Yorkie with foot deformity.
 

Situation for everyone to please consider,

Let's say you adopted a puppy from your local SPCA. You were told that puppy had a foot deformity (skeletal) that caused a gimpy gait (this is not LP). You decided you wanted that puppy anyway, and took it home.

You take the puppy to your veterinarian, and then to another (plus the opinion of the vet with the SPCA that examined that puppy when it was brought in) so three veterinarians (one set of x-rays), and they all tell you that the puppy will not experience any pain now or in later years if this deformity is not fixed. The specific issue will never resolve itself, nor will it get any worse.

Here's the thing; they also tell you that they can fix it, with a lengthy surgery that will require the purposeful breakage and resetting of 3 bones and about 4 months of painful recuperation for your puppy, 2 months of that there is to be no playing, no taking walks, no running, etc.

You have to make the decision within 1 week - otherwise your puppy is SOL on the surgery (they will only do it now while the bones are still young, flexible and easily manipulated).

What would your decision be?

Thank you

PS - I realize I haven't been here in months (too many issues with certain members for me to be here that often). But - there are also a great many knowledgeable Yorkie owners here, and I need your help desperately.

If it was a board certified surgeon with extensive orthopedic experience and there was a great chance of a good outcome, I personally would do it. In time I would think that a gimpy gait could cause other issues to this pup such as possible back problems.

Not sure why there is a one week window...seems kind of pushy to me. Cannot imagine there is going to be a huge difference between a week and a month, but who knows.

As for your other comments, there are always going to be people you do not get along with online just as in person. Not a reason to stop coming here, especially if you need assistance...or you just want to participate.

How bad is the "gimpy gait"? Is it just a slight limp? Will fixing it improve the quality of the dog's life, or is it more a cosmetic issue? If, as the vets say, the puppy will not experience any pain now or in later years if this deformity is not fixed, and if fixing it would not result in a significant improvement in the quality of the dog's life, I would do nothing, because fixing it will cause painful and lengthy recuperation for the dog. If fixing it results in increased mobility, I would consider it. But you know more about the situation than we do, so you will ultimately have to weight the risks and benefits yourself.

If I bought or adopted or rescued a baby with a deformed foot, I would be doing so already with the plan to go straight to a certified ortho. specialist and set about getting this little foot "fixed". I would imagine, just like with humans, if the babys gait is off, over time, it throws the entire body off and stuff starts getting out of alignment, causing additional issues.....Good luck to this inno0cent baby.....you have to do what is necessary to help this baby live as normal a life, pain free, as possible.

Thank you for your input. I believe we have decided to go ahead with the surgery. This poor thing isn't going to have a puppyhood at all...but I agree that not fixing it might cause issues elsewhere in her body later, in which case she won't have much of an adult life either.

...4 months of misery is better than 15+ years of "possible" misery right?

Thank you again...guess I needed more of an affirmation than anything else.

Good luck. Please keep us posted. Would love to see pictures and hear about her progress. :)

Yes, I have had pups go through some extensive surgeries that required lengthy periods of confinement and also physical therapy for a couple of them; but they are doing fine now!

You are the best :D
Every pup deserves the best we can give them. Yes, puppyhood will be different, but like you said, there will be years of Yorkie love ahead. Thank you for caring fort this pup in need!

Good Luck with your decision! Thats a tough one! I don't know if I'd do it or not.

Good luck with the surgery. I would have chosen this as well. Better some restriction during puppyhood so that she can run walk/run better for the rest of their life. I really like the idea of using a stroller/baby carriage so that they can be restricted but still enjoy being close to you. Sending prayers and best wishes.

I just read your decision. I too would, like LadyJane have resourced the opinion of an orthopaedic specialist.

Having said that; if the problem is within the metatarsals of the foot; logically over time their dysfunction will translate up the leg to the knee and to the hip. And like a river flows up the spine.

Soooooo..... I would be more inclined to do the surgery, I have had a big dog on strict crate rest for 8wks/2months, and it is a pain; but the outcome is worth it in my view.

Not knowing the details here, sometimes depending upon the deformity, casting might be an option.

Thank you all for the words of advice and support.

I misunderstood a LOT with these vets and it is extremely difficult to keep everything straight when you're talking to three different ones. It's like one vet says something and then the next vet says basically the same only a little different and the next vet echos that and adds something else (or disagrees with part of what another said)--- pretty soon everything becomes very unclear for me. I'm sticking with our vet and when it comes time for surgery I will go with whoever he wants me to go to. So to make that clear: she is NOT getting this fixed anytime soon. (I misunderstood the part about flexible bones and easy to be manipulated). That's why they DON'T want to remedy this immediately, not why they do. The reason they are being adamant about getting her in there within a week is to observe and note any changes, and then every 2 weeks after that.

Long story short: she has to finish growing before they'll go anywhere near it and I had it all bass ackwards.

I'll update with more accurate info and pictures tomorrow.

And...if anyone is highly intelligent, I wouldn't mind borrowing some of your brain power for a while, my brain cells are all deflated.

What I have done in the past - is to have a notepad with me, where-in I scribble as we talk, and then immediately after the vet appt I go to a coffee shop or something like that, and write out everything in long hand.

But gosh we have cell phones now that can record conversations, so maybe ask the vet if you can record your Q and A and then you have a permanent record.

I did that for Magic with Dr Chris Zinc and it is fantastic to be able to review what was asked and answered. I also videotaped the physical examination and testing she did.

Please keep us updated and good luck to both of you

I think that is a very good idea Gemy...I need to get a notebook methinks.

I'd base most of my decision on long term prognosis as predicted by an ortho surgeon. I would not fix a deformity just for the sake of fixing it. i'd fix it if not doing so would result in likely long term problems.

:thumbup::thumbup: I'm relieved that the OP has more time to consider this and isn't being rushed into a quick decision after all.

after reading the thread I am sure glad you have some time !

I would do the surgery... but I would look at the quality of life and long term problems to make my decision. I am sure you will do what is best!!! Good luck

I have had to make that decision with my beloved Yellow Lab// we had both of her hips replaced because of Hip dysplasia// it was difficult but in the long run it was well worth it for her// your pup is very lucky to have you as her owner

I'm sorry everyone, I meant to update this but there won't be anything to update until later today. The vet had an emergency pet to tend to so we had to be canceled...it happens. We're going in today at 3:30 and I'll know more after that (hopefully).

"bring her back in 2 weeks" gee that's helpful!:thumbdown:mad:

The bad news: More issues to add to the equation.

The good news: She's not in pain and loves to play.

More issues:

- open fontanelle (no swelling and no sign of water on the brain)
- incisors are still not through the gumline
- all her legs are far too short for a 9 week pup (and she is now 9 weeks)


Possibilities:

- She could have dwarfism (non-pituitary?) but the lateral rotation (deformed paw) is unrelated and he believes it to be injury-induced (but that the injury has since healed incorrectly, causing the turn). It occurs at her paw - not her knee or shoulder so they do not believe it is related to whatever is causing her other legs to be shorter than they should be at nine weeks.

Or

- She was simply guesstimated inaccurately with regard to age by the shelter & may be younger by as much as a couple of weeks. Her appearance, demeanor and growth appears to be that of a 6 week old puppy UNLESS she has dwarfism.

They want to see her in 2 weeks to check her soft spot, incisors & get more x-rays to see how her legs are growing or if they're stunted or bowed, or growing in a way that would indicate dwarfism.


Final Diagnosis: don't know!

I'm to bring her in straight away if her head appears to be swelling or if she doesn't respond to general hand motions...or if she begins vomiting or anything else that does not coincide with normal puppy behavior.

I'm ALL for rescuing animals - but wow this is frustrating with so many "unknowns". It's enough to drive a person to drink.

Okay. That was quite a bit to absorb. I would think that the open fontalle should have been ddx'd by the shelters vet. Have you told them yet about her health issues? Specially the fontanelle, and the age concern?

ANd to not make too moot a point, that if her age is correct, she maybe suffering from dwarfism? I think the shelter should want to know these things. If only to better inform their own assessments.

But for you and your gal just hang in there, to see what may develop. Which I do know is a hard spot to be in.

(((Hugs))))

WOW that is alot to digest. I will most certainly say prayers for your baby.

The open fontanel (spelling?) was noted, yes - but they said not to worry because she had no water on the brain (still doesn't). The reason it's a new factor in the equation is because an open fontanel by itself isn't all that rare, but when it's accompanied by short legs, lack of incisors and a stunted appearance it can be an indicator of other things - such as dwarfism that he was referring to.

Right now it's a "wait and see". He did not say she has dwarfism or that he believed she did - he said she *could*, due to the factors involved. So it's sit and wait.

I'm choosing to believe (for now) that she's simply younger than what she was assessed at. He said it was a possibility also, but he kinda had a wrinkled nose when he said it. I still choose to believe that until proven otherwise.

We took her to the vet with us this morning when we took Bella.

We have decided on the name Gypsy for the new puppy (we had picked Twix before but decided it wasn't her). So Gypsy it is.

This morning we saw a different vet (same veterinary clinic) and *he* said she does not have her incisors in yet because she's tiny, and it's common in toy breeds to not get their incisors in by now. He said he'd worry if they haven't broken the gumline by 12 weeks (she's 10 weeks tomorrow). He said her teeth are right near the surface so he's not worried. :D

Her open fontanel appears to be closing but is not closed yet (but is a smaller area than it was previously). He said it'd be awesome if it closed completely but that even if it didn't...there are many dogs with open fontanels and they get along just fine.

He said he doesn't believe she has dwarfism or any other sort of stunted limb disease or issue - he said she's just tiny and sometimes it takes them a little longer to catch up. Her elbows and knees would be showing some sort of sign by now if she had dwarfism.

Lastly...that paw is still 'deformed' in the wrist joint but for some reason she's pointing it more forward than she was last week - which is good.

We are still "wait and see" but I thought everything he said was extremely good news so I wanted to post it.

(I think he might have more experience with tiny dogs than the others)

With regard to Bella - poor thing had a very upset tummy last night and this morning (coming out both ends) so we took her in when they opened. She also has a little yeasty beasty in her ear because one ear does not stand. This is the second time she's been in for it, and I have no idea why she's getting it since I haven't been running water over her head for the last year. They gave her Mometamax for her ear, and I can't read his writing on the pills she has. Byl...something and Fleyl ? something ...for her upset tummy, and a can of Prescription Diet w/d Gastrointestinal. She's not to eat or drink anything for 8 hours after her last vomit which was 2 hours ago...so another 6 hours and she can get some food and water.

All in all... a great morning.

Happy to hear that the prognosis for Gypsy is looking better. Praying that it is a matter of her being younger than the original estimate, and that her paw will improve.

Sorry to hear that Bella is sick, and praying she will recuperate quickly. Is the medication Flagyl? I don't have any experience with it, but I think that is the one I have seen mentioned relative to upset tummies and intestines.

Regarding her yeasty ear, I know you are concerned about getting water in her ears in the bath. I try to avoid water in the ears, but they still need to be cleaned or my guys will get yellow waxy gunk that could lead to an infection. I comb the ear daily with a flea comb that removes wax and debris. We also use an ear cleaner with a drying agent after baths or as needed. Vet Solutions is a good brand.

I used to worry so much about water in the ears, but after considering how many Yorkies and other dogs swim, I stopped worrying. Haven't had any problems.

Best wishes to your babies.

Thank you very much, Maximo.

I do clean their ears, but I just don't pour water over their heads anymore...I didn't think about swimming dogs though - good point. Usually I pluck out the hair from the inside of their ears (it doesn't seem to hurt them and it's what the vet said to do) so I do that, and I also take a warm cloth and clean out what I can see (I don't stick anything in the ear canal though). Apparently it's not good enough because Bella has a yeasty beasty in just the one ear again (the one that does not stand up). =/ She did great for a long while but it crept back up.

I'll look into vet solutions - ty for the info!!