my dad is a trucker and he has a chiuaua.He dont carry him, he lets him run around, and he said he listens to him, which he does,but when he sees another dog, he runs. he ran across the street and got hit. the woman got out and screamed.my dad thought he wasnt gonna make it, but the woman told him to take him to this vet.he did and he has a cast. my dad dont want him in that truck with a broken leg, and so hes letting him stay here with 3 chiuauas and one weiner dog who loves to play with him. i dont really know what to do, or how to take care of him. i have some ideas, but i need more. please help me.
2006-09-08 07:09:57 · 13 answers · asked by Porky 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Basically you want to limit his activity, cage rest is often recommended for most of the day. Do you know how the leg was set? If it was only set and cast and not fixated in some way (bone plates are common in toy breeds) you can NOT let him play at all for the first 4-6 weeks. He can easily knock the bones out of position and he will be in bad shape after that (if there is a non-union or mal-union he will require surgery)
Post-op care for leg fractures is mostly rest and limited activity. Fixated legs allow for more activity but still require cage rest in the early stages of recovery. He will need follow up x-rays as well, to make sure the leg is healing properly. Do not let him jump on or off of anything, avoid stairs or drop offs, do not let him play or run or jump.
If he does have a bone plate he will be able to walk easily after a few days, and for the first week or two he needs to have his actions severly restricted, and then he needs to begin an aggressive walking regimine to ensure proper union occurs. < -- the walking is ONLY for an ESF or bone plate.
He could also have a pin in his leg, which would also change his outlook and care... it's hard to tell you exactly what to do without knowing more... in general, restrict his activity even though he is going to hate it. He will hate it much worse if he needs a surgery and even longer healing time.
The vet who set the leg should have given you post-op care advice, often printed out. If he didn't, call the vet who did the procedure and ask him specifically. Leg fractures vary in many, many ways depending on position, type of fracture, complications, age of dog, method of reduction and or fixations, and others... your best bet is to ask the vet who fixed him. He is the only one who knows all of the details and he will be more than willing to talk over post-op care with you.
2006-09-08 07:21:56 · answer #1 · answered by tripforyou 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Chihuahuas are very fragile. If the bone doesn't heal properly the first time, the leg may have to be amputated. Keep him confined and don't let him play with the other dogs. No jumping, no running, and only short leash walks just to go to the bathroom. If it's raining, put a plastic bag over the cast to keep it dry. He needs LOTS of rest on a comfortable dog bed or pillow.
The cast needs to be checked regularly. Call the vet - they should be happy to tell you what to do and follow-up exams are usually free. Check his foot every day - make sure there is no swelling above or below the cast. Make sure that his foot is the same temperature as his other feet - if it's not, the cast may be cutting off the circulation.
2006-09-08 08:28:56 · answer #2 · answered by Danger, Will Robinson! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to take the dog to the vet every week for them to check the leg. They may need to sedate him to remove the cast, or they may just take an x-ray through the cast to see how the leg is healing. It's really important that they check the leg and make sure that it is knitting together correctly, because if it starts to heal together wrong, his leg may come out crooked and he won't be able to use it as well, plus it may not be as strong if it's in the wrong position. He should also probably be on antibiotics and pain meds, so talk to your dad about taking him to the vet to get these. With dogs, broken legs tend to heal up pretty well, but some dogs need to have surgery to repair it. If you don't take care of it right, he will probably need surgery. If you have more concerns, talk to your vet. They can reasure you about what you should be doing and when and how to take care of the cast, etc.
2006-09-08 07:15:25 · answer #3 · answered by Lauren M 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There's really nothing special you have to do, other than try to keep the dog fairly quiet. This is not always possible, though. I have had two dogs in casts, and they did just fine. I did have to wrap the dog's leg in a plastic bag when she went out to keep the cast dry, but other than that, nothing special. They played with the other dogs and I only had to intervene if things got too rough. You might consider getting a crate or a child gate for the doorway to seperate the dogs if they get too rowdy.
2006-09-08 07:16:42 · answer #4 · answered by searchpup 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
Your chihuahua (or any dog for that matter) needs to be isolated from the other dogs. He can easily re-break his leg which would require a metal plate being surgically implanted in his arm.
I know that chihuahuas are pretty spunky (I have 3 myself) but he really needs "down time" to get his leg mended.
Also - when he has to go to the bathroom, put a plastic bag over the cast and then a sock over that to keep him from sliding. You should do that even when he goes outside because the cast needs to be clean and dry.
The dog requires some extra care so don't be afraid to provide it.
Andrea
2006-09-08 07:22:32 · answer #5 · answered by Andrea_Canfield 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I understand that you are looking for some advice or resources to help fully train your dog or fix behavior problems. If a professional dog trainer is not an option at this time, or if you want to trt training your dog on your own (a great way to bond), I'd suggest you https://biturl.im/aUM7h
A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.
2016-06-01 07:36:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well first off you need to give him a lot of love. Even if he isnt your dog and you dont feel loving, animals feel this and helps them to heal quicker.
Second if you just keep him around you as much as possible and pet him and give him the proper meds he will be fine. Just make sure not to let him get around the other dogs too much so he doesnt get hurt screwing around.
Poor thing, hope he gets better soon.
2006-09-08 07:17:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you had a broken leg you would be uncomfortable too. I'm sure the vet gave you instructions on aftercare, follow them closely. If they forgot, call them in the morning and get it.
2016-03-27 03:04:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just make sure he doesn't play too much, he needs to let the leg heal first. Make sure he's comfortable, other than that, just watch him and do as the vet says.
2006-09-08 07:16:17 · answer #9 · answered by *~HoNeYBeE~* 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
just keep food and water at reach and give him a soft comfy bed
and chew toys
2006-09-08 07:16:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋