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Original poster

distraught dog with bandaged leg, what to do?

26 replies

Fibonacci · 02/04/2009 19:58

Dog came home from vet this morning with front leg bandaged and splint due to fracture. She had to have general anasthetic. She has been whining loudly ever since.

Is this normal, what can I do? Am worried it will go on all night and none of us will get any sleep, but don't want to lock her in utility room where we can't hear her as she normally sleeps in the house with us.

She won't drink anything either.

Grateful for any advice.

OP posts:
Goober · 02/04/2009 19:59

Aspirin.

Original poster
Fibonacci · 02/04/2009 20:00

Really?

Wouldn't the vet prescribe a doggie painkiller if that was needed?

OP posts:
Goober · 02/04/2009 20:02

It's what I'd do.
The vet may not have predicted further pain.
Is it too late too phone them and ask?

Onlyaphase · 02/04/2009 20:09

After a general, my dogs are generally confused, dopey and very whingey. Even when dosed up on painkillers, we still have the whining and whinging for a few hours. But your dog seems to have been unhappy for a longer than this now?

Original poster
Fibonacci · 02/04/2009 20:15

Yes she has been miserable since dh brought her home at 12.30.

Already taken her back to the vet once becuase thought her paw seemed swollen.

OP posts:
blossombelle · 02/04/2009 20:21

If they didn't give you any pain relief today then call them - they will have someone to advise you. You dog is likely to have had painrelief today so you need to careful what you give him.

even if the surgery is shut they will answer the phone and even see you if concerned

they can be under the weather the first night after ga so may all be ok tomorrow
hope this helps

Onlyaphase · 02/04/2009 20:26

Well, I'd phone the vet and ask them what to do. They often seem to give ours painkillers that last about 24 hours, so your dog may not be in actual pain at the moment, just unsettled from the general.

I'd also let the dog sleep in the same place as normal, but can you keep an eye on her and check if she is disturbed? If this doesn't suit you, can you use a baby monitor to listen to her tonight? Again, we tend to find with ours that they sleep fine at night as they are where they would normally be, and very tired after a stressful day.

thelionmummy · 02/04/2009 20:31

can you phone your vet? Ask what pain killers he has had? Also, be careful about dosing asprin or similar - the dosage is very different in dogs to humans. Am quite she hasn't been given pain killers - although, you don't want to completely numb the pain as this is nature's way of preventing further damage - ieL running around etc.

Original poster
Fibonacci · 02/04/2009 20:41

She was given a shot at the vet, we have been given some tablets too but told not to start them until tomorrow.

She has just eaten a bit of chicken and had a big drink so don't feel quite so worried.

If she sleeps in her usual place I am worried she will cry all night and keep us all awake, but you are right Only I don't want to vary the routine.

OP posts:
daisydotandgertie · 02/04/2009 21:15

Phone the vet. They are there to help out in this sort of situation - and they definitely won't mind the call.

You'll probably be put through to a call centre who'll take some basic details and get the on call vet to call you back. I've done it quite a few times with my accident prone dog.

They have always, always said they would rather I rang than let the dog be uncomfortable. Often they have given advice over the phone which has helped set my mind at rest at the very least.

If she's whining it's because she's unhappy. Give the vet a call and explain. I'm sure they'll help.

thelionmummy · 03/04/2009 08:46

how is your dog today?

Original poster
Fibonacci · 03/04/2009 09:17

Thanks everyone for all the advice and concern.

Phoned the vet last night who said the dog was probably just feeling sorry for herself because of the splint on her leg. And that we should leave her to get used to it.

Well she whined for much of the night so we had an interrupted night's sleep, but not too bad considering. At one point dh slept in the spare room with the dog.

This morning she still looks miserable, but much less whining.

Waiting to hear back from the consultant vet who is looking at the X-rays to see if the leg needs pinning. And desperately hoping it doesn't.

Meanwhile DH has left this morning for a week-long business trip so whatever comes up I will be dealing with it on my own.

OP posts:
thelionmummy · 03/04/2009 09:24

oh, a bit rubbish for you - i did wonder if it was self pity - dogs can be good at that! Fingers crossed it wont need pinning, if only for the expense!! is she insured??

I had a cat with a pinned leg - she fell through the greenhouse roof, stupid animal! Was no problems with it at all - but get this - a few years later she was run over and had to have a leg amputated - the opposite leg to the one with the pin!! She does struggle a bit now because her supporting leg is a weak one - but that was years and years ago. I say i HAD a cat - she gave up on me and went to live with my mum after she went off and got infested with 79 ticks and needed an anaesthetic to have them removed!! Thank god i worked for the vet else i would still be paying for it all now!!

Original poster
Fibonacci · 03/04/2009 09:30

Yes, have got insurance luckily.

This is an accident prone (badly trained) dog and after shelling out a few hundred quid in first few months of having her we decided insurance was essential.

Need to check the small print though as recently downgraded the policy due to credit crunch worries.

OP posts:
thelionmummy · 03/04/2009 09:44

im sure you will be covered - its usually long term illnesses that aren't covered in the cheaper policies

Original poster
Fibonacci · 03/04/2009 09:49

The irony of all this is that the dog was fine before all this, apart from a very slight limp which wasn't really bothering her too much.

But dh insisted she see the vet.

I suppose it's probably best for the long term

OP posts:
bella29 · 03/04/2009 09:59

Keep the vet updated if she is still unhappy. If you don't tell them they may assume she is fine now.

Did they give her pain medication to take home with you?

Original poster
Fibonacci · 03/04/2009 10:36

Yes Bella we got something called Metacam.

OP posts:
bella29 · 03/04/2009 10:49

Metacam is good stuff but do tell the vets if she keeps whining.

Hope she's feeling better soon x

Original poster
Fibonacci · 03/04/2009 18:23

Latest update is that she has to have an operation to put a plate in her leg next week to stabilise the bone.

My poor doggy.

Still, vet expects a quick recovery after that. Alternative was 4 weeks in the splint with no guarantee that she wouldn't need surgery after that.

She's still feeling sorry for herself -- but I think she is just pissed off rather than in pain.

OP posts:
hav3plus3 · 06/04/2009 14:37

Aaah... poor thing No wonder she's been unsettled, hope everything goes well.
Finacci - how did she fracture her leg in the first place? and how old is she?

hav3plus3 · 06/04/2009 14:39

ooops, missed the BO out Ha ha..

Original poster
Fibonacci · 06/04/2009 21:30

Not sure hav3, she is very active and jumps around a lot. Could have been running and caught her foot in a rabbit hole or something.

Vet has just taken the splint off to try and restore her spirits before she has surgery later this week.

OP posts:
hav3plus3 · 07/04/2009 14:06

Oh feel sad for her... hope she's gonna be ok... let us know will you (I'm watching this thread). Good luck X

Original poster
Fibonacci · 10/04/2009 15:40

Dog had surgery yesterday and was much less traumatic than last time she had general anasthetic -- dh thinks she must have been given something different as no whining or misery afterwards at all.

She has a fetching blue bandage on her leg and has to be walked on the lead for the next 8 weeks !!! but hopefully the worst is behind us and she is on the road to recovery.

Thanks for all the concern ...

Now I must go and find the insurance documents as we have a 4-figure claim to make.

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