My dog has fallen off the bed

[Teacupinastorm]

Last night my dog (11) fell off the bed. She didn’t yelp she just kind of scrambled in panic. Now one leg is floppy and limp, she won’t put it down at all. She’s not whining but I know that doesn’t necessarily mean she’s not in pain. She did damage to the ligaments in this leg before (chasing squirrels ) and it did eventually heal but she’s still a bit wonky every now and then. Could she have properly tore them now? Or could it be broken? Dislocated? I will be at our vets when they open at 8:30.

[bluebells1]

Ouch! Hope she is OK, OP.

[Flippetydip]

What's the verdict OP?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Ime of limping dogs its normally muscles if theyre not complaining too much. And if its a greyhound even if theyre screaming their head off its normally a pulled muscle! Hope yours is ok.

[Teacupinastorm]

Vet said he thinks it’s her knee. He gave her an injection and some anti inflammatories and said to go back at the end of the week. If no improvement then x rays to check she hadn’t fractured anything. She won’t bare any weight on it at all, and getting the tablets down her is proving challenging as she’s not eating either. I think the injection has upset her tummy as it’s making very loud noises She just keeps looking up at me as if she’s trying to tell me something, and occasionally she will let out a little whine :(

[mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork]

Poor thing. I must say, if it was mine I'd be insisting on an X-ray (my friend's young dog broke its leg that way but I think its leg got stuck between bed and wall and twisted a bit). I suppose even though it may not be broken, it would still be excruciatingly painful.

[Teacupinastorm]

mrsjoyful I did find it odd that they didn’t check today, especially as she won’t put it down at all. She does keep whining and will then settle for a bit again. I think I’m going to force the painkillers down her somehow and if she still seems this uncomfortable in the morning then I will take her back.

[blueskyinmarch]

I guess because it is an older dog and they have to sedate or anaesthetise or x ray they may not have thought it in her best interests to do that? Watch how she is on the anti-inflammatories as mine had a terrible reaction to some. Gave her awful D&V.

[Teacupinastorm]

Yes blue you’re probably right. The last time she has GA she needed some extra help to recover, so the vet is probably avoiding that until absolutely necessary. I think it will be though :(
Poor girl, she’s just come out the other side of a bout of poor health and now this! Makes it worse that it’s an injury and not an illness IYSWIM?!

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

My old spaniel jumped down a foot high grass verge and made himself lame. Couldn’t walk on it but didn’t really make much of a fuss. Was still lame the next morning so whipped him up to the vets where they diagnosed a dislocated shoulder. Popped it back in and he was fine. Can dogs do the same to their knees?

[Teacupinastorm]

I thought that msadorable but the vet gave the leg a good wiggle so am hoping would have picked that up?
We had an awful few hours last night from about 6 where she just whined and whined and didn’t really know what to do with herself, she still wouldn’t eat or drink and seemed to get more and more distressed. I was getting worried about not being able to get the tablets into her. However I think it was all caused by the injection wearing off because by 9 she had settled right down, ate some chicken (with the tablets in!!) and had a big drink of water and then went off to sleep. She was up at 4 with a pretty explosive tummy but someone on here said that was likely so I was prepared! Then she went back to bed which is where she still is. I’ve noticed this morning that the leg looks pretty bruised, last night I also noticed a bump on her side which made her tense up every time I went near it.
I think somehow she’s taken a good whack off the bedframe, I’m hoping that’s what it is anyway and she just needs some time to recover.

[Teacupinastorm]

@blueskyinmarch - thank you for the advice re the tablets, you were right and I wasn’t as worried when she did explode in the garden!

[blueskyinmarch]

Stop giving her the tablets right now. They made my dog much more ill than the actual injury did.

[blueskyinmarch]

Actually as I recall it was a liquid medication that made my dog ill. What have you been given to give her?

[Teacupinastorm]

She had an injection which really didn’t agree with her, she seemed to just go downhill, wasn’t really with it, her tummy sounded like a washing machine and she wouldn’t eat or drink, then started whining. Now she’s on anti inflammatory tablets. She seems a bit brighter this morning, has already had something to eat and drink.

[yasmin05]

I hope your dog is okay. Just keep close observation on your dogs behavior and if any adverse effects manifest phone the vet.

[Teacupinastorm]

It’s not good news. x rays have shown it’s broken, and whilst it’s quite a clean break it still requires surgery, which we’re not sure she is strong enough for.

A tough decision to make.
I’m heartbroken.

[Roystonv]

So sorry to read this.

[SleightOfMind]

Oh I’m so sorry.
Handhold for whatever you decide. It’s so tough.

[hollowtree]

Oh OP I'm so sorry I really hope she will be ok xx

[Teacupinastorm]

The vet did say we can crate rest her for around two months and see if it heals on it’s own, but that’s unlikely and also I don’t want her in pain and unable to walk for two months. She will just be miserable.
So it leaves us with surgery or saying goodbye.
She has other health issues which although not huge they do affect her daily life, and they will eventually get quite serious.
Torn between giving her a chance and letting her go now while she is happy and still enjoys life. I don’t want to leave it too late and her suffer, as much as I don’t want to let her go.

[TheSpottedZebra]

Oh dear, what awful news

[VivaLeBeaver]

Sorry to hear it's broken.

[BiteyShark]

Oh no, what an awful decision to have to make

[Teacupinastorm]

We let her go. She passed peacefully and quickly.

She had weak lungs and an enlarged heart. Her quality of life wouldn’t have been worth putting her through the operation.

I am devastated.

Sleep well my girl.

[Blodplod]

Oh! @teacupinastorm. So sorry for your loss. Gosh I’m sat here with tears streaming so goodness knows how you must be feeling. Bless you. I know exactly where you are, at the moment. Still, we’ve all got rainbow bridge to look forward to? I can’t wait to see all my girls (and 1 reluctant boy) when I get there. I lost my horse in March and it still gets me every day, and far more than I ever thought it would (she was first child for me but about my 5th horse, difficult to explain but some are just more appreciative and in need of different care) as for the other one (our dog) I dread to imagine. Bless you.