need advice broken leg - YorkieTalk.com Forums

psvidesigner · 02-03-2007, 05:50 AM

I will try to keep this short. Mimi broke her leg dec 30. It was a clean break. The er vet set the leg, splinted it and gave us a positive report on her recovery. The vet has re-splinted it twice. Yesterday was the second splint and an x ray.
The vet office called and told us everything was good. When we saw the vet last night he gave us a poor prognosis. He wants us to go to see a surgeon. I don't think this has been enough time for healing. I would like to see if another 2-3 weeks may make a difference before we jump in to surgery. Does anyone out there have any similar experience or any advice?

yorkiemalt · 02-03-2007, 06:18 AM

I would think since it's already been 5 weeks, your Vet would have a good indication of the condition of the leg.

A "clean" break would be fully healed in about 6 weeks.

There must be something he feels isn't right.

If it were my dog, I would go see an Orthopaedic Surgeon and at least get his/her opinion on it.

Good Luck!

ARCHIE · 02-03-2007, 08:02 AM

I have no suggestions for you but to take the doc's advice.
Good luck with your little one. Hope her leg heals properly.

Carol & Buddy

Sweetums · 02-04-2007, 09:21 PM

If the leg isn't healing properly, you should probably see the specialist asap to intervene. I don't think waiting is a good idea. You may have a puppy who is permanently lame if you don't intervene early on before it heals the wrong way permanently.

LunasMomma · 02-05-2007, 08:05 AM

Hmmm. Well, I've broken several of MY bones, and in my experience, a "clean" break is NOT a good thing. It makes healing harder, as the edges of the bones broken are SMOOTH. They have nothing to hold them in place, which is why they're talking surgery, to put plates and/or screws in there to keep it stable so it can re-knit.

I almost had to have surgery on my arm for the very same reason, but my Mom was very vigilant about keeping my arm very very still so that the bones could heal. Lucky for me, my doc saw improvement after a few weeks and no surgery was needed. It's much harder to do with a doggie, since they have no idea why you want them to be so still and you'd have to drug them for them not to move that limb

After 5 weeks, there should be some bone knitting going on there. What I dont' get is why they told you that things were good with the Xray, then the doc says no, they're not

I'd ask to see the xrays. If it's healing well, you should see it's all blurry and looks almost knot-like at the break, meaning that the bones are knitting themselves together.

YorkieRose · 02-05-2007, 08:19 AM

Most all breaks heal if given enough time..and the broken leg will actually become stronger then the other legs, due to calcium building around the break according to my old vet..

It took my Clemmie's leg 5 months to heal...she went in weekly for a recheck..monthly xray. She DID have surgery at the beginning..one vet wanted to amputate at 6 weeks because of little healing...but my 75 yr old vet said to be patient..Clemmie never cared about the cast and now walks on a perfectly sound leg...
I would have the surgery if it is not showing vast improvement in another 2 weeks..then be patient, as long as there is no infection.

BellaWillow · 02-06-2007, 07:45 AM

My sweet little Willow got her leg broke on December 23rd and she had surgery on December 28th to put a plate and pins in by an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Minnesota. She was dropped by some little boys that came to visit at Christmas and her back right leg sustained clean breaks of both the tibia and fibula. The reason she had to have surgery was because both of the bones were broken and there would be no way for them to fuse back together naturally so a plate and pins had to be put in on the bigger bone of the two . . . and the smaller bone is fusing naturally. She came home with no cast or bandages . . . just an open incision with a lot of stitches and a cone on her head. She could not have any food or water in the small kennel because the wound had to stay clean and dry at all times. She got her stitches out at 11 days . . . and the cone off at 14 days. She is still stuck in the soft crate though which is just big enough for her to stand up turn around and lay back down again. She will have to be in there for 8-10 weeks.

I have had a few conversations with her orthopedic surgeon and he has told me that the bones will not fuse together until around 12 weeks. We were told that her first check would be anytime after 6 weeks . . . which will be Thursday. We are going on Friday and she will be sedated and given pain medication and they will take what they called radialgraphs to see how the bones are doing.

It has been a long 40 days since surgery and we still have a long way to go . . . but I have no regrets about having the surgery. It cost us $2,200.00 but I wanted to do everything I could to make sure that Willow's leg healed properly.

If your vet is telling you to go to a surgeon . . . I would do it. Make sure you research it first though and take your sweet little Mimi to someone who specializes in this type of surgery . . . an orthopedic surgeon.

Please keep us posted on how Mimi is doing, and I will let you know how Willow is doing as well.

itsrox · 02-06-2007, 07:54 AM

Cali broke her leg a few days before Christmas. I took her to the vet a few times (after the initial emergency visit), and they never took of her original cast, but they said it was healing fine. It was removed Saturday without incident. If your vet said it wasn't healing correctly, I think I'd go with what he says. I think 6 weeks should've pretty much done it. 2 or 3 more weeks probably won't make any difference. Hope your baby gets better fast!

genie · 02-06-2007, 08:05 AM

Just a thought...maybe the first splint wasn't put on correctly and it allowed her bones to rub and then they couldn't fuse together and now it has been too long to heal with just a splint...

. Anyway I hope she gets well soon.

itsrox · 02-06-2007, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genie

Just a thought...maybe the first splint wasn't put on correctly and it allowed her bones to rub and then they couldn't fuse together and now it has been too long to heal with just a splint...

. Anyway I hope she gets well soon.

I wondered that too. Cali's cast wasn't ever taken off - the vet didn't want to disturb the setting at all. They even did an xray through the cast first before they took it off, then did another one to make sure once it was removed.

Lopsi · 02-06-2007, 12:57 PM

When Pixie broke her leg, it was several days before we were able to get help (long story there, ignore that part). My vet was very upset about her and they did a surgery workup that week and put her in surgery the next week. They warned me before surgery though that it had been so long that her leg may have started to heal already. It took 2 months in a cast and then more time taking it easy and "not using it" for her to be back up and running.
At first, they discussed amputating her leg also (leaving the decision up to us but knowing she probably wouldn't be able to use it again - she had 3 breaks and a shattered elbow) - but she has really done well and you can't really tell anything happened anymore.

JCarlson2004 · 02-06-2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetums

If the leg isn't healing properly, you should probably see the specialist asap to intervene. I don't think waiting is a good idea. You may have a puppy who is permanently lame if you don't intervene early on before it heals the wrong way permanently.

itsrox · 02-06-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lopsi

When Pixie broke her leg, it was several days before we were able to get help (long story there, ignore that part). My vet was very upset about her and they did a surgery workup that week and put her in surgery the next week. They warned me before surgery though that it had been so long that her leg may have started to heal already. It took 2 months in a cast and then more time taking it easy and "not using it" for her to be back up and running.
At first, they discussed amputating her leg also (leaving the decision up to us but knowing she probably wouldn't be able to use it again - she had 3 breaks and a shattered elbow) - but she has really done well and you can't really tell anything happened anymore.

Oh my. That must have been some ordeal.

I Love Bailey · 02-06-2007, 01:14 PM

When our pom broke his leg he was in a cast for 8 weeks, every 2 weeks we would take him in a they would remove cast (it was dirty) xray and recast his leg. He healed fine and was very good at running on 3 legs while casted.

psvidesigner · 02-11-2007, 06:12 PM

In hind site we think the er vet did a so so job when she set her leg. Then to top it off the vet looked at that x ray and never considered a re-set at the time (we both thought they should have said somthing). We really question the quality of her care. The last x ray revealed even more seperation than before. We are off to the surgeon on Thursday. It will be a relief to get through the week. Thanks to everyone's great support.

02-03-2007, 05:50 AM	#1
psvidesigner YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 286	need advice broken leg I will try to keep this short. Mimi broke her leg dec 30. It was a clean break. The er vet set the leg, splinted it and gave us a positive report on her recovery. The vet has re-splinted it twice. Yesterday was the second splint and an x ray. The vet office called and told us everything was good. When we saw the vet last night he gave us a poor prognosis. He wants us to go to see a surgeon. I don't think this has been enough time for healing. I would like to see if another 2-3 weeks may make a difference before we jump in to surgery. Does anyone out there have any similar experience or any advice?

02-05-2007, 08:05 AM	#5
LunasMomma Izzy's Momma Too! Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 5,023	Hmmm. Well, I've broken several of MY bones, and in my experience, a "clean" break is NOT a good thing. It makes healing harder, as the edges of the bones broken are SMOOTH. They have nothing to hold them in place, which is why they're talking surgery, to put plates and/or screws in there to keep it stable so it can re-knit. I almost had to have surgery on my arm for the very same reason, but my Mom was very vigilant about keeping my arm very very still so that the bones could heal. Lucky for me, my doc saw improvement after a few weeks and no surgery was needed. It's much harder to do with a doggie, since they have no idea why you want them to be so still and you'd have to drug them for them not to move that limb After 5 weeks, there should be some bone knitting going on there. What I dont' get is why they told you that things were good with the Xray, then the doc says no, they're not I'd ask to see the xrays. If it's healing well, you should see it's all blurry and looks almost knot-like at the break, meaning that the bones are knitting themselves together. __________________ Card Carrying Member of the Crazy AND Pink Clubs

02-05-2007, 08:19 AM	#6
YorkieRose YT 4000 Club Member Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 7,207	leg Most all breaks heal if given enough time..and the broken leg will actually become stronger then the other legs, due to calcium building around the break according to my old vet.. It took my Clemmie's leg 5 months to heal...she went in weekly for a recheck..monthly xray. She DID have surgery at the beginning..one vet wanted to amputate at 6 weeks because of little healing...but my 75 yr old vet said to be patient..Clemmie never cared about the cast and now walks on a perfectly sound leg... I would have the surgery if it is not showing vast improvement in another 2 weeks..then be patient, as long as there is no infection. __________________ Pat, Kate, Becca and Pinkkee Prim

02-06-2007, 07:45 AM	#7
BellaWillow Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Apple Valley, Minnesota Posts: 79	Poor Mimi My sweet little Willow got her leg broke on December 23rd and she had surgery on December 28th to put a plate and pins in by an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Minnesota. She was dropped by some little boys that came to visit at Christmas and her back right leg sustained clean breaks of both the tibia and fibula. The reason she had to have surgery was because both of the bones were broken and there would be no way for them to fuse back together naturally so a plate and pins had to be put in on the bigger bone of the two . . . and the smaller bone is fusing naturally. She came home with no cast or bandages . . . just an open incision with a lot of stitches and a cone on her head. She could not have any food or water in the small kennel because the wound had to stay clean and dry at all times. She got her stitches out at 11 days . . . and the cone off at 14 days. She is still stuck in the soft crate though which is just big enough for her to stand up turn around and lay back down again. She will have to be in there for 8-10 weeks. I have had a few conversations with her orthopedic surgeon and he has told me that the bones will not fuse together until around 12 weeks. We were told that her first check would be anytime after 6 weeks . . . which will be Thursday. We are going on Friday and she will be sedated and given pain medication and they will take what they called radialgraphs to see how the bones are doing. It has been a long 40 days since surgery and we still have a long way to go . . . but I have no regrets about having the surgery. It cost us $2,200.00 but I wanted to do everything I could to make sure that Willow's leg healed properly. If your vet is telling you to go to a surgeon . . . I would do it. Make sure you research it first though and take your sweet little Mimi to someone who specializes in this type of surgery . . . an orthopedic surgeon. Please keep us posted on how Mimi is doing, and I will let you know how Willow is doing as well. __________________ Pegi and Willow and Isabella Bleu ~ Please come and visit Willow at Dogster http://www.dogster.com/?454939

02-06-2007, 07:54 AM	#8
itsrox Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 206	Cali broke her leg a few days before Christmas. I took her to the vet a few times (after the initial emergency visit), and they never took of her original cast, but they said it was healing fine. It was removed Saturday without incident. If your vet said it wasn't healing correctly, I think I'd go with what he says. I think 6 weeks should've pretty much done it. 2 or 3 more weeks probably won't make any difference. Hope your baby gets better fast! __________________ Cali's Mom in the ATL!! Cali and I have (finally) been egged.

02-03-2007, 06:18 AM	#2
yorkiemalt Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,807	I would think since it's already been 5 weeks, your Vet would have a good indication of the condition of the leg. A "clean" break would be fully healed in about 6 weeks. There must be something he feels isn't right. If it were my dog, I would go see an Orthopaedic Surgeon and at least get his/her opinion on it. Good Luck!

02-03-2007, 08:02 AM	#3
ARCHIE Owned by "Buddy" Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 11,182	I have no suggestions for you but to take the doc's advice. Good luck with your little one. Hope her leg heals properly. Carol & Buddy

02-04-2007, 09:21 PM	#4
Sweetums Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kirkland WA Posts: 424	If the leg isn't healing properly, you should probably see the specialist asap to intervene. I don't think waiting is a good idea. You may have a puppy who is permanently lame if you don't intervene early on before it heals the wrong way permanently.

02-06-2007, 08:05 AM	#9
genie Loves Hannah & Gracie Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,743	Just a thought...maybe the first splint wasn't put on correctly and it allowed her bones to rub and then they couldn't fuse together and now it has been too long to heal with just a splint... . Anyway I hope she gets well soon. __________________ Genie Corri Jake Hannah Bentley Heidi Gracie Lou

02-06-2007, 12:57 PM	#11
Lopsi YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 840	When Pixie broke her leg, it was several days before we were able to get help (long story there, ignore that part). My vet was very upset about her and they did a surgery workup that week and put her in surgery the next week. They warned me before surgery though that it had been so long that her leg may have started to heal already. It took 2 months in a cast and then more time taking it easy and "not using it" for her to be back up and running. At first, they discussed amputating her leg also (leaving the decision up to us but knowing she probably wouldn't be able to use it again - she had 3 breaks and a shattered elbow) - but she has really done well and you can't really tell anything happened anymore. __________________ ~ Lopsi... and Pixie & Bogey; RIP Baby Caddo, 2/15/2007

02-06-2007, 01:14 PM	#14
I Love Bailey I Love Angel too! Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Biggest Little City Posts: 1,295	When our pom broke his leg he was in a cast for 8 weeks, every 2 weeks we would take him in a they would remove cast (it was dirty) xray and recast his leg. He healed fine and was very good at running on 3 legs while casted. __________________ Michele, Bailey & Angel Take the Pledge to Fight Animal Cruelty: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer...ge_landing_er3

02-11-2007, 06:12 PM	#15
psvidesigner YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 286	surgery this week In hind site we think the er vet did a so so job when she set her leg. Then to top it off the vet looked at that x ray and never considered a re-set at the time (we both thought they should have said somthing). We really question the quality of her care. The last x ray revealed even more seperation than before. We are off to the surgeon on Thursday. It will be a relief to get through the week. Thanks to everyone's great support.