My dog broke his leg... - Page 2

Keep us up to date with how he's doing!!! And if he's turning into a big spoiled brat, so be it! Have you been able to find someplace for the hydrotherapy? IF not, look for a place that does animal rehab-they're bound to have one of those underwater treadmills...

Well I have 6 weeks to find something, before he is out of the splint. We go to the vets again Thursday to make sure the splint is on right, after the swelling went down. He does have sores on his elbow and knee, on the "good" side. I have to roll him onto the other side a few times a day to give him a break. Since his leg is stretched out strait in the splint, it's hard for him to lay down softly. He kinda just buckles his good legs and falls to the floor. He does try to use a wall to slide himself down. I thought about giving him a nice fat pet pillow/bed to lay on but he wouldn't be able to get accross it with his splint. I gave him an old comforter and folded it, to pad him from the carpet. This is next to my bed so he doesn't always lay on it. Right now he is really restless and up and down quite a bit. I get woken up a few times a nite, by a togue in my face or cold nose in my ear. Does anyone have any ideas how to make him more comfortable? When we go to the vets I will have them wrap his elbow so he stops licking it. I tried to and he had it off in a couple hrs. I have been putting ointment on it a few times a day. Trying to keep him from licking it off is fun...lol. I think it should be fine after we see the vet. It needs a couple days to scab up and form a callus is all.

You can try rolling up a comforter into a big round pillow and putting that up against the wall that he uses to get down. It helps them stay a little upright, without a lot of work. He's going to be restless - he's probably hurting (having broken bones, I can "feel" his pain..)and wants the reassurance from you. If he's moving around a lot,you may want to give him a very light dose of ACE or something along those lines. It's just enough to quiet them down and let them sleep through the night. My guy had a cast on after he had his elbow fixed and for the first week or so, that's what I did. They're not all drugged out but are mellowed a little so that they rest. These silly dogs just don't know when to stop! Of course, discuss it with your vet and see what they recommend. As for the sores, aloe vera works very well-it helps heal the sores and if they lick it, it won't hurt them.

Thanks Fly I use aloe and tea tree oil, keeps is soothed and clear of infection.

Update~dog is on his second splint. The first slipped off and had to be removed, by me for a day and put back on the next, by the vet. He had some nasty sores inside, from the rubbing and the airing out did him good the vet said. All is good so far with this try and he may get it off next Monday. Vet said the bone was mending normal and all should be fine. He is still going crazy from being left behind all the time. When I pull in the driveway all my neighbors know I am home. True Shepherd style. I'm lucky it has only rained once here, so keeping it dry was a sinch. When I had to tie a plastic bag to his leg he looked at me like I was some kinda nut. Thankfully he trusts me and left it alone, to do his business in the rain.

I'm so glad that he's doing great! It must be a big relief to hear from the vet that everything looks normal... Thanks for the update and hang in there. Obviously what you're doing for him is working. Oh, you think the plastic bag is bad, try having to put a t-shirt and socks on front feet on (to keep a cast and wound clean)...I wish had a camera for that look!

Oh I have lots of pics of him looking rediculous. He has even been laughed at twice that I heard, by passers by. One almost rolled their car. Sheesh it's just a splint! Poor guy. I can only take him out in public when it's dark it seems like.

4pack; one (1) question. Did the poor dog get everyone to autograph his splint? I am glad that he is better. Bob-O

Why didn't I think of that?

Just wanted to update everybody who was concerned about Trick... Tonight he did 2.6 miles at his own pace, which is faster than my showline on a good day. He doesn't raise his leg at all anymore and he doesn't even have a slight limp. You can still see the muscle difference on that side but I think he will be good as new, in another months time. Much quicker than I expected. I didn't think I would be able to work him out until spring. I guess he told me otherwise. Even the scars from the splint are almost gone. Sheeooohwee...what an ordeal that broken leg was. In the end, it all worked out. I was kinda worried when we had to go have it put back on once and then removed again, earlier than the vet intended. In all he only wore the splint for 5 weeks. Vet said in the beggining, 6-8 weeks. I gave him the full 8, not excersising at all out of his run. After that we walked farther and farther. When he finaly put the foot down for good, I let him jog if he wanted, of course he did. After a week of jogging at his discretion, I threw in the leash and let him do what he wanted. No Hydro therapy, just a few PT massages from me in the beggining. Not what I would expect from the typical dog but he is and always has been, in perfect shape. I laugh at the AD. After all, look at the Iditerod(sp) dogs and what they put in, in a days work. I'd like to see the Sv up the standards for the GSD.