Help! Puppy!

[Lolly2803]

hi, we have a 10 week old Border Terrier who has a fractured leg! They are trying conservative method of healing first so rest in the hope it’ll heal itself. I’m picking her up from the hospital on Wednesday to give her total rest. She’ll need total rest at home too.
i am obviously so upset about this but also after some puppy advice. I’ve had to cancel puppy classes and the vet said she’ll need to start her vaccination course again as she’s due now for her second but they don’t want her to have them whilst she’s like this. So then we are talking weeks before she can go for a walk and can be properly socialised. I have 3 children at home so the children thing doesn’t bother me it’s other dogs. Any advice? I could carry her so she can see other dogs? But not play? I can move her puppy classes no issue but I just want to make sure I do everything I can for her. And am looking for advice. Be kind please I’m so upset about our poor pup. She is a very much loved and cared for puppy.

If she's got a broken leg will she not be on crate rest, meaning she can't really go outside at all?

I think you'd need to take your vets advice on whether you can carry her out and about, but simply sitting and observing things is meaningful in terms of socialisation, even if she can't join in. I'm so sorry this has happened.

Don’t worry at all about her ‘meeting’ other dogs. Puppies tend to piss other dogs off anyway, and other dogs don’t tend to take kindly to them. Best to wait til she’s a bit bigger and more able to hold her own, regardless of the leg.

Socialisation doesn’t necessarily mean ‘meeting’ dogs anyway. It means getting used to everything in the world - cars, people, washing machines, doorbells, hoovers, doors, routines, postman etc etc etc

There is plenty for her to learn before she is big enough to enjoy playing with other dogs.

She’ll be absolutely fine OP 😊

Aw no! Just to say a friend had a similar situation and whilst it was super stressful having to keep an enthusiastic puppy crated, the dog is friendly and happy now. You can socialise your dog to lots of sights and sounds while still keeping them crated - play sounds on your phone - as it’s summer now walk past them with umbrellas and winter hats etc so they get used to those too.

Aww poor little mite, how did she break it?

my friends dog just tore tendons in both back legs (jumping up at a fence chasing a seagul) the operations have been dreadful & v v expensive. He's 59kg too so it's been a challenge for them. At least your wee girl is small enough to be easily carried around.

hope she meds well x

Socialisation is much more to do with seeing, hearing and smelling in safety, rather than actual meet-and-greets. So, if you can, take her out in the back of the car, and sit with her the boot up so that she can see other dogs, hear traffic noises, get used to a wide variety of people. If you can, park near a playing field, in a supermarket car park, near a school at picking-up time, and somewhere near a busy road (sirens, air brakes), and just let her take it all in for 10-15 minutes at a time. You can also things at home to make sure she gets used to various domestic noises such as power tools and the lawnmower. I was saying on another thread today that I introduce my puppies to loud noises like dropped pan lids (a room away at first) to help desensitise them to things like fireworks when they're older.

In some ways, it's better to keep a puppy well away from unknown dogs. Not every adult dog likes puppies, and it's much better in the long run for your puppy to have you as its primary focus, rather than wanting to play with every single other dog it sees. The chance to play or interact with known dogs is obviously helpful, but don't panic about her not being able to rough and tumble with every other young dog in the park.

Border terriers are pretty robust little things and I'm sure she'll be fine.

Just to echo others - socialisation isn't so much about meeting, it's more about the seeing and experiencing. What you want to aim for is nonchalant acceptance rather than excitement. So that's definitely something you can do from your knee, window, carrier etc. We have a Border X . Or as we like to call him - Trouble. Hope your pup recovers quickly/well. It'll be tricky with the likely bed rest!

if it’s a fracture it’ll be total crate rest. Picking her up will cause pain
whats the vets plan? I think from the limited info you’ve put here I’d want a second opinion to be honest - if they’ve given you the impression you can take them out and about that seems bonkers

In humans we never start the vaccinations again, we just carry on. I’m not sure why this is diff in dogs, but I wouldn’t be doing it.

Hi all, thanks for replying. Yes it’s crate rest. Only taking her outside for toileting. I’ll sit beside her in her bed so she is getting plenty of affection. I have 3 young children and a very busy house! She’s already heard hoover, lawnmower, tractor, been in the car. Numerous kids squabbles and crying and toys thrown around! She’s heard dogs barking and seen dogs at the vets. I was thinking also I’ll move her crate to the garden when we are outside so she can hear and see and feel part of the action even if she can’t join in. I’ve got her a licky mat and kongs too and I might get her a puzzle to keep her mind busy.
I feel so sad for her and us. Missing out on all the fun first weeks. I just can’t wait to get her out and about. But I will take all the advice and not risk anything. She’s at Fitpatrick Referrals and they seem really good. But the vaccine thing did surprise me. I’ll google!!

Oh and I can easily take her and sit her in the car to watch other dogs and hear and see things that’s fine. She’s also heard gardeners and the sprinkler so she’s quiet well rounded already bless her. We’ve only had her two weeks and I’m already missing her. I hope she doesn’t think we’ve given her away! I can’t wait to have her home

If she's on crate rest I would be really careful about taking her out and about in a car - if you get in an accident or you hit a pot hole, you could do more damage to her leg with her being bumped about.

Could you get a pram for her instead and take her out in that?

OP, we had exactly this situation. At 10 weeks' old our puppy had a freak accident slipping off the sofa (whilst crawling over us) and managed to fracture his hind leg. It was a very complex twisted fracture as well. I have no idea how it happened! One minute he was on top of us and the next he was screaming and jumping on 3 legs 😭He was only a tiny baby. It was so so awful taking him to the hospital

The vet said they cannot operate on a puppy so small because the bone will completely shatter if they tried to put metal screws in there. BUT luckily he sent the X-rays to Davies Veterinary Specialist clinic (in Hitchin) and their specialist orthopaedic team agreed to operate. I really cannot recommend them enough if you are anywhere near them. They are true miracle workers. Not only was the surgery a success, but he recovered very quickly and now no one could ever tell that he had ever fractured his leg. He is sooo fast and agile, loves racing big dogs and agility.

If you are anywhere near them, I would ask your vet for a referral just to get a second opinion. They are specialists in orthopaedics.

As for recovery- our dog refused to stay in the carte. He would cry and jump on his hind legs to get out, which defeated the purpose. So we just carried him everywhere and kept him on a short leash in the house to prevent him running.

It took about 6-8 weeks to fully heal, but puppies' bones do heal well and the fractured bones once healed will actually be much stronger.

He is now 16 months and the friendliest most loving dog, so the horrible experience and slightly delayed socialisation clearly didn't do any lasting damage.

Ah that’s great to hear that your pup recovered so well!!! It’s so scary isn’t it. Hers is actually quiet a simple fracture but also a hind leg. The vet said he could feel some new bone already so that can only be a good sign. I am actually super pleased with the vets it’s the one on the tv show “The Super Vet”. They seem very thorough and so far all ok. I am dreading the crate rest as she’s such an affectionate sociable little thing. But she’s actually quiet calm so will hopefully ok. But if she starts jumping I’ll probably do the same as you.
I am missing her so much! I can’t wait to collect her tomorrow evening. Just so she knows we haven’t abandoned her!!
The vet said puppies are healing machines and if all goes well with the rest she should heal perfectly with no effects whatsoever. So I am praying for that!!!

Ok so I’ve just bought her home. She’s now able to put her toes on the floor and vet said she’s doing really well. She’s on crate rest. Carried outside and meant to go on lead for toilet breaks. And those are less than 5 mins.
Shes obviously so excited she’s absolutely full of it! They leant me a harness and lead for toilet breaks as I didn’t have one but it’s too big and she wriggled out of it. I put her puppy pen in the garden as small as it could go and I’ll pop her in there for toilet breaks so I know she can’t go anywhere or run. But she’s in her crate jumping and crying and moving about!! It’s hard!! I don’t know what I’m meant to do!!

Ours didn't want to stay in his crate and was jumping on his hind legs to try to get out, which was much worse than him just walking. We ended up carrying him with us everywhere and if we put him down, he was on a lead, so he couldn't run or jump.

We kept him on a lead inside the house as well (instead of a crate)

I haven’t got a lead that fits her yet. She was so small and couldn’t go for walks I thought I’d wait till she could and get her fitted for one at the pet shop. The vet leant me one but it’s too big and she wriggled free. And to be honest she jumps and runs on the lead anyway. The puppy pen I think is the safest option for toilet breaks. It’s a small square and she has been going in it. But she’s very excitable in her crate. And also crying. I’m going to get her calming treats and I’ve also just ordered a puzzle toy level 1. So I’ll put her lunch in there and hopefully that’ll keep her busy and also tire her out a bit. I just feel so sad. She doesn’t understand why she’s locked up I guess and I don’t want her to hate me!

Honestly this time will seem awful, but it will pass and she won't remember it at all. Ours doesn't and if you saw him today, you'd never be able to tell he ever had such a serious surgery on his hind leg. Racing other dogs is his favourite pastime and he's SO fast! He's also super friendly even to the vet despite the awful experience he has had there.

If she's small, just get any size S harness for now. It doesn't have to be fitted if she's not going out yet.

If she’s teeny tiny a cat harness might work. However, I always feel I have more control on collar and lead.

Our puppy was tiiny (the size of a small rabbit if that) and we used this harness size XS:

doodlebone.co.uk/original-snappy?color=3&size=7&gclid=CjwKCAjwv-GUBhAzEiwASUMm4mW60pvJj2MaK4HbNDPKfu02JshOquNSw5En3Ogy3u--pjehB3UD-xoCsYAQAvD_BwE

It fit him very well.

Thanks everyone. She’s doing well but she’s also so excited and keeps jumping every time we go near her. But I’m trying my best. She’s upset I think but we are trying to keep her calm and occupied. I got some calming treats. She’s having her meals on a lickimat or a kong and I’ve got a puzzle toy for her arriving today. I just can’t wait for this to be over I feel so mean!!