Cut Foot Ligaments

[Macha]

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There is a lamentable amount of rubbish, including broken glass, near where I live; it's unavoidable. One of my dogs has been quite seriously injured by stepping on something. He wasn't even running, just walking (but off lead). I had a horrible time trying to stop the bleeding, getting the other 2 dogs home and the injured dog up to the vets. Although he was bleeding for maybe half and hour, the blood loss wasn't serious and the dog didn't go into shock or anything. But I was shocked when the vet phoned me after operating. She said he was cut through two ligaments and only time will tell whether they will knit together. If they don't she suggested a possible fusion operation which would leave him unable to bend

his ankle.

I'd like to hear from anyone whose animal suffered similar injury, for info on the healing process, any advice on helping the dog recover, what it's like in cases of permanent damage.

Mine is a 4 year old greyhound cross, normally a very active exhuberant dog who loves to run.

 

[Trish]

almost 11 years ago our molly managed to cut just below her stopper pad and went through ligaments too she was 10 months old and had qiute a lot of blood loss,but she was still ok by the time we got her to the vets,there she had surgery to stitch the ligaments together and put a few stitches in to close the wound,then she had a splint on her leg all the way to the top for a good 6 weeks, when it came off she was back to her normal self and as never had any problems since :thumbsup:

 

[dessie]

A similar incident happened to one of my Whippets, he partially ruptured his SDF tendon but my Vet repaired it at the same time as suturing the skin wound. He made a full recovery in only a few weeks. Ligaments can be repaired also and I am wondering why your Vet did not do so at the time. I would find an orthopaedic specialist, there are Vets around in normal practice you don't need to go to a Vet College (my Vet is one) and get it repaired properly (if the natural ligament has receded a false one can be made). Good luck

 

[Macha]

the vet said she had difficulty stitching ligament and sometimes they don't knit properly. She never talked of artificial ligament only a fusion operation. Of course it's early days yet as he will be wearing the splint and leg high bandage for at least two weeks. And no we didnt go to a specialist, just the vet who was on duty at the time. In the past she has impressed me as one of the more competent vets in the local practice, but I have no idea of how skillful she is at surgery.

I've asked elsewhere on k9, do you think using magnetic therapy would promote healing in this circumstance?

 

[slimfast]

the vet said she had difficulty stitching ligament and sometimes they don't knit properly. She never talked of artificial ligament only a fusion operation. Of course it's early days yet as he will be wearing the splint and leg high bandage for at least two weeks. And no we didnt go to a specialist, just the vet who was on duty at the time. In the past she has impressed me as one of the more competent vets in the local practice, but I have no idea of how skillful she is at surgery.
I've asked elsewhere on k9, do you think using magnetic therapy would promote healing in this circumstance?

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OUR VET USES FIBER WIRE FOR STITCHING LIGAMENTS

 

[Macha]

update, the vet did stitch the ligaments but she is concerned that they may not knit. She doesn't think they do artificial ligaments for the foot (if it does come to further surgery I might see if there is some expert in Belfast). In a fortnight, we should have a better idea of how the recovery is going. The leg will be splinted for at least a month, and of course it will be longer before the dog is allowed run off lead. That didn't stop Jet-Sam from surprising me with a roll-over in the snow when I took him out for his toileting. Sometimes he walks three-legged, but is increasingly putting weight on the injured foot. I crate him much of the time, to ensure he rests.

We have to go 3x a week to get the bandage changed. It is definitely a two-person job so I'm not going to be able to do it myself at home, also the vet wants to keep an eye on the dog's foot.

 

[Macha]

There’s good news and bad. We went to get the bandage changed. The vet is pleased that the dog’s foot touches the ground when he stands and that he can put weight on it (though he needs to rest his limb as much as possible). I was not pleased with the form of his foot, very flattened out, something like a dog who is badly down on the pasterns. I asked the vet would he still be like that when he’s recovered; she said yes, and he would walk funny.

A neighbour’s dog had a similar deformity (after being involved in a car accident) and although he still got about and had a life, he was quite badly handicapped.

Due to what some k9ers have written, I asked about a second operation and artificial ligaments now that his natural ones are too short. Our vets don’t do that treatment but will ask about the feasibility of referral to specialists in Belfast, about 70 miles away. Unlike a fusing operation (to be avoided if possible as it would deprive the dog of flexibility), this isn’t a case of “wait and see”. If it’s to be done, ‘tis best done quickly. Vet suggests the op might cost £1000. First off we have to find out if it can be done and if it’s likely to prove effective.

 

[Macha]

having a bit of a setback, the dog's foot is more sore with some bleeding behind the larger wound, the one between paw and stopper pad (about level with top of dewclaw I think). The vet I spoke to last night (different one) doesn't think they do repair of the metacarpal ligaments with artificial ligaments the way some vets would repair the cruciate ligaments around the knee joint for instance.

I think he had ordinary stitches, not wire.

I imagine Trish's dog tore metatarsal ligaments of toes, which would hamper a dog less than ligaments around ankle/pastern area?

When the bandage was removed yesterday, one week after injury, I could the wastage after a week in the splint. I can see he'll have to build up strength very gradually after the splint is taken off. I remember when I had a plaster on my arm for a hairline wrist fracture (the ulna bone I think), I thought my arm would be strong from carrying the plaster around!! Of course, it was the opposite; my muscles had weakened and it took time to build up strength again.

 

[Rae]

Sorry to hear about your dog

Holly has no ligaments in one front foot and manages fine, although yes compared to the others she is handicapped (her leg is also deformed) she can still run and has a good quality of life. The only thing she dislikes is walking on hard surfaces and prefers grass/sand.

:luck: with it.

 

[Trish]

having a bit of a setback, the dog's foot is more sore with some bleeding behind the larger wound, the one between paw and stopper pad (about level with top of dewclaw I think). The vet I spoke to last night (different one) doesn't think they do repair of the metacarpal ligaments with artificial ligaments the way some vets would repair the cruciate ligaments around the knee joint for instance.
I think he had ordinary stitches, not wire.

I imagine Trish's dog tore metatarsal ligaments of toes, which would hamper a dog less than ligaments around ankle/pastern area?

When the bandage was removed yesterday, one week after injury, I could the wastage after a week in the splint. I can see he'll have to build up strength very gradually after the splint is taken off. I remember when I had a plaster on my arm for a hairline wrist fracture (the ulna bone I think), I thought my arm would be strong from carrying the plaster around!! Of course, it was the opposite; my muscles had weakened and it took time to build up strength again.

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hi,i was talking to hubby about this last night and he said our molly didnt totally sever the ligament but it was only just holding together,i remember molly couldnt bring the whole foot down into the walking motion,hope this makes a little more sense to what mollys injury was like,the wound was inbetween the stopper pad and the foot.

i also think she had to build up her muscle again once the splint was removed.

hope everything goes ok with you dog :huggles:

 

[dessie]

Sorry to hear things are not looking good. My advice would be to go along the lines you are thinking and get to see an orthopod asap, then take it from there.

My Vet, is an Orthopaedic specialist and when I voice concerns about injuries she always says to me that ANYTHING can be repaired as long as the spinal cord is not damaged. Might cost but it can be done.

 

[Macha]

We did travel to Belfast to see an orthopaedic specialist, but as predicted he would be unwilling to do anything now as the wound site is infected. None of the vets are overly concerned about the infection and say it should clear up as long as bandages are kept as clean and dry as possible and I continue to give the dog his antibiotic tablets (Noroclav). Yes, any repair work would ideally be done sooner than later, but it also shouldn't be done when there are signs of infection. He doubts anyway whether he could do much more for my dog than what is being done already. He expects the foot to be "functional" even though the two middle toes are raised in an unnatural position (the vet mentioned I'll need to clip those

toenails regularly as they won't get contact with the pavement).

I found an interesting US advert for orthotic devices:

http://www.handicappedpets.com/k9brace/

also it includes a link to a utube clip of dog walking on prosthetic leg

The trip was worthwhile because I also arranged for my dog to be seen by an eye specialist. But the news from the canine opthomologist is distressing. We'd been noticing a change in the appearance of one eye and thought a cataract was developing, but it turns out that eye has glaucoma (without any cataract). The condition is being treated with eye drops, but often the final "solution" for a dog with glaucoma is to remove the affected eye. I will have to take my dog back to Belfast because no veterinarian here has the implement to test eyeball pressure. So we might see the orthopaedic specialist again as both doctors work at the same clinic. Does OBE after the vets name refer to a medical qualification or to the British Empire??

 

[meddling]

We did travel to Belfast to see an orthopaedic specialist, but as predicted he would be unwilling to do anything now as the wound site is infected. None of the vets are overly concerned about the infection and say it should clear up as long as bandages are kept as clean and dry as possible and I continue to give the dog his antibiotic tablets (Noroclav). Yes, any repair work would ideally be done sooner than later, but it also shouldn't be done when there are signs of infection. He doubts anyway whether he could do much more for my dog than what is being done already. He expects the foot to be "functional" even though the two middle toes are raised in an unnatural position (the vet mentioned I'll need to clip those toenails regularly as they won't get contact with the pavement).

I found an interesting US advert for orthotic devices:

http://www.handicappedpets.com/k9brace/

also it includes a link to a utube clip of dog walking on prosthetic leg

The trip was worthwhile because I also arranged for my dog to be seen by an eye specialist. But the news from the canine opthomologist is distressing. We'd been noticing a change in the appearance of one eye and thought a cataract was developing, but it turns out that eye has glaucoma (without any cataract). The condition is being treated with eye drops, but often the final "solution" for a dog with glaucoma is to remove the affected eye. I will have to take my dog back to Belfast because no veterinarian here has the implement to test eyeball pressure. So we might see the orthopaedic specialist again as both doctors work at the same clinic. Does OBE after the vets name refer to a medical qualification or to the British Empire??

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Unless the Vet is having 'Outer Body Experiences' I think obe must stand for the Officer of the British Empire!

Good Luck with everything :luck:

 

[Judy]

The trip was worthwhile because I also arranged for my dog to be seen by an eye specialist. But the news from the canine opthomologist is distressing. We'd been noticing a change in the appearance of one eye and thought a cataract was developing, but it turns out that eye has glaucoma (without any cataract). The condition is being treated with eye drops, but often the final "solution" for a dog with glaucoma is to remove the affected eye. I will have to take my dog back to Belfast because no veterinarian here has the implement to test eyeball pressure. So we might see the orthopaedic specialist again as both doctors work at the same clinic. Does OBE after the vets name refer to a medical qualification or to the British Empire??

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We had a dog with primary glaucoma once. It developed when he was 6 and a half but unfortunately, by the time we were referred to an ophthalmological specialist it was too late and he was already blind in that eye. We had to give him Trusopt eye drops for a couple of years after that and have the pressure tested about every 6 months. Eventually the eye started getting smaller and we were able to stop giving the drops. We never did have to have his eye removed though. Originally the vet said he might have to have it removed if he kept damaging it but he never did.

One tip, if you have to have trusopt or similar drops then you might find it cheaper to get a prescription from the vet and go to the chemist for them rather than get them direct from the vet. It was half the price for us to do that.

 

[Alba]

someone mentioned repairing ligaments with wire. I think that is outmoded and the vets use other materials now.

would it be worthwhile putting your dog through another operation and setting back his recovery for weeks? It sounds as though he will be able to get around okay even though he won't have the running form he used to.

so sorry about the eye -- should be more awareness about glaucoma so you or your vet would have spotted it sooner.

 

[Macha]

so far not looking too good for keeping the bad eye, and the leg is in a splint. It is healing well externally but we don't know whether the ligaments are holding. My dog is in good spirits anyhow (I'm not).

this comment about a rescued dog caught my eye because there was talk of possible fusion if my dog's leg doesn't hold well:

"We have no idea about Sandy's history before he was rescued but he has clearly had a rough time. One of his front legs has been broken and from the scarring we can tell it must have been a very bad open fracture with both bones broken. The pain must have been terrible. It was clearly left untreated and the bones have now fused together on their own, meaning Sandy now has a deformed front leg with limited rotation in his wrist joint. He does, however, have full use of his leg and doesn't seem the slightest bit bothered with any of it! Our vet has examined Sandy but says there is nothing useful to be done at this stage, especially since Sandy is using his leg perfectly well, bearing weight on it and exercising OK"

Sany is a saluki cross in SW England, and if you have any interest in adopting him, see

http://www.grwe.co.uk/rehome.htm (and/or)

http://www.dogsblog.com/category/all-dogs-...g-homes/page/7/

 

[Macha]

fairly good news - splint off yesterday and it looks as though the ligaments are holding. His middle toes are no longer strangely raised and although he is holding his paw limp most of the time he occasionally straightens it and has briefly put weigh on the paw. Unfortunately most of his large pad is gone. It will PROBABLY grow back but pads grow very slowly and it is not a sure thing. So this is a long-term process and my dog still needs a lot of extra care.

As for his eye, the pressure has come down considerably so there is a good chance of keeping the eye although not the sight, if I want to persevere with medication. He's been getting on well with one good eye and the vet thinks that the glaucoma is secondary, not congenital, so there is no huge danger of my dog going completely blind while he's still relatively young.

I will probably take my hound to hydrotherapy sessions but can't start yet as the external wounds on his leg are still a little raw.