UPDATE! What do you know about doggie hock issues?

[ASB_Stars]

So, I have three signs on my driveway-

1. BEWARE OF DOG

2. PRIVATE PROPERTY- NO TRESSPASSING

3. The WITCH is IN!

Which should keep people who can read out, right? Nope.

Some folks pulled in the drive several weeks ago, and saw me working in the loft (which you can see from the street). They were from North Carolina, and looking for a farm. I never left the loft (really, I just want to do my thing, please) but I did chat with them, as they got out of their car and stood in my driveway.

My beloved Springer/daughter Valentine, took her ball down to them. She had been nursing a sore shoulder, and I said “do NOT throw that ball!”. So, they did, over the wall, and Valentine landed in a heap. Gave me her “ooops, Mom. Got a problem” look. Yep, she screwed up her right hock.

Took her to the Vet, who adores her, and got her looked at. Radiographs showed subluxation, and we suspect torn ligaments. It is not possible to keep her quiet, or penned up; she is my shadow. She makes noises the human ear was not meant to hear if she cannot find me, and be with me. Making her agitated is not going to fix this.

So, I bought her a hock boot, which offers some support. We are talking about pinning her. Has anyone ever had an injury like this? Suggestions? I have her quiet for most of the day, but she is with me AM/PM feeding. She does stairs, and makes me crazy, but I adore her more than life, and need to find the best solution to help her.

She is 11 years old, and up until this, we were walking three miles a day.

TIA!!

Oh, and I want a bazooka for my driveway :mad:

[knightrider]

Are you sure its not the ACL she tore? Did the vet recommend surgery? Usually the boots that you buy don’t do any good unless they are the custom ones that are made to conform to your dog. They are plastic and run about $700-900. Used when surgery is not an option. If she tore her ACL/CCL or meniscus, you might want to consider the TPLO or TTA surgery unless your dog is not a candidate for surgery…arthritis with these kinds of injuries is a huge issue.

My dog is getting her second leg surgery done today… good luck!

[sockmonkey]

The ACL is in the stifle, not in the hock. Was the injury in the hock, equivalent to our heel, or in the stifle (our knee)?

[ASB_Stars]

It is her hock- not her stifle, SM- you are correct. I am concerned about arthritis if we do surgery, but she has so much less stability the way it is currently.

[SquishTheBunny]

I’d get a specialist opinion. CT to evaluate if there are any fractures and to assess the degree of subluxation. Ultrasound to see the extent of Achilles injury. Often arthrodesis is a viable option for active dogs. Good luck!

[ASB_Stars]

[QUOTE=SquishTheBunny;8198833]
I’d get a specialist opinion. CT to evaluate if there are any fractures and to assess the degree of subluxation. Ultrasound to see the extent of Achilles injury. Often arthrodesis is a viable option for active dogs. Good luck![/QUOTE]

Thanks so much! At a minimum, I am going to take her back to her Auntie (VET) this week, and see what she sees. Then, we’ll get a plan going!

[Horsegal984]

Check out Orthopets.com They make custom braces for dogs which are adjustable in range of motion so you can have more/less depending on what your goals are. We have used them for a lot of Achilles’ tendon repairs and for some clients who didn’t want to persue surgery. Kind of pricey but less than surgery etc and once they’re used to it it doesn’t require confinement.

Sorry you’re dealing with this mess to begin with.

[ASB_Stars]

Thanks so much- I looked at their site, and filled out the forms- there doesn’t appear to be any pricing information that I could locate on the site. How much are we talking? Hundreds? Over a thousand?

Thanks for your kind thoughts.

[D_BaldStockings]

This is from U PENN, you may want to contact them re: good orthopedists
http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/saortho/contents/contents.htm

This from Ohio State
http://vet.osu.edu/vmc/companion/our-services/greyhound-program

People who deal with competing sighthounds are rather experienced with limb damage and repair, so you might want to post on this forum for help.

Sorry for your bad visitors.
padlocks are cheap…

Good luck.

[D_BaldStockings]

and the missing link is
http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/forum/10-health-and-medical-discussion/

[Horsegal984]

The OrthoPets braces run between $100-$200 from what I remember. Their customer service is pretty awesome too.

[ASB_Stars]

I emailed Orthopets, and actually, they are really pricey- like $750.00 for what I think we need.

I called my Vet, and she mentioned a place about 30 minutes from me that does the same thing, and the fact that they are local means we can go back for more fittings and adjustments. With a hinge for her hock, they are $625.00, but she really needs the support.

Thanks for the help! Her appointment is Monday, and I will report back.

[Preposterous_Ponies]

From one Springer owner to another, lots of jingles!

[Horsegal984]

Wow! That’s what I get for trying to remember from a few years ago!

Glad you found a local place to get it done, proper fitting is the most important part.

[ASB_Stars]

Valentine had her fitting appointment at My Pets Brace, in Morgantown, PA. They are really a great group!

They cast the leg, and then they do measurements, including a tracing of her paw, and the brace is then custom made to fit. You even get your choice of colors! Valentine’s brace will be purple (duh!) and she should have it on July 8th. I will let everyone know how it works out, and post some pix!

Thanks for all of the help!

[Horsegal984]

Yay! Can’t wait to see her sporting some awesome new hardware!