Dogs metal plate broke and new break in new spot

Hodor.the.dog

Hello all!

Has anybody had their dogs metal plate removed? Has anybody experienced a break in their dogs metal plate, if so what did your vet advise? Was your dogs plate removed? What was healing like after all the screws came out?

My miniature schnauzer of almost three years old has had a horrible history of 3 broken legs in the last year and a half, all in different spots. Here's a history I just threw together, but I'm mostly curious about people's dogs who have had issues with their plates and what they did. I also do have pictures of the recent x rays, but since I'm a new member I think I have to participate in more forums before I can upload attachments..

The main point is to get him better, but in all honesty he has cost us thousands and we need a financial break! He cost 3k just to bring him into the country, then immediately 400 for the first vet, another roughly 600 for the second vet, 1500+ for the most recent vet..eek!


1st break) jumped out of my nieces arm

We had just moved to Ireland from the U.s. so at the time all our finances were tied up. we couldn't have a metal plate put in like the vet wanted because he wanted to refer us to dcu and said it'd cost around 2k. Since we couldn't afford it at the time, he set the leg and said to come back in 8 weeks to make sure it healed. During those 8 weeks we moved to Letterkenny. his new vet was shocked that the vet in mullingar advised an 8 week wait before coming in. In that time he had no callus formation and basically was exactly the same as when he had broken it. So we changed his diet to include puppy food and waited a few weeks to see what would happen, if that didn't work he'd need amputation. Luckily we were able to stimulate growth and it healed fully.

2nd break on the opposite leg.

after laying the kids down, I walked into the living room where hodor was. He had his paw up in the air and I knew it was broken. Not sure how it happened but I'm guessing he jumped oddly off the sofa. Since his last break, we had moved from Letterkenny down to Carlow so he once again had a new vet in Athy . This vet advised us to get a metal plate and quoted us at 600. We asked them to reset the leg and attempt recovery without the plate first. Unfortunately it didn't work so we agreed to the surgery, which he then said would be 800, but then agreed to the original 600 again. . . He's a miniature schnauzer with very small bones, so we were concerned about whether or not the plate would be a good fit for him. The vet boasted about how strong they were and insisted it wouldn't break. After about a month we started letting him walk around and let him stay I the utility room instead of his kennel. He's a very active and pounce dog, but the vet insisted it wouldn't break. Well, his metal broke on one side of the screw, but was still secure on the other side. Since the metal broke his leg looked crooked, almost as if it's going to snap. The vet said he was choosing to hold his leg like that and it'd get better over time. At this point we had been questioning whether he should get it removed to prevent any more issues, but the vet said he wanted to leave it in as it was causing no harm and would prevent another break.

Break three. About three and a half months after the plate was put in, the vet told us he was able to run freely around the house. We were VERY hesitant. With his level of activity and the curve of his leg after the metal broke, we doubted our vet, but against our better judgement listened to him. A few days after taking his advise, he was running around and came to me whimpering with his leg practically mangled. I brought him in and sure enough his leg broke in a new spot, which was under the top of the metal plate in the spot where the upward screw is placed. I feel like this is not normal to have happened with the metal plate and to me it seems like the plate has done more harm than good, yet he wants to keep it in. I feel so bad for him and this has been traumatic for us all!

tk123

Would you maybe look at just amputating the leg at this stage? Did the vet really tell you to just let him run around straight away after getting the plate in - that doesn't sound right to me?! My boy had to be on crate rest for 4-6 weeks and even after that it was lead walks only until 12 weeks post op and then gradually increase exercise. Honestly it doesn't sound like he was ever rested enough to heal?

Hodor.the.dog

We want to do whatever we can to save his leg. His first break was in his right leg, the second break was in his left leg, then the third break was in the left leg in a different area. So we asked about possible bone disease, but they said no so I don't know.

The surgical vet had us resting him in the first few weeks after the plate was put in, then made me feel bad for leaving him in his kennel and said he'd be fine. I brought him in several times after his visit with concerns, called, and he just always made me feel like I was being overly cautious. We want to get him to a new vet and get a second opinion on how to proceed.

tk123

Apologies I didn't read it properly first time and thought it was the same leg. You need an ortho specialist by the sounds of it. We travelled from Dublin to Cork for my boy's operations after UCD sent us away. Cara Vet in Dublin have a very good reputation and would be reasonably priced compared to other places.

Ms Doubtfire1

that sounds like brittle bone disease to me. i would run test for that but I've no idea what can be done about it

Hodor.the.dog

Tk123, I appreciate you passing along a good vet. As you know too, dealing with a dogs injury is difficult and mentally exhausting for everybody, it really helps to have a good vet to guide through the process. At the moment we have no trust with the guy in Athy. He seems to have an attitude of, "sure he's a dog, let him be a dog and if he limps he limps."

Ms doubtfire, we've thought about that too. Whoever we go with for his next appointments we will bring it up. Thanks for your input.

tk123

Great that you have xrays so if a new vet takes more they can compare. I only been to Cara for a titre test but they were really nice. A friend brought their dog there for ACL surgery and found them brilliant.

JustAThought

Hodor.the.dog wrote: »

Tk123, I appreciate you passing along a good vet. As you know too, dealing with a dogs injury is difficult and mentally exhausting for everybody, it really helps to have a good vet to guide through the process. At the moment we have no trust with the guy in Athy. He seems to have an attitude of, "sure he's a dog, let him be a dog and if he limps he limps."

Ms doubtfire, we've thought about that too. Whoever we go with for his next appointments we will bring it up. Thanks for your input.

Maybe he's picking up ( in a nice way) on the money constraints & is trying to find a way to appease your feelings . Either way Its just stomach churning reading - what an awful series of things to gappen - your poor poor dog.

From long experience of friends & talking with people I would STAY WELL AWAY from UCD - it is a teaching part of the university with students rotating in & out of modules - I certainly would not trust my pet there and at least half of what I hear about them us terrible.

Your poor dog really needs someone experienced in this area & not someone experimenting or trying to build up their profile. There is a vet in north county dublin about 20 minutes drive from the M50 who has a great local reputation as an orthapedic genius & has treated some really complex cases ( google the dogs who jumped over the walls of derry). Its in Baldoyle beside Portmarnock & is calked Noahs. Give them a call & ask if the walls if derry dogs vet is still practicing there - I'm fairly sure its one of ghe owners. He is also one of ghe few vets in Ireland that has a dog MRI scanner - no doubt you could arrange a payment plan if you give over your passport and visa details for a decided amount to be taken off each month.

Best of luck to your poor dog, and to you - it all sounds totally traumatic.

CJmasgrande

I'm rushing here and haven't time to study all of this thread. I just wish to recommend Arc Vets in Galway. My local vet in Tullamore referred me to them two years ago after my birder collie had a very bad leg break. He said Arc Vets were one of best in the country. So my dog had two plates installed and have never looked back. I highly recommend Arc Vets Gslwsy. I know it's a bit of a drive but I'd do anything for my dog.