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Recovery After Injury


Guest oakley

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Guest oakley

Hi, been trying to join this forum for advice medical/general experience please. My 8/10 yr old resuce boy approx 37 k was diganosed with a soft tissue injury 2 weeks ago. The vet was not sure where exactly. She did a thorough examination on him, particularly spine and stretching all limbs. No pain obvious. For the last month or so (before the last week) he was lieing down on grass in the garden, or asked to jump into the car and suddenly he would get up yelping for a good 10-15 seconds in a lot of pain and lift his left hind at the same tiime. The vet diagnosed rest and progressive walk exercise. After 2 weeks (we did have spasmodic periods of pain the first week) he does now appear a lot happier and up to 25 mins on a lead x 2 a day. has anyone else pls experienced symptoms liks this pls? V interested to know as the vet did not. How many weeks on the lead? what happens when I let him off - he will go for it!!

 

Many thanks for any one interested and advice.

 

PS making enquiries to fnd him a lady companion as he is such a kind soul, but worried this could repeat. V interested to hear anyone's experience, Thanks.

 

Kind regards

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It's hard to say unless you know exactly what is causing the problem; it may even be cramp (charlie horse). What I do if it's a muscle or tendon type injury is keep on a short lead for 2 weeks with 3 short walks of about 15 minutes, then go on a long lead (horse training lead or extending lead in a safe place) for another 2 weeks, increasing the duration, then consider setting the dog loose in a safe place with NO other dogs to show off to.

 

If the problem comes back, have the affected limb X-rayed. Also have him tested for tick borne diseases.

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Guest oakley

Thanks John. Had thought to myself, ok, another 2 weeks gradually extending walks and running a little. then will let him off in a short, usual space so hopefullyhe does not do his usual... absolute still, then hunting flat out... !! Interested to hear about "charlie horse"?

 

ps this is my first time using the forum and cannot upload a pic of him. Any advice pls? (use a computer at work but not a youngun!!)

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Guest oakley

John, just wanted to say have been on to your website and what a lovely lady you have. All the places you have visited with her. i come from South Devon myself (Torbay) but moved up to Salisbury 5 yrears ago to keep working. Stunning pictures and such a fabulous rescue home, what a lucky girl :)

 

Would enjoy showing you Oakley if I could ever work out it out here??!

 

Anyway, will keep on restricted lead walks for another week or so and come back.

 

thanks again

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Hi again. Thanks for the kind comments about Peggy's gallery.

To post a photo so that it displays you need to put it on a photo sharing site then copy the URL. (Click the little square photo button above and insert the URL)

A lot of people on here use Photobucket but I can share from PBase.com if I add .jpg at the end of the URL.

 

I can't get Flikr photos to embed no matter what I do, so you can just copy the link (use the button just under the arrow where it says 'size'.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18726664@N00/8545186913/

 

Add: Cramp... they can get that if they don't exercise much and then suddenly run flat out. It's the lactic acid in the muscles.

Also perhaps your dog has blood a chemistry make-up in which Potassium is low for some reason. Only your vet will know.

 

Others here may have ideas about what's causing that limp; and with Greys being prone to Osteosarcoma in their long bones we can be understandably rather paranoid about it.

Edited by JohnF
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I've had a couple of instances with different greyhounds where they had pain / lameness issues and our regular vet couldn't determine where the problem was. In each case, after various periods of rest and anti-inflammatories, I eventually took them to an experienced greyhound vet (one who sees a lot of track greyhounds) and in each case this vet found the problem area within a matter of minutes (in one case a partially ruptured tendon and in the other a spinal misalignment). In both cases I was amazed at how quickly and thoroughly this vet examined my greyhounds and how quickly he was able to pinpoint and diagnose the problem.

 

So if rest doesn't cure Oakley's problem, I'd be inclined to seek out an experienced greyhound vet for a second opinion. Is he on anti-inflammatories too? These can be very effective.

SunnySophiePegsdon.jpg

When a relationship of love is disrupted, the relationship does not cease. The love continues; therefore, the relationship continues. The work of grief is to reconcile and redeem life to a different love relationship. ~ W Scott Lineberry

Always Greyhounds Home Boarding and Greyhounds With Love House Sitting

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Soft tissue: Usually you want at least 3 weeks (minor injury) to 6 weeks (medium injury) rest. One way to gauge a reasonable amount of rest is to continue leash walking, no zoomies or craziness, for 10-21 days after the LAST time you saw any sign of symptoms. 21 days may seem like a long time, but you don't want to reinjure. I know it's hard to figure out what to do when you don't know exactly what's wrong.

 

Hope your pup continues well and has no recurring symptoms!

Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in Illinois
We miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10.

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Guest oakley

Hi Oakley back here again, just to thank you for the above posts. Phoned my vet yesterday as still worried about his occassional yelp... he got to the point of walking for nearly 30 mins, but it was starting to cause the odd pain again and we have decided for him to go to a specialist centre fairly nearby for a CT and MRI scan if considered necessary after a full consultation.

 

Am very happy about this as | was never comfortable with not knowing exactly where or what was actually causing this.

 

Will keep in touch

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Soft tissue injuries take a LONG time to heal properly and if you let them push it too soon you will end up with worse injuries. One of mine suffered a ligament avulsion and was on 9 weeks of crate rest and only outside long enough to do her business. Then we had 2 weeks of walking on leash (building up to 30 minutes towards the end) and 2 weeks of light jogging. After 13 weeks of restriction she was able to return to running. You might be walking too far too soon. The tests can help you determine what kind of injury this is and how to best deal with it.

Edited by GreytHoundPoet
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Soft tissue injuries take a LONG time to heal properly and if you let them push it too soon you will end up with worse injuries. One of mine suffered a ligament avulsion and was on 9 weeks of crate rest and only outside long enough to do her business. Then we had 2 weeks of walking on leash (building up to 30 minutes towards the end) and 2 weeks of light jogging. After 13 weeks of restriction she was able to return to running. You might be walking too far too soon. The tests can help you determine what kind of injury this is and how to best deal with it.

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Linda, Mom to Fuzz, Barkley, and the felines Miss Kitty, Simon and Joseph.Waiting at The Bridge: Alex, Josh, Harley, Nikki, Beemer, Anna, Frank, Rachel, my heart & soul, Suze and the best boy ever, Dalton.<p>

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Hope the specialists can figure it out. Let us know, OK? And scritchies to your good dog meanwhile.

Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in Illinois
We miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10.

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Guest oakley

Hi, well it is a week later and SOO pleased was referred to the specialists. After xrays and a CT scan it has been established that poor Oakley has both disc protrusions and particularly a disc extrusion in his spine above his hind legs particularly more the left side which explains why I was unsure left leg/spine pain. He stayed overnight with the specialist so that they could monitor his pain.

 

As at that time he was still able to walk and run so the neurologist suggested we try cage/small room rest and he is on 37mls Metacam in the morning and 3 x 300mg Gabapentin in 8 hour stints. I was warned that we only try this for a short period otherwise it is surgery.

 

The pain relief was immediately obvious and he was lovely to see him relaxed and clearly happy again. He was bit more sleepy but had been warned about this. This latest from the Saturday until Tuesday this week. Then yesterday, he seemed to be looking sore again. Then at 6 pm when getting his tea ready he had a slight squeak/pain whimper. Today he appeared fine but then at lunchtime he had a yelp for couple of seconds when getting up and moving around on his bed.

 

Have phoned the surgery and waiting to hear back from the neurologist, he is currently operating and not sure when he will be free. Not sure if we can up the meds as he is on maximum Metacam, but no knowledge of the Gabapentin. Either that or presumably it will have to be surgery. Poor boy is looking uncomfortable and desperate to help him, as an ex-racer I suspect he has had a tough life, then in the Dogs Trust for 2 long years, he really does deserve some peace and happy days.

 

Will let you know how it is to go on ...

 

Does anyone have experience of this sort of surgery? I have read it is about a 90% success rate, but must be a huge traumer to go through

 

Will

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Guest oakley

Hi again just to update anyone who may be interested, Oakley is now set for an operation this Friday on his disc extrusion after an MRI this afternoon.

 

It has really helped having similar interested people to email, thank you

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:goodluck:hope Sending good thoughts for Oakley's surgery. May it be successful and his recovery quick and complete.

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Always in my heart: Frostman
Newdawn Frost, Keno Jet Action & Chloe (NGA racing name unknown), Irys (galgo), Hannah (weim), Cruz (galgo), & Carly CW Your Charming

Princess http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=1018857

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." -- Unknown

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Sending good thoughts for Oakley for successful surgery and recovery. :hope

Jan with precious pups Emmy (Stormin J Flag) and Simon (Nitro Si) and Abbey Field.  Missing my angels: Bailey Buffetbobleclair 11/11/98-17/12/09; Ben Task Rapid Wave 5/5/02-2/11/15; Brooke Glo's Destroyer 7/09/06-21/06/16 and Katie Crazykatiebug 12/11/06 -21/08/21. My blog about grief The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not get over the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

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Will be keeping your pup in my thoughts for an easy surgery and recovery!

Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in Illinois
We miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10.

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Guest oakley

Hi Oakley logging on with a huge phewwwww to let you know that the surgery went well today, he is even up on his feet this evening (with a belly band) after a 2 hr op this morning. Few bits of chicken for dinner, he didnt eat up but I am informed that is not unusual (he does normally love his food).

 

Will be called by the veterinary specialist surgery tomorrow for a further update. Vet nurse is on call 24 hrs so can phone anytime. (did so tea time already!)

 

Have to mention what a superb service we have received from the UK surgery, Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists, my boy's surgeon is a Mr Harry Scott who has been contactable every day, personally. No passing off to interns, he has been friendly and yet, extremely knowledgable. Whatever may happen from now on, I would recommend him absolutely. On looking at the website, I understand he has done the only complete disc replacement surgery in the UK. Oakley and i are so very lucky to have been referred to him.

 

Will keep you updated and thank you again for your support :)

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Guest oakley

PS cannot believe all the kind posts we have received from all around the globe, this is the very first time I have reached to contact other like minded people, what a relief greytalk is being to us, I only hope to keep posting and help others through other horrible times for our lovelies. Thank you all, thank you and look, we have been upgraded to a "still wet behind the ears"!!!! how true is that I know xx

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Hope your pup continues to have a great recovery!

Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in Illinois
We miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10.

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Guest OPointyDog

Glad to hear it went well - hope the recovery continues smoothly! Sounds like you have a great vet, and that helps a lot!

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