She's a 5 month old Boxer/Pit Bull mix. She was jumping up to get a toy I was holding up in the air. When she came down and landed in her foot, she slipped and fell, then screamed non-stop for about a minute straight.
X-rays the next day confirmed it was a torn ACL and fractured Tibial Crest (in many little pieces). Has anyone had this experience with their dog/puppy? What do I have to look forward to? Anything I can do to make her chances of a full recovery better?
Doc says she can't have surgety 'til she's done growing...that's not for about another 6-7 months! Ugh!
2006-12-04 02:21:41 · 5 answers · asked by waitin4payday 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Strangely the clinic I work for had two puppies come in with very similar injuries, also both pit mixes. They were slightly older, but they were both repaired. If your vet is not an orthopedic specialist or does not regularly do orthopedic repairs, I would consult with a specialist. There may still be nothing they can do, depending on where the break is, how it may affect the growth plate, and how stable the leg can be made until it can be surgically repaired. This is a pretty major break, and will affect the dog the rest of its life. You owe it to her and yourself to make sure you are comfortable with the vet, and the diagnosis. If that means that you have to seek a second opinion, I would recommend doing so. A good doctor will respect your desire to seek a second opinion, and should give you the supporting information to take to another vet. Good luck, it can be stressful and scary having to deal with such a difficult diagnosis, especially at such a young age.
2006-12-04 02:45:16 · answer #1 · answered by skachicah35 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with skachicah you should go see an orthopedic specialist if your current DVM wasn't one for this case for at least a surgery consult. At the clinic I work at the orthopedic surgeons repair broken tibial crests in puppies all the time depending on the type of fracture. There are repair methods that can minimize the affect on the growth plate which your DVM is correct to be concerned about. Just keep in mind despite this depending on how much damage was done to the tibial crest's growth plate from the fall there is a potential that there will be some deformity in that leg as your puppy grows. Good luck with your puppy.
2006-12-04 11:50:12 · answer #2 · answered by Needmorelove 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know this won't relate to a puppy but when I read this I had to see what the additional details were .... I feel June 2/06 down some stairs... Now I know you're wondering why I'm tellin you about my fall... well, there is somethign I have in common with your puppy...When I fell, I fractured my Tibial Plateau (as the surgeon put it) and tore my ACL.... I can tell you that your puppy won't look forward to this one bit! I am still doing physiotherapy and walking with crutches. With the ACL being torn, I was told I couldn't put weight on my leg for at least 10 weeks after my surgery. I spent a lot of time being pretty much bedridden for that reason (leg in a splint so I couldn't bend it and it was a pain to move with).
I had a dog who, when she was a pup, ran onto the street and got hit by a car (just tire grazed her leg) and she ended up in a cast for a while with a broken leg.... She adjusted quickly to having the cast and not being able to play, and when she grew up she still was playful so if it helps, there is hope that she won't grow out of her puppy phase too quickly.
I wish you all the luck with your puppy and just know that you're going to have to have a lot of patience with her. Things will be different for a while until she can have surgery but try to make her life as happy as possible.... play time will be hard on her but she'll have to get used to having minimal play time so she doesn't further agrivate it.
2006-12-04 02:37:45 · answer #3 · answered by jessicadiamond_4einc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on her size she may not require surgery. The fracture sounds too badly shattered for repair. She may do just fine until old age (arthritis) and only time at this point will tell. The pain will subside if you keep her calm and crated for a few weeks. Don't allow her to re-injure it over and over or surgery WILL be your only option. If she never recovers in a six month period she will require surgery to repair. The quieter you keep her now the better she will be regardless of the outcome.
2006-12-04 02:32:15 · answer #4 · answered by st.lady (1 of GitEm's gang) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Poor baby. But yes, this can happen and it's going to be very hard to restrict her activity, being a pup! I wish you luck.
2006-12-04 02:25:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋