2.8 lb Yorkie Broke his Ulna & Radius in Left leg
 

Hello Yorkie Lovers,
Today my almost 3 pound boy fell off the bed wrong and sure enough we took him to the vet and he broke his distal radius and ulna in his front left leg. We cannot get him into see the surgeon until Monday. Basically, I was curious to see if this has happened to anyone else and what they did for it. I am worried about the surgery because how little he is. Like even getting his fixed was worrisome because of his weight. Right now, until monday, my poor baby is just doped up on pain meds with a splint in it and he cannot move. I feel so bad as it is my fault why he fell awkwards. :( Also, if he does have to get surgery, what are payment options? I am a college student, so funds are not that great. We are hoping to just keep in him the splint possibly and let it heal that way. Has anyone ever done that? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Lauren, Greysen, and Ella

I'm sorry about your baby's accident and pending surgery. I have a friend, her 3 1/2 lb girl broke her leg coming off of steps. This girl did require surgery w/pins. She had to be crated during her recovery bc after the surgery she felt good and thought she could run around as usual.

You can apply for Care Credit, that's one option for payment. Borrow the money from family, friends, a bank...where ever you can get it. If your vet recommends surgery, have it done....don't try to just let it heal in the splint. Always do what is best for your dog!

Good luck....poor baby!

CareCredit Healthcare Finance - Payment Plans and Financing for Cosmetic Surgery, Dental, Vision, Hearing, Veterinary & Other Medical Procedures

Are you serious? :eek: :confused: If you broke your leg would you just put it in a splint and hope it healed right? :rolleyes: The splint is just to stabilize his leg until it can be set correctly! He needs to have the surgery if that's what your vet recommended!

The vet referred us to the orthopedic surgeon so we will not know until Monday what our options are. I was saying the splint option not only because it might be cost effective, but more importantly, as I stated in the sentence above, because the risk that surgery can bring with how little he is. Obviously I am going to do whatever is needed for my little guy. I posted on here to get advice, not to get criticized for saying that it would be nice to not have to spend $3000 on surgery if it is not needed.
Thank you Jencar for the great link to carecredit, sounds like a good idea if needed.
Please just pray!

Attachment 311807
here is my little guy :(

This pup absolutely must have surgery!! I have seen the results of people short-cutting and trying to avoid costly surgeries. Your puppy could end up with multiple problems if you splint this leg....and it will NOT heal. That much I can tell you. He could end up losing his leg. :(

You need to find a way to pay for this. I would suggest applying for Care Credit or another loan. I doubt you will find a vet who will offer a payment plan.

Also...please do not allow this pup to be up on any more furniture. I know it is hard and that people want to sleep with them and all, but it is dangerous for the pup! They do not understand and will jump off and hurt themselves. If your puppy falls again, he is at risk of having two bad legs that need surgery, or something even more severe like a herniated disc. There was a puppy like that on YT that broke one leg...was put up on a bed and he jumped and broke another leg.....ended up dying ... it was a very sad story.

Here is a recent thread about a puppy who broke its leg ... weighed 2 pounds and had the surgery and it went very well:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...ained-leg.html

Oh...this thread started out about another pup....but the user id is kate07 of the person whose pup had surgery for a fractured leg.

Well I have to say that my baby Izzy broke both her bones when she was a puppy. My vet cast her and we cast her every two weeks for 6-9 weeks. She healed perfectly! Surgery is NOT always the best option. It always depends on the break and of course the vet.
I also am taking some of these reponses as very critical to the OP's post. She is here for help. So lets try and do that.
We are NOT vets and we are not in her situation. :D

I did reply to your PM

Excuse me, he broke two bones in his leg and she was obviously referred to a surgeon as she said she cannot get in until Monday.

You also are NOT a vet and your advice is scary. No one here knows what kind of fractures your pupster had...and you have NO idea what type the OP has. Clearly this pup has been seen by a VET who did suggest a surgeon.

She IS getting help and advice here! I cannot even believe you suggested otherwise. :rolleyes:

My little one Sadie broke her elbow when she was just a puppy weighing just over one pound. As an adult she weighs 2 3/4 pounds. she had to have surgery and they had to put in a pin. She did great, learned to run with the cast on, which was not a hard cast, it was just a cop-ban wrap. Today her leg is fine, she runs with the rest of them and never favors it.

Here is a picture of her in her cast.
Attachment 311851

:(:(:( oh no... I'm so sorry. These little guys have such tiny bones and it sounds like a pretty bad break(s) - the vet can't see him until Monday ? Jen had a good suggestion about Care Credit and I'd def look into that right away -

also see if you can find a referral from your vet to try to see someone without waiting....I had a bad break in my wrist and always have trouble with it due to me waiting ...I should have had surgery but back then I was young and a know it all ... it's always hurt only because I wanted the quick fix

I have no experience with breaks - but have read about many yorkies that absolutely had to have surgery..... I'd be so worried all weekend that he's in pain. Phone calls can't hurt right ?

My girls both sleep with me but are older....back when they were puppies I was so nervous having them in bed and had pillows all over the floor ....but even with pillows, a bad landing can still happen.

Hope his medication is working to the fullest - just be careful on the doses and follow those instructions carefully

good luck !! He looks so pitiful in his little bed. I hope you have a great vet/surgeon and he gets the help he needs ! He really is a tiny little guy..

I couldn't agree more! :thumbup::thumbup:

You have a window of time in the beginning for optimum healing. As time goes on, healing is less likely to occur. We have had so many sad stories of members waiting too long and missing that window of opportunity. When that happens, the only option is amputation of the leg.

While your regular vet may offer payment plans to established clients, specialists require payment upfront for expensive surgeries. You might want to check out this thread for help with vet bills:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...vet-bills.html

Please read these threads:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...oken-legs.html

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...amputated.html

correct - surgery is not always the best option - sometimes it's the only option.

As you said - it depends on the break, and from what was posted - it sounds like the vet feels this is what has to be done. No one is trying to take the place of a vet but it helps to hear from those who've had experience and sometimes just knowing others have been thru the same thing helps the one who's asking for advise

I can't see a (ethical) vet intentionally putting any dog thru unnecessary surgery (especially at this size) unless it's needed. We all have to remember when we add pets to our lives that emergencies come up - some are worse than others but they depend on US to take care of them -

To GreysenElla - all the best - I know you're beating yourself up over this but accidents happen. I hope everything works out for your little guy