Tendon Injuries

[shenace]

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Well, you wouldn't believe it - we have virtually had months of no shows & then we get to 3 weeks away from our National dog show (most prestigious show in NZ) and the daughter's dog ends up with tendon injury

Poor Kate at aged 8 is gutted Molly who she has been getting up early to road walk to get fine tuned for the shows (her first time ever to exhibit at such a big show) has somehow sliced just behind her back leg above her tendon & sliced the tendon.

A wee bit of micro-surgery & she now sports a cast from foot to armpit - must be on total crate rest for 4 weeks & then possibly another 2 wks - after that it will take her another 2 - 3 weeks to get herself sorted so the vet says.

It seems like such a long process - has anyone had experience with this type of injury?? Are there any tips to helping speed up the recovery??

I felt so gutted for Kate, she really doesn't quite understand the enormity of the nationals - she was just thrilled to have gotten into the Young Kennel Club handlers final with Molly :thumbsup:

The next challenge we had was that all dogs have to be over 12mths of age for the kids to handle - all my stuff at present are youngsters apart from Molly - but just when the chips are down - the awesome dog folk came to the party - she has an awesome pointer :wub: to handle for the YKC finals & one of the awesome people who have one of my Lulu daughters has said that she can show her dog :wub: :wub:

So, if anyone has had any experience & has any tips, it would be gratefully received - we have shifted our goals of getting Molly back in the ring for Kate to the end of October - we have shows on the 28th which will be her 9th birthday - Kate is happy - bless her - me - I'm still gutted! Poor Molly

 

[artemis]

Hi!

Sorry to hear your bad news. Dont know if this will help but several years ago I had a horse who damaged a ligament and my vet gave him ultrasound treatment. It increases blood flow and reduces swelling and oedema. It will help repair damaged tissue, ligaments and tendons and reduce scar tissue. It certainly helped and aided recovey no end. Good luck!

 

[dessie]

Oh dear! Not good but I would get her onto Glucosamine + Chondroitin asap. You will need to start her off for about 4 - 6 weeks on a loading dose (i.e. double what they should normally have) and then drop to a maintenance dose for at least a year.

This is the product I would use, giving an initial dose of 4 tablets daily then dropping to 2 daily after the initial loading dose.

Healthspan Glucosamine

Absolutely marvellous stuff to aid the healing of tendons/ligaments. Glucosamine is the main treatment, Chondroitin and MSM only speed up the effect in the system of Glucosamine so you could always change onto a maintenance dose of pure Glucosamine at, say, 750 gms daily (1 tablet). I would not go for anything stronger for a Whippet.

 

[shenace]

Oh dear!  Not good but I would get her onto Glucosamine + Chondroitin asap.  You will need to start her off for about 4 - 6 weeks on a loading dose (i.e. double what they should normally have) and then drop to a maintenance dose for at least a year.
This is the product I would use, giving an initial dose of 4 tablets daily then dropping to 2 daily after the initial loading dose.

Healthspan Glucosamine

Absolutely marvellous stuff to aid the healing of tendons/ligaments.  Glucosamine is the main treatment, Chondroitin and MSM only speed up the effect in the system of Glucosamine so you could always change onto a maintenance dose of pure Glucosamine at, say, 750 gms daily (1 tablet).  I would not go for anything stronger for a Whippet.

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Thanks so much for the advise & link - I have printed off your info & will head to the health shops tomorrow :thumbsup:

I did ask the vet if there were any other ways (homeopathic!!) to help speed recovery & he said nup - just rest & no use of the leg :unsure:

Kate is such a soft soul, when she see's Molly go for a loo stop, tears swell in her eye's - mother is 2 steps behind her fighting em back too - so much for being a hardened dog person - Poor Molly Trolly Dolly :unsure:

 

[shenace]

Hi!
Sorry to hear your bad news.  Dont know if this will help but several years ago I had a horse who damaged a ligament and my vet gave him ultrasound treatment.  It increases blood flow and reduces swelling and oedema. It will help repair damaged tissue, ligaments and tendons and reduce scar tissue.  It certainly helped and aided recovey no end.  Good luck!

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Thanks for the info - ultrasound treatment is a gem :thumbsup: I remember having it after giving birth to the 2nd child, she was not an easy pea to pass & like you said - the ultra sound did EXACTLY what you suggested it would do :blink:

I will bear it in mind after using the Glucosamine & Chondroitin - at this stage, wee Molly will be in a cast for at least 4 wks, so Ultra sound will not be an option. It is so gutting - the slice in her leg would be no more 5cm's long, it is amazing so much damage can come from such a small wound - deep and nasty

 

[Cartman]

Sorry to hear. Shet happens when you least expect it.

 

[dessie]

Hi!
Sorry to hear your bad news.  Dont know if this will help but several years ago I had a horse who damaged a ligament and my vet gave him ultrasound treatment.  It increases blood flow and reduces swelling and oedema. It will help repair damaged tissue, ligaments and tendons and reduce scar tissue.  It certainly helped and aided recovey no end.  Good luck!

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Thanks for the info - ultrasound treatment is a gem :thumbsup: I remember having it after giving birth to the 2nd child, she was not an easy pea to pass & like you said - the ultra sound did EXACTLY what you suggested it would do :blink:

I will bear it in mind after using the Glucosamine & Chondroitin - at this stage, wee Molly will be in a cast for at least 4 wks, so Ultra sound will not be an option. It is so gutting - the slice in her leg would be no more 5cm's long, it is amazing so much damage can come from such a small wound - deep and nasty

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Good luck! The chiropracter I take my dogs to also uses US and the dogs do like it but it is a very limited treatment as you can only use it so much. Naughty vet saying there is nothing else you can give, what does he think are in products like Synoquin .................. Glucosamine!!!! It is a tried and tested natural product for soft tissue injuries.

 

[Mychaka]

Sorry to hear of your news Lynda. Hope Molly makes a quick recovery for you and Kate :luck: .

Always the way isn't it when your so looking forward to a particular show something happens makes you want to wrap them in cotton wool but whippies will only pull it apart and spread it all over the lawn if you try

Congrat's to your friends that have offered their dogs for Kate to handle, I hope she does extremely well to make up for this disappointment.

Take care and thinking of you all.

Cristina

Mychaka Whippets

 

[shenace]

  Sorry to hear of your news Lynda. Hope Molly makes a quick recovery for you and Kate  :luck: .
Always the way isn't it when your so looking forward to a particular show something happens makes you want to wrap them in cotton wool but whippies will only pull it apart and spread it all over the lawn if you try 

Congrat's to your friends that have offered their dogs for Kate to handle, I hope she does extremely well to make up for this disappointment.

Take care and thinking of you all.

Cristina

Mychaka Whippets

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Thanks Cristina - Molly is holding up pretty well, luckily she loves living her life on her butt sleeping :teehee: The poor wee thing hobbles along & hasn't quite mastered the art of walking on 3 legs - she is on strict cage rest for 4 wks so when she gets out she has an enormous stretch & nearly falls over - not very nice to laugh at the injured - but it is a little entertaining watching her :wub:

 

[louisetope]

Luckily I've not had any injuries of this kind (touch-wood), but I can strongly recommend hydrotherapy. I've used it for broken bones/muscle wastage etc and found it to be very, very helpful. And yes, my whippets do enjoy a swim!

Best of luck

Louise

 

[~JO~]

A homoepathic recommended for tendon and ligament injury is Symphytum (which is comfrey - well know for helping with these sort of problems)

Hope Molly recovers quickly

 

[shenace]

A homoepathic recommended for tendon and ligament injury is Symphytum (which is comfrey - well know for  helping with these sort of problems)
Hope Molly recovers quickly

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Thanks Jo - I am about to start on the Glucosamine - I don't want to overdose her & I know you can't really OD on homeopathy stuff - but would Symphytum compliment the Glucosamine?

She is of course on antibiotic & Rimadyl after the surgery - don't want to put to much concoctions in her wee body & confuse it.

Yup, know the hydrotherapy is a great healer - however, she has a cast on for 4 wks that is not allowed to get wet - so we will have to concentrate on the other options

 

[dessie]

A homoepathic recommended for tendon and ligament injury is Symphytum (which is comfrey - well know for  helping with these sort of problems)
Hope Molly recovers quickly

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Thanks Jo - I am about to start on the Glucosamine - I don't want to overdose her & I know you can't really OD on homeopathy stuff - but would Symphytum compliment the Glucosamine?

She is of course on antibiotic & Rimadyl after the surgery - don't want to put to much concoctions in her wee body & confuse it.

Yup, know the hydrotherapy is a great healer - however, she has a cast on for 4 wks that is not allowed to get wet - so we will have to concentrate on the other options

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Symphytum is better for fractures rather than soft tissue injuries. I used it to good effect when my Frankie had a compound fracture of his near fore. My Vet plated it and he was out being exercised within a couple of days and back in the ring winning within 5 weeks!

Glucosamine is a natural remedy rather than homeopathic. It occurs naturally in the body and is involved in regenerating cartilage, tendons and ligaments.

 

[jools]

I can't add any more advice than has already been given. Just wanted to send love to Kate and Molly :huggles: :huggles: Get well soon Molly :luck: