PLEASE HELP ME. Broken Leg

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PLEASE HELP ME. Broken Leg

Posted : 5/13/2006 6:35:08 AM

Hi there
My yorkshire terrier broke her leg arond five months ago, she had to get three pins inserted, it healed up very nicely, but the problem is that she does not use it , she keeps carring it around and not putting it down, but when she forgets about it she leaves it down and can walk on it perfectly, but then she remembers she hurt it and lifts it up again.
I brought her to the vet and he said it has healed up vey nicely and it is definetely strong enough to walk on , he then gave us some bandages and told us to wrapt these around the GOOD leg and make a sling to tie it up, so she would have to use the other leg.and do this everytime you bring her on a walk. i did that numerous times but everytime i did it she would not budge, i tried to use some treats to make her move but she would'nt move at all. i eventually gave up after a week and half because there was no way she was going to move. I also tried swimming with here to make her use the leg, she used it when she was swimming but when she got to ground she lifted it up again. It must be a pyscological problem .

PLEASE HELP IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS PLEASE SHARE THEM WITH ME

glenmar

Posted : 5/13/2006 6:44:22 AM

Even tho the leg has healed nicely, I'm guessing that the muscles are not as strong as they used to be just from lack of use. it might "feel funny' to use the leg.

I'd get her swimming every single time you can so that she WILL use the leg. It doesn't matter so much that she won't use it on dry land, she needs to USE it to keep the muscles from atrophying, so get her in the pool as OFTEN as possible.

Massage is a very powerful thing. It not only FEELS good, but it's going to increase the blood flow to that area and help make the muscles and tissue HEALTHIER. Ask your vet for a referral and learn how to do it yourself.

I'm sure some of the others will be along soon with some ideas as well.

calliecritturs

Posted : 5/13/2006 10:08:51 PM

Absolutely everything Glenda said is GOLD. Try Dr. Fox's book of pet massage, or even a professional pet massage therapist. [linkhttp://www.petmassage.com]http://www.petmassage.com[/link] -- they have great self-help stuff too.

but in many ways YOU have to get tough. Now maybe compromise -- don't bandage her leg quite so much -- that was scarey. You also can't play 'fair' -- stack the deck and use some yummy IRRESISTIBLE treat -- like cooked liver (when the dog is hungry!!). But make it *possible* for the dog to move -- encourage the dog to move a step at a time (help move the feet a bit).

But most of all -- DO NOT give in. Wait it out ... help the dog take a step or two ... PRAISE IN A BIG WAY!! ***RAH!!!*** you took a step! Good kid!!!!

Keep the session very short -- take the smallest 'step' ... make a HUGE deal out of it and quit. Celebrate in a BIG Way at the 'end' and then try again **tomorrow**. But keep trying again ... keep on every single day ... break it into teeny tiny steps -- even if you have to start with the bandages very minimal on the good leg so the dog doesn't get totally freaked as you 'increase' it and they find they HAVE to compensate with the 'bad' leg.

Always begin and end with massage -- getting blood to that leg is SO important.

When you haven't borne weight on a limb, ... well, it's very like if you've set on your foot or in a cramped position and you get 'pins and needles' in that foot?? WE KNOW with our minds the only 'cure' is to stand on it and walk around. But it DOES hurt. All the dog knows is it's scarey!!

But don't quit -- don't try it once and give up. You gotta keep after it ... break it down to tiny wee steps ... not even true 'steps' but even parts of one. A shift in balance ... anything.

And put the dog on leash -- so you can encourage them but not drag. Put that treat on the floor in front of them just beyond reach ... even if the dog merely has to shift it's weight to get it at first ... that IS a step.

Make sense??