How will a broken toe affect his working career? - Page 1

Long story short: Hind foot, bigger "weight bearing" toe, clean break, not a fracture. If I let it heal naturally, can I expect it to break easily or often again in schutzhund training? Or, should I consider a metal pin to strengthen it, at the risk of possible infection?

With humans, broken toes (sometimes, fingers, too) are never pinned. Instead, they are "buddy-wrapped"--that is the broken toe is taped to the next unbroken toe for support while healing. I doubt that a dog would tolerate this. Give you dog a lay-off from training for about 6 weeks.

Louise, broken toes sometimes ARE pinned, but you're correct that the more usual treatment is to buddy wrap them. With the small bones of the toes, dislocations are more common than fractures, and pinning or some other way of holding the joint in place may be needed until it heals. Your vet is the best one to make that decision. If it's loose and flopping around, it's going to catch on things as the dog walks, and may never heal properly Most of MY broken toes have been caused by stepping over sleeping dogs, who decided to move at the wrong moment...

My male got two weight bearing hind toes broken at the 2nd joint. Since he was almost 8 it put an end to his Schutzhund "career" as the toes would refracture a bit when working. He was stepped on by a helper and we missed the original injury. They have healed enough that he is fine for everyday life, including limited jumping in and out of the car. Make sure whatever bone it is heals completely - if you get arthitic changes it can be painful in the long run. I know someone who opted to amputate the toe, but their dogs was the first joint.

It's a complete break, but not a dislocation at the joint, although it's not separated too terribly much. Rather, a bit "off axis". I guess what I really want to know, is an idea of how this may affect "the work", since I don't recall anyone's related experience with this. I wonder if anyone has dealt with this, and how it may have affected their performance in the sport? I forgot to mention, he's young still, about 5 & half months. Perhaps I should supplement as well with vitamin C.

I would wrap the dogs entire foot from above the pastern and incorporate a couple of aluminum splinting rods in the wrap--to take weight of the foot. Your vet should know how to do this. Be sure that there is a space for the foot to breath between the central toes--place cotton between the toes to keep them dry and from rubbing against each other. FYI, I had 5-month-old pup break a toe on a front foot. Never caused her any trouble.

But did this female pup go on thru schutzhund? The strength of a dogs push is from the rear and the rear feet and legs are the most important and get the terrific work out in a real hard working dog....I would be leary front foot is different....the power of the movement comes from the rear...excellent ofa hips are the proud carriers of extremely powerful dogs....and much looked for..so a broken toe might always keep croping up a bit of pain...unless you lay out for a good 6 mo.period...yes do supplement with ester c and raw meat fresh partially frozen. to make sure no ecoli....go on with the sport and try it....little at a time....saw a male once whose mom had bitten off part of end toes on rear when she bit off the umbilical chord. feet were in the way and she accidently got a toe...that male limped later as the nerve endings like in people try to grow back during growth spurts...a lot of athletes come back strong after rehabititation....so just be ready to have a plan on how to restart...

Yellowrose, just FYI, freezing does not kill E. coli, it only prevents it from multiplying. The bacteria can be present in either fresh or frozen meat. The only sure way of killing it is to cook the meat until all pinkness is gone.

iM aware of that fact , sunsilver..i read your thread last year also...i just like to reinterate when i tell someone to feed raw liver..some people dont think before they thaw raw meat...it is a dangerous diet but can be done ..Ive never had a sick dog...my baby pups I do simmer the liver for a few minustes till pink is gone and when they are older then procede to give raw...I cook some chicken,but a chicken neck or wing has never hurt any of my kids... I use kibble, and i read labels..I change foods when they dont work or a problem arrises..but i still put raw meat in all my dogs...and eggs, etc..

Hello! Just to make you feel better, hopefully, i have a related story: i work for an exspansive cattle, sheep, horse & hay ranch. My boss's border collie, mel, has broken her hind leg twice. I am aware that collies & gsds are very different in structure & weight & that schutzhund requires a huge amount of rear drive, but mel is an extremely hard working dog & the ranch lays over a large area of land that goes from level plains to rugged mountain terain. Mel's first break was at about five months & was set with a cast. The second required surgery to pin the lower thigh bone in place. My point is that mel is a well bred dog with extremely high drive & these injuries haven't slowed her down at all. My boss is also a vet & the health & well being of her animals is of the utmost importance & if mel were suffering she would be used as a brood bitch. It is my experience that as long as the dog has the drive to work, not much is going to slow them down. Mel is the hardest working dog we have because of this.