As Daisy and Henry were tearing around the field yesterday evening, she abruptly started to yelp and whimper and bite at her hind feet, and ran stumbling back to me. I thought, at first, that a ground wasp had stung her, but soon saw that a back toe was grotesquely out of alignment. After some discussion with the vet, we've decided to amputate the toe next week, Tuesday. To re-attach the torn ligaments and tendons would require a specialist doing fine orthopedic surgery (for several thousand dollars). The amputation can be done for much less and will get her back to normal much more quickly. Since it's an outside toe, the literature says it won't affect her gait or stability. She's not a racing greyhound (the most common breed for this injury), nor is she a show dog or a working dog, so the loss of one toe shouldn't be a problem. She's having an eventful puppyhood! Daisy broken toe 09.20.2014 X-ray 1 by carpenternp, on Flickr
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! Ouch! That looks really painful! Do they reduce the dislocation or anything? Hope she recovers quickly!
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! Oh poor, poor Daisy :'( I am so sorry she is having such a terrible time and you too. Wishing Daisy and you good luck for the surgery next week and do pop back to let us know how she goes xxx
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! The vet didn't wrap her foot when we left, and by the time we got home, I couldn't even see which foot was injured! I think she reduced it by walking on it. When I bring her in on Tuesday, I'm going to ask that they inspect the site to check on the condition of the ligaments and tendons before they chop off her toe. Maybe they were all just stretched and not torn?? If so, then the question becomes do I amputate the toe and have her recovery a matter of 7-10 days or support wrap the foot for weeks to give the ligaments and tendons time to heal? The vet and I did discuss that second option, but from the perspective that the ligaments and tendons were likely torn, not still intact, albeit stretched. In that case, the vet said she would amputate, if it was her dog. Not sure what to expect now...
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! Oh my word Nancy! Wishing you and Daisy lots of luck and an easy recovery
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! Poor Daisy - that looks painful. It would be great if you didn't need to put her through the stress of an op, but I'm sure the vet will know what is best once you go in.
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! Good grief....that's a brutal X-ray....no wonder she yelped!it would be great if she didn't have to have an op ....let us know what the vets advises on your next visit x
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! Poor girl, I hope you get it sorted ok. Pats and tummy rubs for Daisy.
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! Ouchies, i sypathise with her, I broke my little toe once, it is proper painful. I hope she copes well with the loss of a digit. Good luck daisey
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! Oh my! Poor Daisy! Glad she seems to be walking ok - long wait until Tuesday if she is in a lot of pain. I do hope its re-rehabilitable though.
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! Ouchy ;( hopefully she won't need surgery. Let us know how you get on on Tuesday x
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! Poor pup. I hope it's not as bad as the x ray suggests and you can save the toe. I suppose it depends on which will give her the quickest and best outcome. :-\ Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! I just did some google research and found a rescue greyhound forum where this was a common topic. Some of their descriptions sounded even worse than Daisy's looks! Most people said their dogs had had dislocated toes that spontaneously reduced on their own, and surgery was considered the very last option. At this point, I'm very inclined to just wait and see how Daisy's toe does over the next couple weeks. She's not in apparent pain, though Labs do seem to have a high pain threshold, but I'll still walk her on-leash for the next few days (she'll love that...). I'll call the vet on Monday (I live 1/2 hour away on the freeway, so don't want to make unnecessary trips) and see what she thinks. Between Daisy and Molly, my two bookend dogs are proving a challenge! Poor middle Henry must be feeling neglected... Maybe I'll take him out for a run all on his own!
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! The poor lass I would probably seek out some pain relief for her. That would really hurt, even though she is hiding it. I've fractured a toe and broken a leg and the fractured toe was worst by a very very big margin. All those nerve endings in the toes make it hurt like heck.
Re: Surgery for Daisy in Minnesota! I do have a pain med for her that I'm sure is helping. I dislocated both my shoulders at various times, and it's amazing but true that once the joint is back together, the pain is almost totally gone. Unfortunately, the joint also tends to dislocate more easily after that, which for me meant two surgeries. Even if Daisy doesn't need surgery this time, if it happens again, she may need it eventually.
