Hock Repair Surgery

[Guest TinyTortellini]

Hello there,

 

This is my first time posting here, as we just adopted our retired racing greyhound, Alfonso Verboten! Before adopting Alfie we were made aware that he had a previous injury involving his rear right leg. It was your typical hock fracture. However, he still has trouble walking on it. We had x-rays taken and the doctor suggests screws and plates to repair it. He can walk on it but doesn't like to, and I think it's best if we go ahead and see what our options are for getting it fixed. Does anyone have any idea how much this type of surgery would cost? And is there any sort of grant/assistance for ex racing greyhound hock fractures?.

[macoduck]

Any chance you are in Florida? There's a great ortho vet there that did a repair on a friend's greyhound (backyard injury).

 

If you are on Facebook, join the Greytalk Health & Medical page. It is not associated with this site. You'll get some input from medical folks there, however it isn't a really active page so be patient.

 

We've got great medical folks here and most likely others who have experienced this problem will chime in.

 

I know of no financial assistance programs.

[greysmom]

What kiind of treatment was done for him prior? Was is casted at all? IMO, if he's having trouble walking on it now the repair either wasn't completed or perhaps it broke again subsequently.

 

I would definitely look into what the trouble is and how serious - a good set of xrays to start. An orthopedic specialist might be able to help you more than a regular vet.

 

Ohio State has a program to help broken leg greyhounds but I don't know if they offer financial aid to dogs outside their geographic area. You can look them up on the web.

https://vet.osu.edu/greyhound-es/4-legs-4-hounds-connecting-greyhounds

 

Or contact the Greyhound Health Initiative for info on possible help

https://www.greyhoundhealthinitiative.org/

[JohnF]

One of my Borzois broke her hock when 'dancing around' in the sand when her foot was trapped against a buried rock. She was stabilised for 2 days and operated on in a regional veterinary hospital on the third day. They successfully fixed the fracture with a screw and this saved the limb, but she had a limp for the rest of her life.

[KF_in_Georgia]

My boy broke his hock 8 January 2016. He had surgery and a bone screw implanted 22 January 2016 at Animal Medical Clinic in Melbourne. The bill was paid by Greyhound Pets of America, and I don't know if there was any kind of discount on the price (group rates? special arrangement with his kennel?). The bill includes

 

• a "health profile" (probably lab work)
• IV catheter
• fluid therapy
• IV fluids
• routine anesthesia (plus 90 additional minutes)
• fracture repair pins/wires
• monitoring ECG & respiration
• overnight hospitalization
• radiology (plus 3 additional films)
• analgesic injection
• antibiotic injection
• bone screw
• post-op bandaging

 

The total was $1,491.

He walks better now than he did when he first came to Atlanta, but I keep his weight down a few pounds. (He weighed 68 pre-hock surgery, weighs 64.9 now. Usually raced at 70 pounds, but weighed 75 in the race where he was hurt.) He still limps, and his foot--from toes to ankle (metatarsus to tarsus)--has a permanent bend in it. If he needs to jump over something, he bunny-hops it with both back feet together. He doesn't try to get in the car, and I have to boost his 64.9 pounds every time. He's five years old, and gets two fish oil capsules and two glucosamine every day. There was some residual swelling in his foot when I adopted him in April 2016, but that's gone now. He came up to Atlanta with a copy of his bill from AMC in Melbourne and a CD of his x-rays, so we can monitor screw position. (I uploaded a copy of the x-rays to my Dropbox account. I can access them from my phone if I need them in a future vet visit.)

I have Healthy Paws insurance for him, but I realize that anything that happens to his back left hock is going to be my problem, financially. (So far, he's broken a canine tooth at the roots and needed surgery for that.)

Edited February 19, 2018 by KF_in_Georgia

[Guest TinyTortellini]

Any chance you are in Florida? There's a great ortho vet there that did a repair on a friend's greyhound (backyard injury).

 

If you are on Facebook, join the Greytalk Health & Medical page. It is not associated with this site. You'll get some input from medical folks there, however it isn't a really active page so be patient.

 

We've got great medical folks here and most likely others who have experienced this problem will chime in.

 

I know of no financial assistance programs.

Is the ortho perhaps Dr. Neihauser at Capital Vet in Jacksonville? I emailed them and sent them all of our dog's information, but they haven't responded. I just want him to be able to at least stand on it. From the x-ray it looks like his ankle is shattered..... https://wf1.antechimagingservices.com/mainsite/studyByMail.html?token=dc8cfc7ada3276957d8a5dbc34456d0c

Edited February 20, 2018 by TinyTortellini

[Guest TinyTortellini]

What kiind of treatment was done for him prior? Was is casted at all? IMO, if he's having trouble walking on it now the repair either wasn't completed or perhaps it broke again subsequently.

 

I would definitely look into what the trouble is and how serious - a good set of xrays to start. An orthopedic specialist might be able to help you more than a regular vet.

 

Ohio State has a program to help broken leg greyhounds but I don't know if they offer financial aid to dogs outside their geographic area. You can look them up on the web.

https://vet.osu.edu/greyhound-es/4-legs-4-hounds-connecting-greyhounds

 

Or contact the Greyhound Health Initiative for info on possible help

https://www.greyhoundhealthinitiative.org/

 

Here are his x-rays. I don't think much was done to help him, and in fact I think he was made to race after it was broken which made it worse. https://wf2.antechimagingservices.com/mainsite/studyByMail.html?token=dc8cfc7ada3276957d8a5dbc34456d0c

 

Here is the video of the injury. This was his 3rd to last race. http://www.trackinfo.com/video-box.jsp?raceid=gIG%2420171011E13 It is disturbing, so watch at your own discretion....

Edited February 20, 2018 by TinyTortellini

[GeorgeofNE]

Tiny Tortellini, let me ASSURE you. No one made your dog race with a broken leg.

 

Sounds like something a Grey2K supporter would tell you.

[Guest TinyTortellini]

Tiny Tortellini, let me ASSURE you. No one made your dog race with a broken leg.

 

Sounds like something a Grey2K supporter would tell you.

 

I realize now how absolutely silly that would be.... not only would they be SERIOUSLY drawing unwanted attention if they did that, but it wouldn't even be worth it. If you look at my post on greytalk health and medical, there is an interesting development: the trainer has stated that the injury didn't happen with them...

[robinw]

 

I realize now how absolutely silly that would be.... not only would they be SERIOUSLY drawing unwanted attention if they did that, but it wouldn't even be worth it. If you look at my post on greytalk health and medical, there is an interesting development: the trainer has stated that the injury didn't happen with them...

It's not that silly. I can think of at least one time that it's happened. Even if he wasn't raced afterwards, it absolutely disgusts me that such an injury would have been left untreated. Broken hocks don't happen by themselves.

 

I hope it can be fixed for a reasonable amount of money. good luck.

Edited February 20, 2018 by robinw

[Guest TinyTortellini]

Update:

 

Sent the x-rays out to multiple vets/surgeons. Here are the two most prominent responses I've gotten:

 

From Dr. Mills of NGAP:

 

"Hello Mr Satalino,

I've looked over the records you've provided for Alfonso. It appears as though he has a healed fracture/luxation of his tarsus (ankle). Unfortunately this is a common injury in racing greyhounds, but they usually are able to cope pretty well with it once healed. Although they may retain a slight limp thereafter. In acute cases, where the tarsal fracture is fresh and still mobile, a plate can be placed to secure and essentially fuse the joint (arthrodesis). However, once healed it requires rebreaking of the bone which can have mixed results. Usually the patient is comfortable enough that this is not necessary. If Alfonso's injury is stable I would actually recommend treating it as such, using anti-inflammatories and pain medication as needed. Similar to a patient with arthritis. Surgery may actually cause more harm than good in these cases. I hope that helps, and I am happy to discuss further if you desire."

From Capital Veterinary in Jacksonville:

"Hi Thomas—Dr. Neihaus said the breaks looks old and not much he can do unless the dog is painful or unstable. Then at that point he could do a fusion. We’d hate for you to drive all this way and not do surgery. Let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks so much!

Julie"

[greypuppyluv]

 

I realize now how absolutely silly that would be.... not only would they be SERIOUSLY drawing unwanted attention if they did that, but it wouldn't even be worth it. If you look at my post on greytalk health and medical, there is an interesting development: the trainer has stated that the injury didn't happen with them...

 

It is absolutely NOT silly. Greyhounds are raced after they fracture bones. Most are rested for awhile though before racing again. Our group has taken in a greyhound who had broken both rear ankles and was finally retired after the second ankle broke.

 

In looking at his history, it makes total sense that he severely injured that leg in the race where he fell. He did not race well after that and was then retired a few races later? Something was definitely up but I'm surprised the group you adopted him from didn't notice or treat his injury.

[macoduck]

TinyTortellini, I think we've been chatting on FB too. Sounds like those doctors gave good advice. I never like seeing any of mine limp, even when it's brief, so I understand you wondering what can be done to help your boy.

Your boy is quite handsome. I was looking at the TGS site the other day and I loved his fawn and white markings. My greyhounds have come from GFNC, TGS, GC, PRH, and the GPA Senior Sanctuary in FL.

Edited February 20, 2018 by macoduck

[JJNg]

Greyhounds absolutely do not race with broken bones, and they certainly don’t race again days after a hock fracture and finish within a second of the winning time. I’m 100% sure that Alfonso Verboten did not break his hock in that race on Oct 11.

 

There are some cases where a dog with a well healed fracture can race competitively again after months of treatment and rehab, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. This dog ran again 4 days after the race where he fell, and again 6 days after that. And his finishing time was within a second of the winner in both races. No way a dog with any kind of fracture could have done that.

 

Most falls at the track actually don’t result in injury, despite what the anti-racing groups want you to think. One of the anti-racing groups compiled a video showing greyhounds falling in races, making people assume they were injured. I looked each one of them up, and I think all but one of them were fine and raced again a few days later. And I can assure you, greyhounds with broken legs are not allowed to race, nor would any trainer even try.

[45MPHK9]

I sure hope the trainer and racing owner would pay for the repair. Trainers and owners all love their dogs so much according to the pro racing folks. Pro racing people, where's the money from the owners and trainers? Why should the adopter be stuck with a bill?

Edited February 21, 2018 by 45MPHK9

[JJNg]

This dog's leg is already healed and it looks like repair isn't needed or recommended at this time, according to two greyhound-experienced vets, one of which is an orthopedic surgeon. Since it looks like it's been 3 or 4 months since Alfie stopped racing and the adoption group apparently wasn't involved in any treatment for his leg, it looks like the trainer or racing owner were the ones who treated his broken leg, probably with a splint or cast. Even with surgery, not all fractures heal perfectly and result in a normal gait with no lameness.

 

If there is no instability in the hock, maybe he would improve with some physical therapy. The x-rays the OP sent a link to don't look bad at all.

[robinw]

This dog's leg is already healed and it looks like repair isn't needed or recommended at this time, according to two greyhound-experienced vets, one of which is an orthopedic surgeon. Since it looks like it's been 3 or 4 months since Alfie stopped racing and the adoption group apparently wasn't involved in any treatment for his leg, it looks like the trainer or racing owner were the ones who treated his broken leg, probably with a splint or cast. Even with surgery, not all fractures heal perfectly and result in a normal gait with no lameness.

 

If there is no instability in the hock, maybe he would improve with some physical therapy. The x-rays the OP sent a link to don't look bad at all.

From reading the messages from the doctors, it appears that if anything was done at all, people at the racetrack probably splinted it themselves, if at all. Why would fixing it have been theresponwibility of the adoption group?

[GeorgeofNE]

Your dog's original owner is looking for you, Tiny Tortellini.

 

If you're on Facebook, her name is Crystal Ann.

[Guest TinyTortellini]

Your dog's original owner is looking for you, Tiny Tortellini.

 

If you're on Facebook, her name is Crystal Ann.

Cant find her on Facebook.

[Guest TinyTortellini]

Could an admin please delete this thread?

[Guest TinyTortellini]

This is inaccurate, the race pictured here he had no injury.

 

Here are his x-rays. I don't think much was done to help him, and in fact I think he was made to race after it was broken which made it worse. https://wf2.antechimagingservices.com/mainsite/studyByMail.html?token=dc8cfc7ada3276957d8a5dbc34456d0c

 

Here is the video of the injury. This was his 3rd to last race. http://www.trackinfo.com/video-box.jsp?raceid=gIG%2420171011E13 It is disturbing, so watch at your own discretion....

[robinw]

Your dog's original owner is looking for you, Tiny Tortellini.

 

If you're on Facebook, her name is Crystal Ann.

uh oh, you'd better run and hide Just kidding