Any vets out there? Advice re repaired sliced achilles tendon and splint that has slipped causing foot damage required please

[fabsoopergroovy]

Hi, briefly, 2 weeks ago my Springer, nose down, goes into a hedge and comes out with a severed achilles tendon. Has been operated on and bolt put in leg to keep tendon stable. Dressing included a splint to avoid excess pressure on bolt.

He's been for a dressing change and have been told the splint has moved and caused damage to his foot. He's now back on anti-b's and has to go for regular dressing changes. Splint no longer viable as will cause more damage to foot.

Problem is today we were supposed to be taking family holiday. He was going into kennels but cannot now expect them to be responsible for getting him to vets for dressing changes etc. Vet has suggested he boards with them and insurance would cover but upon checking policy we're only covered for boarding when essential treatment is required.

This situation has occurred due to the slippage of the splint. Vet advised this sometimes happens - any thoughts?

Advice greatly received as 2 very very unhappy kids standing with buckets and spades, ready to go.

Thanks for that - will phone insurance company now.

Sadly, our holiday accommodation does not allow dogs so he was never coming with us .

Many Kennels will take dogs to and from vets for ongoing treatment. We regularly have clients dogs brought in by the local kennels.

Lizcat - my vet has a fantastic relationship with the kennels my dog was going into and the kennels were happy to get dressing changed for the original injury (that would have been only if needed, ie, if it got wet). The vet has suggested however that due to the regularity of the dressing changes now needed and the fact that they want to monitor this secondary injury that this might be too much to expect of the kennel owner and personally I would feel guilty asking the kennel to do it given on my previous 2 visits I have spent best part of 3 hours (in total)in the waiting room.

Just spoken to insurance company who advised the dressing changes would not be classed as 'essential hospitalisation'. If we were not going on holiday then he would be at home with us and I would be taking him every other day to be assessed. I can understand that.

Need to ascertain from the vet tomorrow how much board would be - any ideas (forwarned is forearmed!). Obviously we are no longer paying kennel fees which are £10 per day so have that available.

Holiday company will not consider refunding even though have paid their cancellation plan fee of £40. Dogs are not considered part of the family!

Now, more than before, am curious to know whether splint slippage is a common occurrance.

Thanks in advance.

Any sort of external coaptation can cause problems. Splints, Robert Jones bandages and any dressings can all cause problems, unfortunately. The difficulty with these sort of dressings is that to be effective they need to be applied firmly, but every vet dreads removing one to find it has been too tight - these things have been known to lead to loss of limbs if incorrectly applied :(

So, better that any dressing slips and needs to be replaced or altered, than it's too tight.

Wow - you see, as a lay person you just don't know the half of it! Thanks for that and glad to report that at the moment he's happy as larry if a little bored (in his very confined state!)

And here's me now getting concerned that he's putting too much pressure on his bad leg when he's doing a poo - I'm sure it will all work out for the best in the end.