Thyme Fractured Her Hock

[Guest DeniseL]

On Thursday night about 6pm, we loaded the kids up for the park. The fenched in run was vacant so we took the muzzles out of the car and figured we would let them do some zoomies. Thyme took off first and after about 10 or 15 strides, she let out a big yelp and went down on three legs. Of course, Izzy decided to plow into her and jump all over her barking, but that's for another thread

 

I rushed over and could tell it was bad, she couldn't put any weight on it at all. The rest of the evening was spent at the e-vet. They took xrays and eventually sent her home because they couldn't really see any breaks. They said rest and sent us home with rimydyl and tramadol. She had a rough night and net day, couldn't even really stand, let alone walk. The next day I immediately made an appointment with the orthopedic specialist. Then later that afternoon, I received the call from the radiologist, who was reviewing her xrays, that she could see a fracture and that she needed at least a splint to get her through the weekend until we could see the ortho Monday morning. So back to the e-vet on Friday night for a splint. At least with that she can stand and walk a little to go potty.

 

I guess I will get more info on Monday, but I was wondering if anyone has any experience to share? Her leg was swollen up pretty nice as you can see in the photos. I feel so bad for her.

 

Is surgery almost certain in fractured hocks? How long is the recovery? Is it possible for her to fully recover? She is so happy go lucky and loves to run and play, I would hate for her mobility to be affected long term. She is only 2 years old...Is there anything I can do to make her more comfortable?

 

My Maya broke her leg as a puppy and had terrible arthritis all through her life from it. I wonder if I should start her on some Dasuqiun or something like that...

 

 

Here she is with her splint:

 

 

[Guest Rhea]

Ohhh poor baby! I imagine the possibility of surgery depends on the severity of the break. I imagine they'd need to sedate her to set the bone and put on a proper cast, regardless of if they need to actually go in there. I know one of the most common causes for retirement among greyhounds are broken hocks, but as far as I know, they do make full recoveries. They may not be able to engage in strenuous activities like lure coursing, but she should be able to play and run around. (There were two dogs with broken hocks at the last meet and greet I went to, but they were able to get around with the casts they had on.) Lots of rest is the best thing for her right now, until her appointment, and during her recovery.

[Riverhound]

Oh holy crap! Denise!

 

Brees broke her hock before we got her. There was some kind of surgery, we don't know what exactly. (Happened before she got to NGAP; they didn't mention it.) I removed the stitches myself. You've seen her run. She's fine.

[greysmom]

Toni's career also ended with a broken hock. This was before she came to our group from the track. She was in a cast/splint for three months (I don't think she had surgery as there's no scar), and on restricted activity for another few months, but when we got her approximately 8 months post break, she was fine. Her leg healed at a rather funny, curved angle, but it's entirely usable and she runs and plays as much as she wants to now. There's no sign of any pain or stiffness in that leg.

[Guest PiagetsMom]

My bridge girl, Piaget, ended her racing career at 2 1/2 yrs. with a broken hock which did require surgery and a plate and screws, which were later removed. We did a very slow rehab with short walks, but she healed well. For the next 5 years she would on-again-off-again 3 leg it when she ran. I was told that that was fairly common, but other than that, she did well.

 

Sending good thoughts for Thyme

Edited July 28, 2013 by PiagetsMom

[Guest elliemae421]

Poor baby,hope this all goes well and she gets better soon. Big hug for her!

[Batmom]

Hope it's a simple break and can just be casted. Lots of hugs for you and your pup.

[GreyPoopon]

No advice, just that it can be fixed easily and heals well.

[Brindles]

Shame on the e-vet for not sending her home in a splint the first time, just in case.

 

Surgery is usually not needed for a broken hock. Exceptions are shattered bones, tendon/ligament damage, broken calcaneus, things like that. Based on the picture and description, it sounds like a clean break somewhere in the tarsal bones. ETA: it's impossible for me to know that for sure without being there in person - I'm pretty familiar with this stuff but I'm not a vet! There is swelling over the quarter bones (metatarsals) which could be swelling from the injury above or could mean there's a break in there, too.

 

She should wear the splint for 6 weeks minimum, preferably 8. The splint should be changed every 5 days or so. Pro tip: learn to wrap it yourself if your vet will teach you!

 

She'll hop around on it for a while. A couple weeks in, she should start setting it down and putting weight on it while standing and walking slowly. One month in and up until the splint is removed she'll be using it pretty confidently when standing/walking. Once she's out of the cast, it may swell up. Don't be alarmed; it's part of the process. She'll use it gingerly for a couple weeks. You'll see her frequently make several steps forward and one step back. It's a slow process! Six months in she should be back to using it full time.

 

My boy, Dewty, broke his hock a year ago. He came back to race - sortof. He was in several schooling races and came off the track just fine each time, but he just didn't have the speed he did before. Which was fine with me, because now he's on my couch! The only time he gets gimpy on it now is after a long, hard sprint in the backyard. Even then it's only a slight limp that most people wouldn't even notice.

 

Hope that helped! Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions/concerns.

Edited July 28, 2013 by Brindles

[TINMANPDX]

Wishing Thyme a speedy recovery with no complications.

[greytpups]

Hope Thyme heals quickly and is back to normal asap.

[WalterWallerson]

Oh my god - I'm so sorry! Walter & I are sending good healing thoughts your way.

[Guest DeniseL]

Shame on the e-vet for not sending her home in a splint the first time, just in case.

 

 

I agree!!!! But I am trying not to be too judgmental. I can be very critical of the care my pups receive. I tried the new E Vet in the city and I can't help but think that UPenn would have never sent her home without a splint. But, they did call me back promptly after the radiologist took a look. The ortho that we are seeing tomorrow is supposed to be very good and my reg vet endorsed him. Apparently, he did a residency at OSU, so that is comforting.

 

She was in much better spirits tonight, even trying to play with her stuffies. I see I will probably have trouble keeping her on rest.

 

I will know a lot more tomorrow after the visit.

 

Thank you for the info and well wishes, everyone!!!

Edited July 29, 2013 by DeniseL

[Guest DeniseL]

Thyme had a CT scan today. She has smashed her central tarsal bone, and also broke #1 and #4. The orthopedic specialist she say today is Dr.Ben-Amotz. I liked him instantly. He did his 3 year residency under Dr. Dyce at OSU and I could tell he loved greyhounds. He called them amazing creatures. He will send all of her images to Dr. Dyce for a consult since he is still a mentor to him.

 

What is weird is that he said that the kind of injury he sees to her bone he would expect from getting hit by a car or shot with a gun. The central tarsal bone is literally smashed into pieces. It is not normal for just a running injury. I wonder if maybe she had stress fractures before hand or if the bones are not healthy. He doesn't suspect Osteo, but he does want to take samples of her bone to run a few tests. At any rate, she will need surgery, probably later in the week.

 

Please keep her in your thoughts. I am interested in what Dr. Dyce says. We will probably here back from him tomorrow.

[Tallgreydogmom]

Dr.Ben-Amotz was Johnny's surgeon at Ohio State. We liked him a lot.

[tbhounds]

Dr.Ben-Amotz was Johnny's surgeon at Ohio State. We liked him a lot.

He was my girls surgeon too (a very, very complicated splenectomy at Osu)--I liked him a lot too :-)

[tbhounds]

Do you think you can get hold of the rads that the e vet took? Think it would be interesting to hear what the other Drs see or don't see on those images.

[Guest DeniseL]

Do you think you can get hold of the rads that the e vet took? Think it would be interesting to hear what the other Drs see or don't see on those images.

 

The radiologist and Dr. Ben-Amotz could see the fracture on those xrays that the evet missed. They just wanted more info to make a solid judgment on treatment. And a good thing we did the CT. He was not expecting to see a completely smashed bone. The other two bones are cleaner breaks.

 

The E-vet missed totally missed it. In her defense, it was crazy busy in there that night. A little dog was brought in that later died and a ton of other patients. She told me that she didn't see anything on the xrays, but that it was complicated with all the little bones in the hock and that she would have the radiologist look them over in the morning. Considering the swelling and the fact that she would put absolutely no weight on it, she probably should have splinted just in case.

 

Plus they were calling Thyme a he all night. I had to keep correcting them. I don't know why, but it worried me a little. I felt like saying "look...she doesn't have a weinie under there!! She is a girl!!!" LOL

 

I think in the future I will use Upenn for emergency. But, I have to say, I am very impressed wth Dr. Ben-Amotz and the radiologist, I think her name is Dr. Zeimer. It seems like they have a good team of specialists there.

 

And also, I am happy that I heard back from Trupanion. They will cover 90% of everything minus my deductible. Which is good, cause I'm already in almost $2000 and the surgery could be over $4000. Sheesh, I'm glad I got that insurance. It has paid for itself already.

[Riverhound]

Poor, poor Thyme! She's just such a good girl. Is Izzy behaving with her sister now that Thyme is gimpy?

[Guest DeniseL]

Izzy loves her sister so much! She was distraught today when Thyme was gone, just moping around. She has been being gentle with her and giving her space. Izzy is a good girl, too. Just, um, a little excitable. Hopefully miami can keep her occupied for a few weeks....her and thyme would just follow each other around the house, playing. I swear, I need another Galgo just to keep Izzy occupied lol my greys can't keep up!

[Riverhound]

Izzy is bonkers! I loved how the greys all pooped out at Mary Pat's, and Izzy was still ready to go. Snuggling with Mr. Miami was sooo nice. We miss you guys! Hope you'll be able to join the walk again once things cool down!

[Guest DeniseL]

We will! Izzy has been so good with other dogs lately, too. We have really been working on her reactivity. Maybe we will have to make a trip with just mr miami and iz, I miss you guys, too, and MP, we need a playdate before it gets cold out again!

[greysmom]

Are they going to repair the tarsal bone and the two other fractures?

 

Also, I wonder if she ran into a large branch or big stick or rock or something. My four are always getting nicks and cuts from yard debris, and, though we try and pick up the big pieces, there are always obstacles. Even if she just ran into another running grey it might have been enough to injure her.

[JohnF]

One of my Borzois broke her hock in a very difficult place to heal just below where the tendon attaches. (She twisted her ankle on a rock just under the sand on the beach) She was stabilized and on pain killers over that first Sunday, and then on the Tuesday went to a specialist ortho vet 100 miles away where they pinned it and splinted her. It took six weeks and she always had a slight limp on that leg afterwards.

Sadly our long-limbed dogs exert enomous leverage that is often beyond design-tolerance on their hocks and feet.

[MP_the4pack]

Thyme's doctor was Diamond's doctor out at OSU when she had her amp 4 yrs ago, too! I'm not sure if he did Pearl's splenectomy though.(or I might have it reversed, he did Pearl's splenectomy not Diamond's amp. They were only 4 months apart)

 

And of course Izzy and Miami are welcomed for a playdate. Thyme can come too but we'll keep her on the deck. Hey, I had to keep Bwat quiet ALL last summer (and out of the pool) because of her ligament damage. Remember she had surgery and a soft cast on that she kept getting wet by going into her pool. VSEC really loved seeing me come in for an unplanned cast change. It would weigh a ton because it was soaked thru and thru.

Edited July 30, 2013 by MP_the4pack