Yesterday, my 8 y/o ESS jumped into the river after her ball at the
local off leash park as she always does, but when she came back out of
the water she was limping badly, not putting any weight onto her right
front paw.

I almost took her to the vet yesterday as she was limping around, but
it seemed like it might be getting better, and there was no cut or
swelling that I could see. (it was definitely her paw that was causing
her the discomfort, not the leg or higher)

Today, after I saw that it was still causing her the same discomfort,
I took in her in to see the vet. Because of her inability to sit still
(while in pain) while being examined, I agreed to let her be sedated
for the exam.

Anyway, they shaved her paw, examined and x-rayed it and found that
her outer most "toe" is dislocated. The area around it is also very
swollen. They gave me an oral anti-inflammatory to give her (metacam)
and gave me the x-rays, and suggested that I go to another local vet
and have him examine her.He is apparently an expert in this "field".
They say that he may suggest that they try and re-locate the "toe" or
that they may just decide to leave it as it is. It is the outside
"toe" they say, so it is not one that she would normally put a lot of
weight on.

Just curious if anyone else reading this has been through this. The
bill today was almost $400.00 and while that is a lot for me, I'd
spend whatever is needed to get her right. I just don't want to spend
the cash if it really isn't needed. Would a slight dislocation of her
outer "toe" cause her any discomfort in the future? She is an very
active dog, and I would not want to hinder that, but I also don't want
to spend the money for surgery if it really isn't necessary.

Advice anyone?

Thanks, Rick

"Rick" wrote in message
...
[..]


Just curious if anyone else reading this has been through this. The
bill today was almost $400.00 and while that is a lot for me, I'd
spend whatever is needed to get her right. I just don't want to spend
the cash if it really isn't needed. Would a slight dislocation of her
outer "toe" cause her any discomfort in the future? She is an very
active dog, and I would not want to hinder that, but I also don't want
to spend the money for surgery if it really isn't necessary.


By all accounts, dislocations are extremely uncomfortable. If it were my
toe, I'd want it fixed and if it were my dog's toe, I'd get it fixed.

Diana
--
Cindy the weimaraner's web site:
http://cindy-incidentally.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk

Just curious if anyone else reading this has been through this. The
bill today was almost $400.00 and while that is a lot for me, I'd
spend whatever is needed to get her right. I just don't want to spend
the cash if it really isn't needed. Would a slight dislocation of her
outer "toe" cause her any discomfort in the future? She is an very
active dog, and I would not want to hinder that, but I also don't want
to spend the money for surgery if it really isn't necessary.


By all accounts, dislocations are extremely uncomfortable. If it were my
toe, I'd want it fixed and if it were my dog's toe, I'd get it fixed.

Diana

I didn't mean it to sound like I wasn't going to do what was the best
for her. She is my "baby". I'll do whatever is necessary, it's just
that my vet told me that sometimes they just leave a slight
dislocation on the outboard toe because it's an area on the paw that
doesn't get a lot of weight put on it.


Anyway, I'll see what they say tomorrow when I visit this specialist.
I'm a little dissapointed with my vet though. I'm a little surprised
that they could not deal with this at their place. They basically
sedated her, shaved her paw, took x-rays, and told me what was wrong.
It's would of been nice for them to actually do something about it
rather than charge me what they did, only to send me somewhere else.

Is this normally something that a local vet cannot deal with?

Rick

"Rick" wrote in message
...
I didn't mean it to sound like I wasn't going to do what was the best
for her. She is my "baby". I'll do whatever is necessary, it's just
that my vet told me that sometimes they just leave a slight
dislocation on the outboard toe because it's an area on the paw that
doesn't get a lot of weight put on it.

.........Years ago I broke a little toe. They did nothing but X-ray it
twice. Dislocations are probably different though. She may not be using
that toe much now, but when she's old and if she has rear end problems,
she'll be shifting her weight onto the front to make up for weakness in the
back. She'll be using it then.

It's would of been nice for them to actually do something about it
rather than charge me what they did, only to send me somewhere else.

Is this normally something that a local vet cannot deal with?

.........You got me. I would think they'd be able to handle that situation.
You can ask over in alt.med.veterinary if you want.

buglady
take out the dog before replying

They probably didn't want to try and put it in place due to the fact that it
could probably be broken if done wrong. I'm guessing the specialist is an
orthopedic vet which is who I'd want looking at it in this case.

Celeste

"Rick" wrote in message
...



Just curious if anyone else reading this has been through this. The
bill today was almost $400.00 and while that is a lot for me, I'd
spend whatever is needed to get her right. I just don't want to spend
the cash if it really isn't needed. Would a slight dislocation of her
outer "toe" cause her any discomfort in the future? She is an very
active dog, and I would not want to hinder that, but I also don't want
to spend the money for surgery if it really isn't necessary.


By all accounts, dislocations are extremely uncomfortable. If it were my
toe, I'd want it fixed and if it were my dog's toe, I'd get it fixed.

Diana

I didn't mean it to sound like I wasn't going to do what was the best
for her. She is my "baby". I'll do whatever is necessary, it's just
that my vet told me that sometimes they just leave a slight
dislocation on the outboard toe because it's an area on the paw that
doesn't get a lot of weight put on it.


Anyway, I'll see what they say tomorrow when I visit this specialist.
I'm a little dissapointed with my vet though. I'm a little surprised
that they could not deal with this at their place. They basically
sedated her, shaved her paw, took x-rays, and told me what was wrong.
It's would of been nice for them to actually do something about it
rather than charge me what they did, only to send me somewhere else.

Is this normally something that a local vet cannot deal with?

Rick