Murphy Back leg is HURT!! Need INPUT Please

[Katharine]

My Murphy who is 7 yrs old weights 5 lbs jumped off the sofa and landed wrong well thats my best guess, his left back leg he holds up alot.
I took him to the vets and and they gave him an exam, no x-ray, said he did not break anything or they dont believe a fracture is there. More likely a sort of soft tissue injury.
He was given Metacam and told to keep him crated and watch he does not try to jump on it for a week.
He does at times put the leg down and you can tell he does not have full weight on it as he looks like he is tippy toed.

Anyone have this, and does it get better after a week? They told me if he hurt his hip he would cry or yelp. X-Rays dont show soft tissure injurys.
I am worried, they missed something... they did not pin-point the exact injured spot.
Losing sleep....

[Yorkiemom1]

I am a "crazy, over protective, worry wart with an over active imagination".....so I go in with a sick or injured dog, the conversation always eventually includes the phrase, "If it will make you feel better, we can .........., but I do not think you really need to do that, but if it is going to keep you sane, we will ceretainly do it". And we usually do the procedure, especially if it is non invasive like xrays....you cant tell soft tissue damage, but you can see out of socket joints, hair line fractures, etc.... I have done several procedures that turned out to be "a waste of money"....but then, can you put a price on peace of mind?

[Maximo]

I too would have xrays done to rule out any bone injuries.

Best wishes for your little guy.

[Katharine]

Thanks everyone, I am going to call my vet tomorrow and tell them I would feel a whole lot better if xrays were taken, money is not the issue, my baby health is important to me.

[yorkiemini]

Agree. The vet can't say it is NOT broken if they do not do an X-ray, and if it is broken they need to treat it accordingly.

[MauiGirl]

Originally Posted by Katharine

Thanks everyone, I am going to call my vet tomorrow and tell them I would feel a whole lot better if xrays were taken, money is not the issue, my baby health is important to me.

Good call! I would always rather have a wasted x-ray or test than an untreated break.

That being said, my Tiki fell off my bed and landed wrong when she as just under a year old. Vet confirmed nothing was broken, but she limped for 2 weeks, and I feel that foot/leg is still a little splayed now at 6 years old.

[chestermama]

I would want a xray

[megansmomma]

I would do the crate rest and Metacam to see how he does. If he still only toe touching then I'd ask for an orthopedist referral to check for a possible CCL tear.

[107barney]

Sorry, I disagree here with advice to have an X-ray done. It sounds like a ligament tear (partial or full) and as Megansmomma said, you should get a consult w/ an ACVS boarded surgeon for a consult. An X-ray to properly visualize the area is done pre surgically under anesthesia. You can call your vet back and ask them if they noticed any "cranial draw or tibial thrust" -- those are two clinical findings that can sometimes can be felt by a general vet on exam. Some general vets are not good at picking this up. Some are good at it, and can even pick up a click if a meniscus is torn (cartilage).

Either way, metacam and crate rest for a week is ok, but if it is a torn then it's best to get an opinion sooner rather than later from a surgeon.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Sorry, I disagree here with advice to have an X-ray done. It sounds like a ligament tear (partial or full) and as Megansmomma said, you should get a consult w/ an ACVS boarded surgeon for a consult. An X-ray to properly visualize the area is done pre surgically under anesthesia. You can call your vet back and ask them if they noticed any "cranial draw or tibial thrust" -- those are two clinical findings that can sometimes can be felt by a general vet on exam. Some general vets are not good at picking this up. Some are good at it, and can even pick up a click if a meniscus is torn (cartilage).

Either way, metacam and crate rest for a week is ok, but if it is a torn then it's best to get an opinion sooner rather than later from a surgeon.

Absolutely. The first thing that I thought is that a CCL tear might not show up on an x-ray, and would require an orthopedic specialist to diagnose. If Murphy isn't better in a week, definitely get him to a specialist.

[Yorkiemom1]

A vet can do a thorough exam on the leg and thru a series of ROM movements, can determine if there is a tear/partial tear/rupture to a ligament....while an xray will not visualize a damaged ligament, if the ligament has torn away and taken any debris of bone with it, that WILL be evident on xray, as will fluid/blood accumulation in/around the joints. Hopefully, your vet did the ROM exercises that can be really helpful in diagnosising a torn/ruptured ligament. determining if a consult with an ortho specialist is perhaps warranted.

[Katharine]

Hi everyone, well I called first thing this morning, and <urphy will be seen by his Vet tomorrow, the Vet who was on call was the one who saw him on Saturday.

She may be a wonderful vet, however I am used to his vet, took me a very long time to find someone who I could trust with my Murphy, and I finally found him. Besides the on call vet told me after the exam she felt he has a soft tissuse injury...my mind wonders...I did ask for an Xray and she told me to wait for aweek, but soft tissue injury will not show up on an xray.

She could be right, but I lose sleep ...not sure if she is right. So I will take him to see his vet and I am going to ask for XRAYS! and some explaining if its a soft tissue injury (what the heck does this mean)

Will keep you posted ...thank you everyone for your input

[Katharine]

Hello everyone,

well I took Murphy to see his vet, which suggested Xrays right away, he showed me the xrays and explained that Murphy has no arthitis anywhere at the moment, and the xrays were so clear, he took them of his hips and legs and feet, just in case something else was hurt. He said Murphy has a Luxating Patella in that leg which he hurt from the fall and it seems to be mild. He did a very thorough good exam of Murphys legs and body.

Murphy is taking Metacam and the Vet said keep him crated, I do keep him in the crate alot but I do take him out to be with me on an area rug and when he goes outside to potty. He crys and barks alot, he is not used to the crate.

The vet said crate for 2 weeks but once that is done I wonder how I am going to keep him from jumping. Any suggestions???