Growth Plate Fracture

[HazyWal]

I don't think its fair to judge the OP for using a dog walker. People use them for a variety of reasons (me included) and its not instead of me walking my dog, its to break up her day because she's home while I'm at work. I walk her each night, but she loves going out to the park twice a week with a few other dogs during the day.

Accidents happen, and something like this could happen when you're walking your own dog, so leave the judgements at the door (hard to do on a place like DOL, I know ;)

Agree. I have a broken foot and five broken toes at the moment and I won't be able to walk my greyhounds for 3 months. I have two different friends walking my dogs, one who is an experienced greyhound owner one who is not.I worry each time they leave the house but I don't have a choice. Two greyhounds not walked for three months

[Erica1]

Thanks Minimax and Stans Mum. I'm not even going to bother to reply to Nekhbet. Our puppy is now home. She's having physiotherapy and we take her on short walks ourselves. We used the agency because we thought we were doing the right thing for our dog. We both work and I thought it might be good for her to get some exercise and socialisation and to break up the boredom with her having to be home alone for long periods of time. We obviously didn't know that the risk was so high.

She's had her stitches taken out. She uses the leg but needs to learn to use it properly. We'll try to take her for a swim when the weather gets warmer as it's currently too cold in Canberra to swim. Unfortunately there's no hydrotherapy centre for dogs in Canberra. She'll have the rod taken out soon and we'll find out if there's been any disruption to her growth. The vet is optimistic. Even if there are problems, I'm sure we'll be able to manage it.

[Xyz]

Great news! Good luck for a speedy recovery!

[Scales of Justice]

I had a 4 month old puppy who had a similar break and had a pin put in the lower hindquarter. The vet said at the time that it would have been possible for the growth plates not to grow properly and for the leg to be a different length from the other one. After rest and removal of the plaster and pin she slowly made a great recovery and got her CD title after 12 months of age. She was completely normal as an adult. So hang in.

Edited August 10, 2012 by Scales of Justice

[Burkes]

Thanks Minimax and Stans Mum. I'm not even going to bother to reply to Nekhbet. Our puppy is now home. She's having physiotherapy and we take her on short walks ourselves. We used the agency because we thought we were doing the right thing for our dog. We both work and I thought it might be good for her to get some exercise and socialisation and to break up the boredom with her having to be home alone for long periods of time. We obviously didn't know that the risk was so high.

She's had her stitches taken out. She uses the leg but needs to learn to use it properly. We'll try to take her for a swim when the weather gets warmer as it's currently too cold in Canberra to swim. Unfortunately there's no hydrotherapy centre for dogs in Canberra. She'll have the rod taken out soon and we'll find out if there's been any disruption to her growth. The vet is optimistic. Even if there are problems, I'm sure we'll be able to manage it.

When I win the lotto my plan is to build a pet centre that includes a hydrotherapy pool for dogs. I've had one dog with bad arthritis and another who had TPLO surgery and would definately have used it. One day:)

Good luck with your pup!

[aussielover]

Glad to hear your pup is doing ok!

I don't see a problem with using a dog walker? I don't think the risk is generally very, although as you have sadly found out, accidents can happen

Hope she makes a quick recovery :)

[Nekhbet]

I know a lot of people use dog walkers, my point was using one at such a delicate age both physically and mentally.

Good to hear her operation went well, pups can be surprisingly resilient in most things.