and messing with his little foot while it is healing.

Let me tell you . . . little Finnigen won't be feeling too good when he first gets home from the hospital . . . but in a few days he will be feeling great and you are going to have a hard time keeping him confined for the appropriate time the surgeon tells you to. Willow has to be confined in a cat carrier for 6 weeks. We are having a really hard time with that and I have ended up watching a lot of television this past week and just holding her on my lap.

Another real important thing is that these little babies depend on us so much that Willow did not eat for them in the hospital. They called me on Friday . . . the day after her surgery . . . and they could no get her to eat anything for them. I went up to the hospital that afternoon and she was so sedated, but tried to lift her head and wiggle her tail when she saw me. She licked chicken baby food off my fingers and fell back asleep. They called me again at dinnertime and thought she should be eating . . . but was not. When I got there she ate soft dog food off my fingers and about ate my fingers too. She was hungry and the vet said that he was going to release her that evening so I could take her home and get her to eat. For the next two days it was very hard to get her to eat. She ate chicken baby food, cesar soft food, and a/d food. The a/d was what really brought her around because it is loaded with water. After three days of that . . . her regular appetite is back again. She can't have any water in her kennel because of her incision . . . so I offer her water ever few hours. She does not drink much water because the soft foods are so full of water. She does pee every three to four hours though.

Good luck with Finnigen's surgery and lengthy recovery. Willow and I send you much love and kisses for a successful surgery and speedy recovery. We will be praying for you both.

Love Pegi and Willow

marcerella02 · 01-05-2007, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoxyJosMom

What about a baby sleeper with the proper area cut out. Or maybe just the bottoms of a baby outfit with the feet in. Poor little guy. I hope he is feeling better and able to get around soon. Will he have a cast on his foot? Sennding prayers for a speedy recovery and Roxy send is sending lots of puppy kisses to Finnegen to help him feel better.

i agree with a baby sleeper just modified... or perhaps an infant sock with the toe cut out and then you can just slip it up his leg.. hope he feels better soon

Angel4791 · 01-05-2007, 07:07 PM

We're in Canada so procedures are probably a bit different up here.

We dropped Finnigen off at the animal hospital at 8:00 this morning. Not our regular vet (we live in a smaller city about an hour away). This vet was amazing. He re-explained the procedure to us, reassured us, answered our questions. We walked out of there feeling good about the surgery just before 8:30.

We then went shopping. We bought him puppy stairs to get on and off our bed, although he won't be using them for awhile. Some soft dog food to get him back into eating. If he isn't eating it by morning, I'm going to make his favorite, rice with broiled chicken, carrots, celery, and a sprinkle of real Parmesan cheese. We also bought a playpen to confine him but allow him some space.

We picked him up just after 4 pm. He was groggy and a bit doped up. Yesterday our vet shaved a spot on his back and put on a pain patch then wrapped it. Today they shaved his leg and a bit of his chest, did the surgery, closed with dissolvable stitches and wrapped it in a bandage. He also has a few stitches higher up on his arm where they took some bone marrow to put in with the plate and six pins to help promote growth and healing. We have no E-collar, which I'm happy about as I'm sure Finnigen is, but it surprised me. I have to take him into the vet in 3 weeks for his annual shots and at that time my vet will remove his bandage.

Our vet said he can use his leg for limited exercise as soon as he's ready (usually within a couple days), after reading here I was worried so I asked why, and he told us blood flow and limited movement promotes healing. He's not to jump or run but he can bear weight on it and limp around in the playpen. (Which is why we bought it, to give him a limited area, and to protect while healing). He normally sleeps with us, but until his bandages are off, we're going to keep him in the playpen and just put it in our room at night.

His pain patch we will take off in 4 days. The plate and six screws do not get removed, unless some type of problem develops, but that is rare. He said keeping it in helps reinforce the leg, and if they were to have to remove it, the holes in the bone left by the screws would actually weaken the bone.

I was very terrified going into this, but after meeting the vet, and seeing how much better he looks now I feel so much better. When we picked him up, he showed us the after x-ray. You could see the tiny plate and screws and how it was huge improvement over the first x-rays.

He's sleeping now, and we're going to keep it pretty quiet around here tomorrow so he can rest (we have 3 kids 10.5, 8, and 4.5).

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the well wishes and advice!

Goodnight,
Shar-Lee & Finnigen

marcerella02 · 01-05-2007, 07:10 PM

so glad to hear your little man is feeling better! what part of canada are you from??

BellaWillow · 01-06-2007, 05:05 AM

Good Morning SharLee and Finnigen:

I am so happy that little Finnigen's surgery went so well and it sounds like his recovery is going to go just as well. I am wondering if because it was his front paw it would have done no good to use an e-collar and no bandage because he could have still licked it? That is great that he can go straight into the play pen. I wonder how come Willow is stuck in a cat carrier for six weeks? She can go into her play pen occassionaly, but for the most part the doctor only wants her to stand up turn around and lay back down. She can put weight on it . . . but absolutely no walking and he said the play pen was too much room for the time being.

It sounds like Finnigen is going to do very well . . . and as far as eating goes . . . who could resist a scrumptous meal like that? Good luck to you guys and Willow and I send many hugs and kisses to Finnigen for a speedy recovery. Please keep us updated on his condition. I am in Minnesota . . . what part of Canada are you in?

Love Pegi and Willow

RoxyJosMom · 01-06-2007, 03:13 PM

Sounds like you have an excellent vet. I'm so happy Finnigan is doing so well and am sending prayers for a quick recovery. I'll bet he's gonna want to get back to playing like a good little yorkie should.

red98vett · 01-06-2007, 05:01 PM

I'm no help .....but sending get well wishes !!

Molly LD · 01-06-2007, 05:06 PM

My Yorkie had some surgery and I was dreading her having to wear an E-collar, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. She slept, and with the vet's help, I figured out how to set up her dishes so she could eat and drink. It did protect her while she was recovering, and prevented some possible injuries that she could have gotten if she had not been wearing it, so it was worth the hassle.

Angel4791 · 01-06-2007, 06:17 PM

Sorry, I've been so busy babying my baby, I haven't had time to post.

He's doing okay... he's been whining alot.

Today I've managed to get water into him, using a baby medication syringe. I talked to the vet and we both agreed 1 tsp an hour is good. As for food, he still wasn't really eating and hasn't pooped yet, so I bought some plain canned pumpkin and baby food (apples his favorite food), I would open his mouth and feed him with a baby spoon. Eventually he started licking the spoon on his own. He's still not eating a whole lot, but as long as I have something in his tummy, and water I'm happy.

I'm in Saskatchewan, in case I haven't meantioned yet.

Thanks again everyone!

Shar-Lee & Finnigen

01-04-2007, 07:05 PM	#1
Angel4791 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 118	? about what to wear after broken leg surgery Finnigen broke his front paw last night. After he was nutered we put a baby onesie on him so he wouldn't have to wear the E collar. Is there anything similar we can do after his surgery tomorrow so he doesn't have to wear the E collar? Thanks in advance. Since we're off to the vet just after six am! __________________ "Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant"

01-05-2007, 07:21 AM	#2
RoxyJosMom Love The Verminator! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ny Posts: 4,282	What about a baby sleeper with the proper area cut out. Or maybe just the bottoms of a baby outfit with the feet in. Poor little guy. I hope he is feeling better and able to get around soon. Will he have a cast on his foot? Sennding prayers for a speedy recovery and Roxy send is sending lots of puppy kisses to Finnegen to help him feel better. __________________ Roxy loves Alphy Remi loves Millie [COLOR="Purple"]Mom to RoxyJo & Remington , Fozzy Bear & Chloe Last edited by RoxyJosMom; 01-05-2007 at 07:24 AM.

01-05-2007, 07:52 AM	#3
BellaWillow Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Apple Valley, Minnesota Posts: 80	Sending Lot's of Love and Kisses To Finnigen Poor baby Finnigen. My little girl Willow got her back right leg broke over Christmas and had her surgery last Thursday to put a plate and pins in. I was very apprehensive when I was told she had to wear the e-collar . . . but then when I saw how well she adapted to it . . . it wasn't so bad. They make those little collars a lot more flexible and lightweight these days. She has no cast on her leg and no bandage either. She just has a very long incision with big thread cross stitches holding her incision closed. Her leg is very very shaved and it looks like a Chihuahua's leg rather than her beautiful Yorkie leg. I thought about putting her in a pair of those cute little jammies I have seen other little puppies in . . . but decided against it. I just wanted the air to get to her wound so it could heal as quickly as possible. They originally said she would have to have her stitches for two weeks . . . but her and I have done such a good job of keeping it dry . . . that she gets her stitches out on Monday . . . eleven days after her surgery. Finnigen's front paw is broken and I would think that he could still lick it regardless of whether he was wearing an e-collar or not. Willow eats and drinks just fine with hers on. I might be tempted to put Finnigen in a little long sleeve light weight cotton t-shirt. When you are supervising him . . . you could take it off so the air gets to his incision. But then again . . . you might not want to be taking stuff off and on him and messing with his little foot while it is healing. Let me tell you . . . little Finnigen won't be feeling too good when he first gets home from the hospital . . . but in a few days he will be feeling great and you are going to have a hard time keeping him confined for the appropriate time the surgeon tells you to. Willow has to be confined in a cat carrier for 6 weeks. We are having a really hard time with that and I have ended up watching a lot of television this past week and just holding her on my lap. Another real important thing is that these little babies depend on us so much that Willow did not eat for them in the hospital. They called me on Friday . . . the day after her surgery . . . and they could no get her to eat anything for them. I went up to the hospital that afternoon and she was so sedated, but tried to lift her head and wiggle her tail when she saw me. She licked chicken baby food off my fingers and fell back asleep. They called me again at dinnertime and thought she should be eating . . . but was not. When I got there she ate soft dog food off my fingers and about ate my fingers too. She was hungry and the vet said that he was going to release her that evening so I could take her home and get her to eat. For the next two days it was very hard to get her to eat. She ate chicken baby food, cesar soft food, and a/d food. The a/d was what really brought her around because it is loaded with water. After three days of that . . . her regular appetite is back again. She can't have any water in her kennel because of her incision . . . so I offer her water ever few hours. She does not drink much water because the soft foods are so full of water. She does pee every three to four hours though. Good luck with Finnigen's surgery and lengthy recovery. Willow and I send you much love and kisses for a successful surgery and speedy recovery. We will be praying for you both. Love Pegi and Willow

01-05-2007, 07:07 PM	#5
Angel4791 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 118	Thank you everyone! We're in Canada so procedures are probably a bit different up here. We dropped Finnigen off at the animal hospital at 8:00 this morning. Not our regular vet (we live in a smaller city about an hour away). This vet was amazing. He re-explained the procedure to us, reassured us, answered our questions. We walked out of there feeling good about the surgery just before 8:30. We then went shopping. We bought him puppy stairs to get on and off our bed, although he won't be using them for awhile. Some soft dog food to get him back into eating. If he isn't eating it by morning, I'm going to make his favorite, rice with broiled chicken, carrots, celery, and a sprinkle of real Parmesan cheese. We also bought a playpen to confine him but allow him some space. We picked him up just after 4 pm. He was groggy and a bit doped up. Yesterday our vet shaved a spot on his back and put on a pain patch then wrapped it. Today they shaved his leg and a bit of his chest, did the surgery, closed with dissolvable stitches and wrapped it in a bandage. He also has a few stitches higher up on his arm where they took some bone marrow to put in with the plate and six pins to help promote growth and healing. We have no E-collar, which I'm happy about as I'm sure Finnigen is, but it surprised me. I have to take him into the vet in 3 weeks for his annual shots and at that time my vet will remove his bandage. Our vet said he can use his leg for limited exercise as soon as he's ready (usually within a couple days), after reading here I was worried so I asked why, and he told us blood flow and limited movement promotes healing. He's not to jump or run but he can bear weight on it and limp around in the playpen. (Which is why we bought it, to give him a limited area, and to protect while healing). He normally sleeps with us, but until his bandages are off, we're going to keep him in the playpen and just put it in our room at night. His pain patch we will take off in 4 days. The plate and six screws do not get removed, unless some type of problem develops, but that is rare. He said keeping it in helps reinforce the leg, and if they were to have to remove it, the holes in the bone left by the screws would actually weaken the bone. I was very terrified going into this, but after meeting the vet, and seeing how much better he looks now I feel so much better. When we picked him up, he showed us the after x-ray. You could see the tiny plate and screws and how it was huge improvement over the first x-rays. He's sleeping now, and we're going to keep it pretty quiet around here tomorrow so he can rest (we have 3 kids 10.5, 8, and 4.5). Thanks everyone! I appreciate the well wishes and advice! Goodnight, Shar-Lee & Finnigen __________________ "Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant"

01-05-2007, 07:10 PM	#6
marcerella02 Loved by Layla Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 11,257	so glad to hear your little man is feeling better! what part of canada are you from?? __________________ http://misscanam.blogspot.com/ Layla 's Simon

01-06-2007, 05:05 AM	#7
BellaWillow Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Apple Valley, Minnesota Posts: 80	Good Morning SharLee and Finnigen: I am so happy that little Finnigen's surgery went so well and it sounds like his recovery is going to go just as well. I am wondering if because it was his front paw it would have done no good to use an e-collar and no bandage because he could have still licked it? That is great that he can go straight into the play pen. I wonder how come Willow is stuck in a cat carrier for six weeks? She can go into her play pen occassionaly, but for the most part the doctor only wants her to stand up turn around and lay back down. She can put weight on it . . . but absolutely no walking and he said the play pen was too much room for the time being. It sounds like Finnigen is going to do very well . . . and as far as eating goes . . . who could resist a scrumptous meal like that? Good luck to you guys and Willow and I send many hugs and kisses to Finnigen for a speedy recovery. Please keep us updated on his condition. I am in Minnesota . . . what part of Canada are you in? Love Pegi and Willow

01-06-2007, 03:13 PM	#8
RoxyJosMom Love The Verminator! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ny Posts: 4,282	Sounds like you have an excellent vet. I'm so happy Finnigan is doing so well and am sending prayers for a quick recovery. I'll bet he's gonna want to get back to playing like a good little yorkie should. __________________ Roxy loves Alphy Remi loves Millie [COLOR="Purple"]Mom to RoxyJo & Remington , Fozzy Bear & Chloe

01-06-2007, 05:01 PM	#9
red98vett Yorkie Kisses are the Best! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Houston TX Posts: 33,590 Blog Entries: 1	I'm no help .....but sending get well wishes !! __________________ Villette, Chanel & Cheri www.DesignsByVillette.net Custom Address Labels and Note Cards using YOUR Photos! Just Click HERE!

01-06-2007, 05:06 PM	#10
Molly LD Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 42	Yorkies and E-collars My Yorkie had some surgery and I was dreading her having to wear an E-collar, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. She slept, and with the vet's help, I figured out how to set up her dishes so she could eat and drink. It did protect her while she was recovering, and prevented some possible injuries that she could have gotten if she had not been wearing it, so it was worth the hassle.

01-06-2007, 06:17 PM	#11
Angel4791 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 118	Sorry, I've been so busy babying my baby, I haven't had time to post. He's doing okay... he's been whining alot. Today I've managed to get water into him, using a baby medication syringe. I talked to the vet and we both agreed 1 tsp an hour is good. As for food, he still wasn't really eating and hasn't pooped yet, so I bought some plain canned pumpkin and baby food (apples his favorite food), I would open his mouth and feed him with a baby spoon. Eventually he started licking the spoon on his own. He's still not eating a whole lot, but as long as I have something in his tummy, and water I'm happy. I'm in Saskatchewan, in case I haven't meantioned yet. Thanks again everyone! Shar-Lee & Finnigen __________________ "Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant"