Lame / Deformed Wrist

[2Huskysisnotenough]

hi all, im a bit new here so i didnt know how to start but im just a bit upset; ive just found out that my gorgeous 6month old siberian husky has a deformed front leg; mainly in the wrist causing it to "turn out" as the vet states the complications of this is long and painful, along the lines of arthritis, lame etc. i was hoping to be able to continue training her & her sister to race / mush but it now seems that dream is gone. i just feel so sorry for her.

what im wondering is if this is a common issue for dog of this breed / age etc? her sister is fine although a stocker build. as these are my first dogs outside a family pet (last one died of cancer tumors so i got very upset about this issue)

im also concerened about cost; could anybody recommend a specialist?; im in the hunter valley - nsw. money isnt an issue as i want whats best for her, but im certainly not rich; my partner and i just bought our first house (were in our 20's) & were getting married in just under a month - so things are just crazy atm.

please PM with any tips or contacts; thanks

- Aimee

[persephone]

Hi did you contact your girl's breeder? What did they say?

Did the vet say exactly what the problem is? bone, or tendons, or ???

[poodlefan]

As I said in the Sibe 101 thread, this may not be a breed related issue.

Damaged growth plates may be caused by stress or injury too.

A visit to an orthopedic vet would be a good starting point I think. Was this present at 8 weeks?

Edited September 14, 2009 by poodlefan

[2Huskysisnotenough]

not that we could spot, she only started limping a couple of weeks back; although looking back at pictures you can notice the "slightest" curve out - the first vet thought "growing pains" then the x ray comfirmed the plates have deformed

im about to head off and talk to the vet, i hope he can recommend a decent surgen / specialist

[2Huskysisnotenough]

yeh not good, so now i have to wait on the specialists opinion; heres a pic from today - she went in early because she discovered the Bee's...poor thing her face was all swollen; but u might be able to see from the RH front leg its bent

Edited September 14, 2009 by 2Huskysisnotenough

[Staranais]

Yes, a visit to an orthopaedic vet would be a very good idea. Like Poodlefan says, these types of things are often caused by trauma to the open growth plates. But a specialist vet is the best option to work out what's really going on. Let us know how you go!

Also, what are you feeding? I'm all for raw feeding generally, but I'd personally be playing it safe and putting a pup with this type of issues onto a commercial balanced large breed puppy food until his issues are resolved/diagnosed or until he stops growing.

[2Huskysisnotenough]

i feed them dry food mainly; PURINA ONE Growth & Development Formula for puppies; with a bit of kangeroo jerky as a treat every now & then

[puggy_puggy]

She looks to have early distal growth plate closure of the radius. Causing the radius to stop growing and the ulna to become bowed because of it. The leg and foot to flip out like a seals flipper. Surgery can be performed either before all of the growing has finished or after. They are still not sure if this a genetic problem, a malnutrition whilst in eutro problem, manutrition as a pup or injury problem.

One of my ex foster puggies has this and has surgery to correct her deformity to a degree, earlier this year. She was from a puppy farm. Once she had stopped growing they cut the ulna in half and took a bone graft out of it. They then cut the deformed radius in half and lenghtened it with the graft and put a plate on it. A month after this surgery the plate snapped and the screws came out of the bone so the procedure had to be done again with a graft from her shoulder and a bigger plate attached to the radius and a plaster cast put on her leg. After two months of being either crated or carried around she started rehab that included swimming and physio. She has as little carpal brace she wears now. It breaks my heart that she is disabled but she is happy as larry.

Trust your specalist. But really they have the easier job in performing the surgery. The tought work all begins after surery is completed and will be your responsibility.

[2Huskysisnotenough]

thanks so much for the story; a real insight - thats exacly what the vet described the specialist would recommened. it looks like a long challanging time ahead.

[puggy_puggy]

If you have any questions please feel free to pm me.

After the failure of the first operation and the second operation being performed Poppy, the pug, came back to live with me for nearly four months. So I know most things there is to know about the deformity.