Help!!! I am so worried about our Cooper! We haven't heard from the vet today and likely won't until Monday now. Without the splint on, Cooper's leg just dangles from his wrist. When he stands to eat or drink or even to relieve himself he is able to stand on that leg and support his leg, but the rest of the time he has his paw lifted up and it seems to just dangle there. My husband phoned the clinic and they said they would put it in his chart. IF he fractured his elbow, would he have this issue with his paw? IF he had X-rays done, would they not have checked his whole leg? I remember the vet originally saying that when she manipulated his leg the only spot that seemed to hurt him was his elbow. How is this possible and will he be ok without a splint until at least Monday? Cooper is also pawing at his kennel door with his bad leg, that can't be good!
It's so frustrating when you're waiting fir a call from the vet with an update on diagnosis. I think I would be taking Cooper to be checked out rather than just a note being made on his chart, just to try and be sure that everything seems to be ok. Try not to worry too.much, sometimes things aren't what they seem. I remember only too well that Juno limped on her left leg at 5 months and then at 7 months she began limping on her right but also on her left. Finally MRI showed that the left elbow was perfectly normal but ED in the right. Good luck and let us know how you get on
So sorry to hear how worried you are. Do you have an emergency number you can call and insist a vet sees him tomorrow or at least gives you advice over the phone? To be honest, there are loads of vets that are open on a Saturday, so if you are really concerned about him, I'd do what you have to do so a good and appropriately qualified vet sees him quickly.
When I took him to the vet on Wednesday, I made a "just in case" appointment for a splint change on Saturday. I am Keeping that appointment and making them put the splint back on until I hear back about the results. I feel that leaving it unsplinted could be causing more damage. I will also insist that the vet take a look at his wrist. I don't want to be over reactive, but I also don't want to cause more damage needlessly.
You aren't being over reactive at all.......get a really good ,thorough check up of him today ,I'm glad you've got that appointment to use x good luck x
Thank you everyone for your generous support! We are still waiting on the results from his X-rays. We opted to keep the splint off Cooper. It was a case of they are not sure what is the best thing to do until they hear back from the radiologist. Here's hoping that's tomorrow. Cooper has a lot of pent up energy. We had to let him out for a short time because he was slamming his body around the inside of his kennel actually rocking it side to side. All of the work we did on his bite inhibition seems to have gone out the window. He has some adult teeth and now his bite is even harder. Putting him back in the kennel because he is wound up doesn't really seem like a time out to him now. What can we do when we let him out of the kennel? He is almost uncontrollable and is only out for 5 minutes before we have to put him back in.
Hope you can get things sorted out with the vet soon! Are you doing any clicker training (or other kinds of training, for that matter)? Exercising the brain can help to tire him out. Teach him to go to his mat, which is helpful for a mini "time out". Teaching him to touch your hand (open palm or fist) with his nose ("target"), or "shake paw", working on sit/stay, lie down, etc are all things that aren't hard on an injured limb but give him something to do to help him channel his energy. Do mini-sessions a few times a day, and always make it fun, finishing the sessions before he gets tired ot it. He will eventually get over the excitement of being out of the crate and the crazy behaviour will fade. Hang in there, hopefully you both be through this without too much more troubles!
Hooray!! After 6 LONG weeks, I am so happy after yesterday's visit to the vet and a third set of X-rays, it has been determined that Cooper has made a full recovery and his growth plate is perfect. Cooper will not have to go back for anymore of the follow up X-rays that the doctor said that he would probably have to have. I would like to thank everyone for your kindness and support to help us through this tough time. Without your ideas we probably would have gone a little crazy!!
I am so pleased for you. Having a Lab that fractured his elbow at 16 weekw and having to have it screwed and pinned, I was so hoping that you would have to go through that.
