Hi Just caugt up with this thread
what a rollercoaster it has been.

Hope she is back tpo working sheep soon and well done for sticking with it.

Ndidi

Hi Kathryn and everyone,

My 10yo labrador ripped her achillies tendon 5 months ago and TODAY she is allowed to start swimming again. She is soo happy!

We did not realise she had hurt her tendon as she already had quite bad arthritis in that back leg and thought she was limping because of that.

Two weeks later the on farm vet saw her and advised she had done her tendon and as she was quite happy in herself and still charging around - to just slow her down ALOT and see if it would heal.

Needless to say, it didn't.

She went in for an op 1st October to remove a swallowed rock and had her leg immobilized at the same time in a cast with instructions for very very restricted movements.

2 weeks later, cast removed, cut in half and then put back on with lots of padding.

2 weeks later, she swallowed another rock! Another op.

Its now two months exactly and she has been out of the temp support cast for two weeks with restricted movement.

I got referred to an orthopedic surgeon for a check up today and she is allowed to swim or walk on the flat to build up her muscles again.

The leg is not right, by a long way. She is still dropping on the leg and the toes are a bit curled. The orthopedic surgeon wants to operate but advised that as it was so long since the injury a few more months would not hurt and she might adjust ok. Just slowly build up her exercise and muscles.

The credit card is maxed out having spent $4000 so far this year on her and Summer is her biggest fun time with going out in the boat and swimming etc so I want to put off the next op if possible.

Question for all of you - I want to get her a leg support half cast sort of thing (similar calipers that Forest Gumpf wore in the movie) that I can velcro on her leg when she wants to run around like a maniac - to save her overworking that leg. Remembering that she has bad arthritis in the hock and will always go lame on that leg anyway unless I can protect it in some way.

Do you have any ideas of where I could go for such an item?

This might be useful for Wicci as well long term, if her leg stays just that little big dropped. it means she could perhaps go back to being a working dog and not overwork or overstrain that leg on a big big day..

Many thanks

Kate

Hi NZflower.

some time ago I did see some American websites which had various leg support strappings/casts etc. (the Americans seemed to be the only ones offering these)

here are a couple of possible sites that you could have a look at - not sure whether they are any good

http://www.dogbrace.com/

http://www.seniorpetsupplies.com/pro...Dogs-16-9.html

http://www.handicappedpets.com/www/p...pets-walk.html

Hi, 1st time i have posted since the snow pics, sorry that you have experienced such bad luck with your lab at least Wicca doesn't swallow rocks!
To date Wicca appears amazing on her leg, not even lame, she does work sheep but only outruns to collect them & does a bit of driving this keeps her happy & she does not seem to have problems post exercise either.
Whilst in the depths of gloom over her injury I looked into everything that could help her & found this website for a achilles support if we needed one , I spoke at length to the manufacturer (they phoned me back as they are in America) & found them practical & helpful they have worked with vets over here in sorting a brace so here is the site & email address, www.orthopets.com, orthopets@yahoo.com. You have probably read back on Wicca & I can honestly say the repair was fantastic but done within 48hrs as it was a total rupture, the post op attention not so good, the physio I found for Wicca priceless without her she would still be lame/3 legged
Good luck will be thinking of you
K

Hi Kathryn and Hali,

Thank you so much for the feedback. I have just placed an order with Handicappedpets. Thought I would try the Hock Holder or hock brace and then if that does not do the trick I will visit orthopets. She cannot wear a brace or anything yet though because she has four nasty pressure sores from the casts and bandages...

Will update once we have tried it.

Thanks again

Kate

Hi all it has been nearly a year since I posted pic of Wicca off lead, well here she is working !! She was just such a different dog after she worked some sheep that the decision has been made so we have been using her carefully since Jan on a friends farm just for collecting flocks up & a bit of driving it was as if she had never been away.I am almost to scared to say but her leg appears fantastic very little scarring or chronic inflammation around the injury & for her she is now having a full a life as we can allow.

XK

I'm so pleased to hear that Kathryn and thanks so much for the update. Lovely to hear how she's getting on and your whole thread will hopefully give hope to anyone else who's dog is unfortunate to suffer the same injury.

Lovely photo too

Hi Kathryn,

I hope you are still on this forum. My Australian Kelpie X has just ruptured her achilles (Thu 10 June 2010). My dog is expected to have surgery sometime next week.

Kind regards,
Keryn

Hi Keryn
Yes I am still on this forum & sorry to hear your dog has ruptured her achilles, you may have read back through it all ( & its a long read) so you will see how we managed Wicca. As I write she is still sound. Wicca was lucky to have her repair within 48hrs & I think the sooner it is done the more chance of a good outcome she had the full works, the leg pinned in position so it could not bend & so allow healing, the problem being tendons do not have a good blood supply so healing to a satisfactory level is hard. Just casting a leg & hoping is not good enough, I had a laser that I was able to use as soon as the dressings were off from the surgery I think this helped a lot. I also have 2 Kelpiex Collies, I was worried about being able to rest Wicca sufficiently well but that wasn't a problem following the surgery & being discharged it was up to me to find rehabilitation for her - the recovery is quite well covered but feel free to post or email/pm I am more than happy to answer any questions.
Who is operating on your dog ? a specialist orthopod ? the problem with this type of injury is that it is very rare not many are experienced in the repair. Good luck I will be thinking of you both.

Hi Kathryn,

Thanks for your quick response. Yes, after finding the thread initially I have thoroughly read it all and although you had your troubles it was encouraging. Needless to say I am not looking forward to the whole process but don't have a choice really.

My girl is 10 years old but very fit and healthy and until this very active (and still trying to be!) Unfortunately it is a public holiday weekend here and so that has caused the delay in her operation. Also the vet I took her to, I could tell, did not feel confident about it and wants to consult a specialist. The last achilles he did was on a cat in 2002!!! I am happy to go with the specialist but he can't consult till Tuesday because of the public holiday....

Cost is the big factor for me at the moment - I am looking at around $2000 at this point, quite substantial but I will manage it. I'm just wondering about ongoing costs - can you give me a ball park figure for your total expenditure including rehab?

My girl loved swimming and I get the impression you did that - there is a lake I can take her too but in the past she's really only gone swimming for the ball and would run in for it so I guess I will have to slow that process down and may have to get in the lake with her - which does not appeal to me - what did you do?

How mobile are they with the fixator attached? Is it much like when the injury happened? Are they able to get around okay with it?

My other problem is that we live alone and I work 10 hour shifts. Will I need to arrange a sitter?

Oh joy!?

I will add further questions as they come - I appreciate your advice, thanks.

Keryn