The Castle Rock MARE-TERNITY WARD
Message Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: Chanda on August 13, 2017, 12:14:29 PM
-
7 weeks ago, Shayne's stock dog, Rough, broke his leg; so we took him to the vet on Sunday at 7am, so emergency vet after hours call. Vet x-rayed, set, and cast his leg. He was given antibiotics for 10 days for infections as there was a cut on his leg; and sent home with sedatives and pain relievers. He's hardly needed the pain relievers. Used a few sedatives the first couple weeks, then he was fine, then the last week before his check-up he needed more sedatives as he was getting wound up. At his 6 week check-up, only half the break was healed, and part of it had slipped out of place, so wasn't healing as it should (vet figured it slipped in the cast after the swelling came down during the first week); so he was cast again last Tuesday at that appointment. Now, it looks like his cast has slipped down; I can't feel his toes through the hole in the bottom of the cast, they are a good inch probably from the bottom of the cast. Don't need another emergency call fee, so gave him a sedative today and will call the vet first thing in the morning. He's a Heeler; so he's a high energy, tough stock dog, but this is getting difficult. oh, and we added calcium supplement this round to see if it would help him heal better.
Just had to vent a little, wish us luck with the next vet visit, cause if it doesn't go well, we may have to put him down; it's not really in the budget for another round of expensive vet work. Vet didn't know if it would heal or not at this point, since it didn't in the first 6 weeks, but that slip caused a bigger gap to fill in with callous.
-
Sounds like a rough situation :( (forgive the pun, just realised that is his name!!) i hope its healing a little better than expected. These type of proper working dogs wont survive with 3 legs and still work and dont make good couch dogs, so i have no problem with your end game methods. You have to think whats best for the actual animal not think all mushy about it.
-
Not sure what our next move is, it's up to Shayne.
Rough got his cast off this afternoon; it slid the rest of the way off, or rather he probably pulled it off the rest of the way. I did call the vet, and talked to her, she said if possible slide the cast back on, but if not, to keep him in his kennel and quiet and bring him in first thing in the morning. Even if we could get the cast back on, I don't know that he'll leave it alone til morning, anyway. Darn dog.
Wish the vet would have left the ratty first cast on, it was staying in place, even if very dirty. :o
-
Oh I know how your feeling Chanda.
Poor rough , hope hes on the mend. When my boxer broke her leg , it was all after hours costs and then emergency surgery. I had to hold off on ordering the Kitchen.
-
Oh I know how your feeling Chanda.
Poor rough , hope hes on the mend. When my boxer broke her leg , it was all after hours costs and then emergency surgery. I had to hold off on ordering the Kitchen.
Rough broke his leg before 7am on Sunday, 7 weeks ago. We were in town, saw the vet, cast the dog and home by 10:30am. Vet is 60 miles away. It was a whirlwind, after hours, emergency fees day, and then he didn't heal in 6 weeks, so we had to go again, this time his cast didn't make a week. >:( :o
-
Sure hope all turns out well for y'all.
-
Hope the vet can do something to save poor Rough. Keep us posted! ;pray ;pray
-
I wish Rough would behave and help save himself, but being a high-energy stock dog, keeping him cooped up, even with sedatives, isn't easy. vet sent us home with some ACE, he didn't really need it til the last couple weeks, and now it seems he needs every bit the vet allows to keep him calm enough to allow it to heal.
I went to bed early last night, so I could get plenty of sleep to be up early and head off to town first thing this morning. I didn't sleep worth a darn last night, so I'm dog tired this morning. Will check a couple things on the computer, eat breakfast, then head out to feed horses and barn cats, so I can take off for town pretty early. [Won't get there when they open at 8AM, but it shouldn't be too long after that.]
-
We got the vet to put him in a splint, so if he manages to get it off again, we can rewrap and hopefully save a trip to the vet. She also sent him home with more sedatives, and directions for a stronger dose, should he need it (he's pretty crocked right now from the vet's sedation, so quiet for the moment), and a couple rolls of Elasticon sticky bandage.
If you guys have more ideas for "no chew" products, fire away. I don't have it on hand, but know about bitter apple, which doesn't always work. I have Irish Spring soap, which was recommended at one time to stop horses from chewing on boards. Tobasco has been recommended, we don't have any, besides he'd probably like it. And, I have Schreiner's Herbal Wound spray, which I'm pretty sure tastes nasty, it's alcohol based, and I sprayed it on a wound on a barn cat, and she made the most awful face when she licked herself after, so it might work.
-
Poor fella, hope things soon improve for him - and you. x
-
When Laila broke her leg I had to use the sedatives to keep her calm. Being a boxer she was trying to bounce off the walls and it was a mission in itself trying to keep her calm let alone the leg to heal.
I had a little trouble in the beginning and ended up asking for stronger sedatives, which did the trick. I had one of those Elizabethan collars on for a week and that really helped. By the time I took the collar off she had stopped trying to get at the cast.
Maybe you could get something from the feed store that he can chew ( toy or long lasting bone chew). Just thinking of something along the lines of distracting him from the leg.
Hope a good nights sleeps is headed your way tonight. Ive been awake siince 2:30am so roll on 5pm :)
-
Just sending prayers. No brilliant ideas! ;pray ;pray ;pray ;pray and a few extra for good measure ;pray ;pray ;pray ;pray
-
Rough didn't touch his first cast, but that second cast he was annoyed by it from the beginning. We'll see how he does with this splint. The vet did go with stronger sedative this time. He's doing ok tonight, but we have four weeks to get through.
-
Just checking in to see how the patient is doing ? :)
-
Not too bad. Lightly sedated to be safe, he's had his 2-3 constitutionals, and I just ordered a couple dental chews and busy toys to keep him occupied. After I feed horses, it'll be time to take him for another walk before we're in for the night.
-
I've been saying my prayers, that Rough will begin to heal. I also pray that his energy will remain calm.
He's a partner in your operation as well as your lives. To lose him would be quite a blow. As a worker, he doesn't understand the forced rest. Hopefully, the sedatives will accomplish what you can't explain to him.
-
We had a touch of rain today, so Rough's cast needs a raincoat (bread sack and a rubber band). ;)
Shayne walked him over to the semi and back, a couple hundred feet probably; but definitely further than a couple trips around the house.
-
thats the same raincoat I used for Laila, worked well :)
Good to hear he is "out and about"
-
Still praying hard for him ;pray ;pray
-
It's not off, but didn't make a week and he's chewing on it. Stinker. Going to have to try a few products to discourage chewing; I have Irish spring soap and an icky wound spray on hand, will probably need to find more.
-
Perhaps if you wrap it in chicken wire? Then he couldn't get through the wire, I would hope? Just a thought that just came to me, since I was doing a little outside "gardening" -- not real gardening, just pulling weeds.
-
Perhaps if you wrap it in chicken wire? Then he couldn't get through the wire, I would hope? Just a thought that just came to me, since I was doing a little outside "gardening" -- not real gardening, just pulling weeds.
Might discourage him chewing, but not sure how we'd do that where the area is at. We put him back in the cone of shame, much to his displeasure.
-
We rewrapped his leg and still put him back in the cone of shame. I did buy some distraction toys for him, but need some peanut butter for the Kong toy, or the treats just fall out of it, and he's bored again very quick. I need a few more stuffies for the Kong and maybe he'll be able to be out of the cone for longer periods. I don't know how we'll survive another 3 weeks and Hope it's healed this time or at least has a good callous going.
-
;pray ;pray ;pray ;pray
-
I wish I had more tips to offer. The only idea I had was putting him in one of those sling roller thingies like they do crippled dogs (though I've only seen them used for hindquarters.) He could roll all around the farm that way, without ruining his leg. Like Diane, I'm doing the prayers too.
-
I wish I had more tips to offer. The only idea I had was putting him in one of those sling roller thingies like they do crippled dogs (though I've only seen them used for hindquarters.) He could roll all around the farm that way, without ruining his leg. Like Diane, I'm doing the prayers too.
It is his back leg, right below the hock; he broke across the growth plate area. He's 2-3 years old, now, so should be done growing at least.
I did find doggy splints and wrap braces on-line, so might look into those for after the cast splint comes off.
-
Just checking in to see how Rough is doing. Have you found a way to keep him occupied, and not chewing his leg? Is he still in the cone? When I got Drake neutered, I couldn't keep him in his cone. He kept smashing into everything, and couldn't eat or drink without it being a big drama--and mess. He was good though, and didn't pick at his stitches. Poor Rough! I'm sure he hates his cast with a passion!!
-
The chew toys and treat toys are not enough of a distraction to keep him from picking at his cast, so he's basically living in his cone of shame, which is about destroyed from running into stuff. [We have a nearly new cone of shame from another dog's vet visit from several years ago, so have a back-up.] He's not food motivated enough for treat balls or treat filled Kong toy to occupy him. I filled the Kong the other day with tasty dog food and treats and blocked the fill hole with a little peanut butter, it dropped it on the floor and looked at me like I was trying to poison him, he'd only lick at it if I held it, so that didn't work. [However, my dog, Brie, thought the treat filled Kong was the best thing since sliced bread.]
Not sure if we'll have to change his splint again this week or not; had to last week, it was gross (found out he'd peed on it when I was removing the old splint), and it stunk to high heaven.
Just keep praying, that closer supervision, calcium pills and more rest is getting the job done, so he can get out of the cast when this 4 weeks is up (we are almost two weeks into this stretch). [Even if we have to continue to keep him kenneled, if he can be out of his splint, it'll help a lot.]
-
;pray
-
Need to call the vet about more sedatives tomorrow, she only sent us home with 2 weeks worth, when she told us he'd be in the splint for 4 weeks. Going to ask about using Benadryl, it's OTC, and usually makes dogs sleepy, so it might work. Not sure if it has side effects that would be worse than the sedatives he's on now.
It'll be a blessing when he's out of the splint, even if we have to continue to keep him quiet, if he doesn't have to wear the cone of shame, it'll help.
-
Cross your fingers and toes, Rough goes back to the vet Monday, here's hoping and praying that he's healed enough to come out of the splint and cone. Even if he has to stay quiet for awhile longer, if he's out of the splint and cone, he'll be a happier dog; and there might be a little bit of sanity back in the house.
-
Duly crossed - good luck! ;pray
-
Me too ;pray
-
DITTO THAT !!!! ;pray ;pray
-
Hope it works, cause he's driving me batty. I'm sure we'll still have to watch him and keep him somewhat quiet for awhile after the splint is removed while his muscles fill back in, since they are skinny from lack of use; but that will be dealing with the cone of shame and the splint.
-
Drat, and double drat. Rough is in the 10% of canines that don't heal well from breaks. We are going to try the vet's suggestion and just go "naked" and see how he compensates for his problem, he's walking on it some, so we are going to wait and see. Our next option is amputation, then euthanasia; so, we'll see how he compensates.
We'll be keeping him quiet and see how he does. He's in his kennel now, but he probably has a couple more hours before he's fully awake from his sedative to take x-rays and removed his last splint.
I'll be looking into doggy sports wraps later this evening when I have time; but now it's back to work.
-
Some dogs just despise casts and splints so heres hoping that he comes leaps and bounds going naked.
;pray
-
Some dogs just despise casts and splints so heres hoping that he comes leaps and bounds going naked.
;pray
I sure hope so. I did find a dog hock support wrap, it's about $50, so will show it to Shayne and see what he thinks; it might it wrong for where his break is, but we'll look into it further.
-
How has he been Chanda ? Hope he is healing well.
-
How has he been Chanda ? Hope he is healing well.
Not sure how much healing is going on, but he's coping great. We are still trying to keep him a bit quite, so he can rebuild muscle and support is bum leg. He does walk on it some, but packs it some if he's running.
-
Its a great sign that he has been putting some weight onto the leg. Fingers crossed hes back to running around in no time. Good idea keeping him quiet, I did with my dog.
-
Sounds like there's some positive healing going on. Continuing to pray that he behaves and continues to heal. ;pray ;pray
-
Just checking to see if Rough has had some positive progress in the last week.
Do you have fall round up that he's accustomed to working in? Or is this the time of year where he normally just putters around? Like Diane, he's still on prayer list here, too.
-
Just checking to see if Rough has had some positive progress in the last week.
Do you have fall round up that he's accustomed to working in? Or is this the time of year where he normally just putters around? Like Diane, he's still on prayer list here, too.
He's a typical Heeler, he's 90 all the time, it's hard to slow him down. He's coping well, but I'm not sure how much healing we've got going on. We are keeping him away from cattle work til he has more time to build his muscle back up, which will hopefully stabilize his leg; he's missed a couple cattle moves, but might be able to start back at it by the time we are ready to ship calves in late November or early December.
-
I've thought about Rough quite a bit this week. How's he doing? Will he be able to help when you ship calves?
I do hope he's on the mend.......
-
I've thought about Rough quite a bit this week. How's he doing? Will he be able to help when you ship calves?
I do hope he's on the mend.......
He's using it, some. He walks on it. Sometimes he'll pack it after running hard. Not sure if Shayne will use him when we ship or not, it's coming up in a couple weeks, so not sure if he wants to wait longer or not. It's healing crooked, but he seems to be fine with it. Don't know if we will or not, but it would be interesting to see x-rays in the spring.
-
Nothing new to report on Rough, he's doing pretty good, but gets too excited still to help much with the cows, as he'll overdo.
We brought cows in from the hay field out back, and I found Jersey's jingle bell collar that she lost at least two years ago (might be 3-4 years), a bit weathered, but still intact and jingly. She probably lost it bringing cows in from the field.
-
Sounds like he is making good progress :)