Injury, frustrating - Mouse

[whip x grey 276]

uve not said where on dog????,,,or have missed read ?????

[cmccmc 24]

Right stifle (knee)

Edited July 15, 2012 by cmccmc

[cmccmc 24]

Also, since this post has turned into vet/bone man chat, maybe it should be moved to the health forum?

[whip x grey 276]

got ya now,,did yer dog have this at very early age as it was growing???? i just thinking has its muscels devolped propely while growing

[cmccmc 24]

Started when she was 11 months

[skycat 6,172]

Stifle joint injuries are very slow to heal: the ligaments which hold the joint in the right place have a poor blood supply, and if they get over-stretched, or the joint gets a hard knock, it can, as Moll says, take months and months to heal. During that time the dog absolutely MUST NOT gallop or jump (even in and out of a vehicle). Lead walking only: I know it's hard for a young dog, but do it you must if you want the joint to heal properly. I once had to keep a young dog on the lead for 6 months! But they do get used to it: just make sure not to take your dog places where it sees rabbits or game that will get her excited: that is not fair on her. A good bone man will tell you how long you need to keep her on the lead. Swimming exercise can sometimes help, but it is best to use a special pool as rivers and lakes may be too cold which is not good for healing tissue.

[cmccmc 24]

Thanks Skycat, I was hoping you'd show up . Hope I haven't done too much damage over the last few months - I should have been smart and taken her to a greyhound specialist right away, but I guess that's what comes with being a novice. Will try to get someone to see her asap, and keep her on lead with short walks for now

Edited July 15, 2012 by cmccmc

[littlefish 549]

So is a bone man like a physiotherapist?

[whip x grey 276]

Stifle joint injuries are very slow to heal: the ligaments which hold the joint in the right place have a poor blood supply, and if they get over-stretched, or the joint gets a hard knock, it can, as Moll says, take months and months to heal. During that time the dog absolutely MUST NOT gallop or jump (even in and out of a vehicle). Lead walking only: I know it's hard for a young dog, but do it you must if you want the joint to heal properly. I once had to keep a young dog on the lead for 6 months! But they do get used to it: just make sure not to take your dog places where it sees rabbits or game that will get her excited: that is not fair on her. A good bone man will tell you how long you need to keep her on the lead. Swimming exercise can sometimes help, but it is best to use a special pool as rivers and lakes may be too cold which is not good for healing tissue.

 

what if it is inherited????? from the parents

[cmccmc 24]

I should have said - she had an accident in the garden, yelped and came in holding her leg. That's when we went to the vet for the first time, when it was obvious she was in bad pain from it. Her parents were good, seasoned working dogs so I'd be surprised, but you never know.

[coolbreeze 9]

yes gilmore vets but ask for francis alan shes a good racing dog vet

[Millet 4,497]

I was advised from a member on here to get some Curacko oil for a stiff dog i have here..i did used to use deep heat ralgex cream on some of the other dog's to warm certain area's up on the body that had been injured..

This Curacko oil is the dog's bollock's and can be put in a spray bottle and sprayed on the affected area then massaged with a soft brush for around 10 min's..this will warm the area up and increase the blood flow which in turn will help with the healing..but you can't beat a good bit of rest and a good vet to advise and diagnose the correct problem..good luck..

[the big chief 3,099]

if you can put ya dog in a magna pulse that aids healing it pramotes better blood flow to when one of mine has been injured stick them in thattill they are ok it does cut the healing time down look it up on the net buddy they do work good too

[bigears 205]

if it has done its Stifle mate its running days are over, you can give it 6 months total rest if its not right then it will never be right ,not what you wanted to here i know but in 40 years of coursing i have never seen a dog get right after a stifle injury

[cmccmc 24]

I'll be getting her to the greyhound vet asap, will make appt first thing tomorrow. Like I say, she has a home for life - she's a sweetheart and I love her to bits, I wouldn't give up any dog I own unless it was the best thing for them - but I can't say I'm not gutted, if what you say is true bigears. I know these things happen, but we've both worked so hard the last year and she's done so well - recall; spot on, stockbreaking; completely exceeded my expectations - steady to sheep, cattle, deer, poultry (she was off lead around my family's poultry no problem, killed a rat when there was a flock of them just yards away); completely switched onto small furries, doesn't open up when she runs or spots a rabbit but goes mental when she sees a rat. Heels well, retrieves dummies to hand, retrieved her first (young) rabbit live to hand, will actually go off and bring me something and put it into my hand when she wants attention. My family's in working dogs, and I absolutely know these things happen - but that doesn't mean it's not gutting when they do .

 

Don't know what I'm going to do with my August now - we were supposed to be getting ready for the season, doing bits of roadwork, cycling, free-running to gently get her into working condition - oh well. I'll take it on the chin, and do whatever she needs medically. Have insurance, which helps.

 

Will keep you updated on what the vet says.