Broken Leg on Dog - Cast finally off - Recovery recommendations?

[ThatBayHorse]

My dog broke her ulna and radius in her front leg 10 weeks ago. She had (a very expensive) surgery and was in a splint for 10 weeks.

She is putting some weight on it. Her poor skin is SOOO funky - minor cuts/sores from the cast, and obviously very withered.

She is on leash restriction for another 2 weeks, and then final X-ray. I have been walking her approximately a small block (and back) in her cast bc she will NOT poop in her own yard.

Does anyone have any recommendations for the cuts (she is in a cone of shame now so she doesn’t lick)

or any experience for how long before the dog might get full use of her leg? I know slow and steady wins the race. Just can’t wait until she can play again!

We are following the surgeons instructions to a T, but he’s not very accessible and I get vague answers from him and his techs.

[fourfillies]

No advice but my thoughts and commiseration. Our Corgi is recovering, week 4, from a tibia fracture and surgical repair. Makes me so very sad for him, quite lame and no activity (other than the I won’t poop in my own yard brief hobble out front) for another 4-6 weeks, if things go well. He’s been a very good patient but heartbreaking for a previously frisbee/ball crazy dog to be crate/leash confined and so gimpy, still only really using the leg for balance not mobility.

[SquishTheBunny]

Air and time we have a lot of clients who ask to put creams etc on…but just leave it free to the air and it should heal well

[Withstand]

Hydrotherapy (swimming) ?

[Calamber]

Not with healing cuts. I just had a dog who had surgery for deep bites on his neck, two deep punctures that required three drains and various smaller cuts, some stitched, some not. He was shaved (pink skin) and prepped I assume with Betadine surgical scrub and the bruising and red raw looking skin was horrible. I had to put hot compresses on twice a day for 5 days and now once a day for another 5 days. In the very beginning I put food grade coconut oil on his raw skin and it healed to a nice pink in two days. That is all I have done and at day 10 he is growing a fine hair all over the shaved area. After the cuts have healed and the skin is normal, then perhaps hydrotherapy.

[Bicoastal]

Your vet should be guiding you. At your recheck, if they don’t offer a rehab plan ask for one. There are canine rehabilitationists (legally can’t call themselves Physical Therapistss but most were in a former life ;)), too.

[ThatBayHorse]

The only tips from my vet has been “take it easy, she can walk on it but no off leash and no stairs”. Haha

Her poor toes are like frozen in place from the cast. She is walking on it pretty good though so hopefully everything starts to limber up.

[Calamber]

We have a local hydrotherapy group for dogs, and it includes warm water swimming. Perhaps some warm water massage for limbering the muscles, tendons and joints? This group has trained physiotherapists as would any program geared for rehab. Maybe you can find one in your area.

[JumpQH]

I know it seems like forever, but time, time, time. I had an injury to a dog toe that seemed to take FOREVER to heal. Four weeks later (poor you with ten!), she was fine. I did do exactly what the vet said, which contributed to a full recovery. I am convinced if I had fudged at all, said toe would not still be on said dog.

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=ThatBayHorse;8061586]
The only tips from my vet has been “take it easy, she can walk on it but no off leash and no stairs”. Haha

Her poor toes are like frozen in place from the cast. She is walking on it pretty good though so hopefully everything starts to limber up.[/QUOTE]

I would be pushing the vet. Squeaky wheel and all…

As for frozen toes, you can wiggle those! And the metacarpals, which kinda feels odd the first couple of times.