
Fracture Repair Options
Hi, I would love to have your opinion on the following.. My dog has broken the larger bone in his right leg (the bone between the elbow and paw. The vet gave me two options and I wanted to get your opinion. Option one - a splint for four weeks. This is the method I chose, but the vet insists the dog be left in his crate for 4 weeks, only to let out to pee and eat. Is this too extreme, will it not heel if he is out a few hours each day? It just so hard to keep him in 24 hours a day. Option Two - surgery for a metal plate. Any suggestions or comments would be helpful. My dog is 8 months old and a terrier mix. 20 pds.
Many fractures require surgical repair. Some fractures can be stabilized externally with a splint, a cast or pins and braces. Every fracture requires an independent evaluation with many considerations. In your dog's case, it sounds like the plating will provide the best end results, with the straightest, strongest leg. However, bone plating is expensive and invasive surgery. External fixation with the splint will stablilize the leg adequately, but may result in a healed, crooked leg. Smaller breed terriers may not havea problem with a slight crookedness to one leg. He is young, so the leg should heal rapidly.
Return to Petsdoc.com home page Return to Ask the Vet Index page
Back to Question List Petsdoc Main Page * Mobile Vet * Useful Information * Fun Pages * Links * Contact Us * Search Copyright © 2000 - 2010 petsdoc.com. All rights reserved.

Fracture Repair Options

Hi, I would love to have your opinion on the following..
My dog has broken the larger bone in his right leg (the bone between the elbow and paw. The vet gave me two options and I wanted to get your opinion.
Option one - a splint for four weeks. This is the method I chose, but the vet insists the dog be left in his crate for 4 weeks, only to let out to pee and eat. Is this too extreme, will it not heel if he is out a few hours each day? It just so hard to keep him in 24 hours a day.
Option Two - surgery for a metal plate.
Any suggestions or comments would be helpful. My dog is 8 months old and a terrier mix. 20 pds.

Many fractures require surgical repair. Some fractures can be stabilized externally with a splint, a cast or pins and braces. Every fracture requires an independent evaluation with many considerations. In your dog's case, it sounds like the plating will provide the best end results, with the straightest, strongest leg. However, bone plating is expensive and invasive surgery. External fixation with the splint will stablilize the leg adequately, but may result in a healed, crooked leg. Smaller breed terriers may not havea problem with a slight crookedness to one leg. He is young, so the leg should heal rapidly.

Return to Petsdoc.com home page

Return to Ask the Vet Index page

Back to Question List

Petsdoc Main Page * Mobile Vet * Useful Information * Fun Pages * Links * Contact Us * Search