Broken Toe

[TC]

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Hi All,

Just after some honest advice really, please.

In the last couple of months I trialled my dog at Andover twice ( x 2 runs) They were happy with how he was running (I was over the mmon at how keen and focused he was) and we were all set to try him with another dog at the next meeting.

However, he broke his toe three weeks ago yesterday, and has a pin and wire in situ now. All is looking good, and hopefully xrays next Wednesday will show that the bone has fused and we can lose the splint, albeit still keeping him restricted.

The vet and I have already discussed that should the surgery not be successful, I would not want to go ahead and repin, but to amputate. She agrees with this route, but this is all by-the-bye as we don't know what Wednesday will bring.

I intend to have a course of hydrotherapy for a while once the bandages are off, to try and tone him up again without impacting on the toe, and my aim is to have him back to where he was in terms of his fitness levels and being able to run freely without pain or discomfort. We will build up the walking slowly, as I don't want him to overdo anything.

He is very much a "live wire" and it has been hell keeping him from jumping around on it. It is his right hind foot 2nd digit.

I am fully prepared for him not to be able to race, although I will be very disappointed for him, as he truly enjoyed himself and ran like a trooper :wub: Should he run again, I think that it would only be straight and also that the ground would have to be soft. I need to know if I am being completely paranoid, or whether there are people out there who's dogs have snapped their toe off and have ended up being fine.................

Does anyone have any experience of how they went about rehabilitating their dog after a toe injury like this?

I understand that what may work for one would not work for another, but would really appreciate any first hand info.

Thanks so much

Tracy

 

[Judy]

I know that many dogs have raced again after a broken toe but the best thing might be for you to see a greyhound vet such as Simon Gower up at Swindon race track.

 

[Joanna]

I agree with Judy, and would like to add my Orthopaedic nursing side.

If I were to ask you if you would be happy for your GP to wire your toe (he has probably assisited a few times in the op, might have even done a few, would you think it a bit of a risk. If he said he wanted to refer you to an expert orthopaedic surgeon, you might feel happier. Some vets have specialised in certain areas, I am lucky to have a small animal orthopaedic vet at my practice, but I would STILL take mine to the greyhound vet. The knowledge and experience in a specialised area is going to be far more than your general vet will have. Perhaps you could discuss it with your vet, or just give Simon Gower a call. He is very cheap compared to a general vet and it would cost you less than £15 for a consultation

 

[TC]

Hi Ladies, thanks for this :thumbsup:

Probably should have said that I have already spoken to Simon and am seeing him next week. The vet that operated on Ollie IS an orthopaedic surgeon with sighthound experience, and I am more than happy with her knowlege and experience I was also really pleased with the 'after' shots having seen many a repair in my time as a vet nurse. It's just so different this time round as it's my own dog (w00t)

The consultation with Simon Gower is so that he can work with me on a rehabilitation programme, but my vet is happy for me to take the xrays with me, so he will see exactly what she has done.

I just wanted to get a bit of feedback from anyone who had been through this as well as they might have a few pointers. Also, I was wondering if I was going to have quite a few replies telling me that I shouldn't race maybe?

Thanks

Tracy

 

[TC]

He is very cheap compared to a general vet and it would cost you less than £15 for a consultation

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I had no idea of the cost for seeing him as I didn't ask when we spoke, so thank you very much for this information. I am suprised that he is so cheap, but also quite pleased as well :- "

 

[~elizabeth~]

We're pretty much in the same boat, I'm just trying to put it out of my head until the plaster comes off and it can be properly assessed. We see Bartholomew in Oxford, he couldn't be persuaded to give an opinion whether the dog will run competitively again until he sees how it has healed. If it doesn't heal properly, the options are apparently a £1500 operation at a specialist unit in the Midlands to rebuild the joint, or amputation. The consultation is £15, and the x-ray/setting was just over £100.

 

[June Jonigk]

I've had a whippet with a broken toe, which didn't need pinning, but was strapped for the duration - she went on to have a good racing life - she was never fast, so I couldn't tell you if it affected her performance :- "

I also have a dog racing now who damaged the end joint of the toe - after an x-ray my own vet suggested an amputation, but he intended removing the whole toe. I went down to Simon Gower who removed the end joint, and sewed the pad back on the end. I stayed with him during the op, and two weeks later he was desperate to run again! We did make him wait for 3 weeks, but he has never looked back It has not affected his performance at all.

Both of these dogs toes were on front feet, and I suppose back feet do more work pushing off from traps etc.

:luck: Good luck to both dogs for a speedy recovery, and a return to the track.