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Post by Esteve on Feb 29, 2012 2:23:57 GMT 10
Dog recovering from a broken metatarsal 3 days ago , no displacement, what would be the best therapy to apply daily.
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Post by Tom Meulman on Feb 29, 2012 8:37:35 GMT 10
Hi Esteve,
While it may sound counter intuitive, but because the Metatarsal bones are all situated closely together the size of the calcification across the fracture line should be kept to a minimum.
In other words if the additional bone growth that occurs as a result of the healing process impacts upon the adjacent bones, quite often this can result in long term pain in the whole of the area.
The other problem that can occur, is that if the healing process at the early stage of healing is stimulated too much by for instance blistering too early, the bone growth that occurs can cause slight twisting of the fractured Metatarsal and this affects the top of the Metatarsal where it joins the Cuneiform bones of the hock.
For all the above reasons I find it better to immerse the foot up to the top of the hock in cold water twice daily untill all of the swelling has gone down, and to then allow a minimum of three weeks of natural healing to occur prior to blistering to ensure it heals strong.
The blister most commonly used is 10% iodine applied every second day for four applications, making sure it is applied lightly so that it does not affect the skin or hair unduly.
This type of fracture generally takes a minimum of six weeks to heal.
Cheers, Tom
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Post by esteve on Mar 29, 2012 0:30:24 GMT 10
So leaving 10 weeks for example would this be of greater benefit?
Shes been walking on it fine for a few weeks now, her walks have gone from a small turn out to her normal daily walks.
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Post by Tom Meulman on Mar 29, 2012 5:08:33 GMT 10
Hi Esteve,
If the fracture has had the blister treatment, after 6 weeks it is possible to then allow some free running in a large galloping paddock or up a straight.
If the injury has been allowed to heal naturally 10 weeks is better.
Cheers, Tom
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Metatarsal
May 15, 2019 19:16:15 GMT 10
via mobile
Post by Peter on May 15, 2019 19:16:15 GMT 10
Hi Esteve, If the fracture has had the blister treatment, after 6 weeks it is possible to then allow some free running in a large galloping paddock or up a straight. If the injury has been allowed to heal naturally 10 weeks is better. Cheers, Tom Hi Tom I love reading your posts. Your very knowledgeable and I've learnt so much from your site. I have a dog here in Ireland and he was running great then he start to slow in his races as he approached the 1st corner. I had him checked over by 3 different muscle men and nothing. I even got him checked with a lady who checks horses with an infra camera and nothing. I was putting it down to the dog not hunting on the track but on Saturday night he trapped 3 lengths behind and I knew something was wrong. Next morning I noticed him light on his right rear leg. I checked the hock and he wouldn't yelp so I lifted his good back leg and made him stand on the sore leg and when I touched just below the hock the dog fell. I took the dog for an x Ray and it showed a small crack below the hock on the metatarsal but there is like a callus built up were it must of been trying to heal. Vet told me to blister 5days on and 5days off then 5days on. He said don't use any machines to speed recovery. In your opinion Tom will the dog ever come OK. I'm fearing the worse as don't like the build up of callus
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Post by Tom Meulman on May 16, 2019 6:16:18 GMT 10
Hi Peter,
First of all, yes I do think that the dog will recover to race again, and I’m happy enough to go with your vets treatment advice as the blistering should help to break down some of the callus calcification and blend it into the fracture.
However after that sufficient time off to allow the bone to settle down and finish remodeling is still required without the strain of running on the fracture area as this will help to reduce any callus further. While I’m inclined to be conservative and recommend 6 weeks, a further X-ray at 4 weeks should provide more information on the speed and quality of healing that has taken place and any further required healing time.
Cheers, Tom
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Post by Peter on May 16, 2019 7:37:51 GMT 10
Thanks Tom for your reply. My vet wants to see the dog at 6 weeks to get another x Ray and see as you said how well it's healed. My vet never give me a time scale of how long the dog will be off with this injury but he thought with the callus build up it happened at least 8 weeks ago. In your opinion how long would it take the callus to form
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Post by Tom Meulman on May 17, 2019 2:03:06 GMT 10
Hi Peter,
Without being able to view the initial X-ray’s of the fracture and the callus it’s impossible for me guess with any accuracy how long ago the fracture occurred, and the number of gallops with the fracture as well as time off in between all have an affect on the size of the callus.
There again I have seen a number of situations where pups that fractured a metacarpal early on in their breaking-in procedure at a trial track developed an extremely large callus after just four weeks as a result having been galloped twice weekly with such an injury.
Cheers, Tom
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Metatarsal
May 18, 2019 22:05:01 GMT 10
via mobile
Post by Peter on May 18, 2019 22:05:01 GMT 10
Hi Peter, Without being able to view the initial X-ray’s of the fracture and the callus it’s impossible for me guess with any accuracy how long ago the fracture occurred, and the number of gallops with the fracture as well as time off in between all have an affect on the size of the callus. There again I have seen a number of situations where pups that fractured a metacarpal early on in their breaking-in procedure at a trial track developed an extremely large callus after just four weeks as a result having been galloped twice weekly with such an injury. Cheers, Tom Thanks Tom. I will wait the 6 weeks and get the x Ray and see how we'll its healed. Do you use the iodine morning and night or once a day.
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Post by Tom Meulman on May 19, 2019 3:29:36 GMT 10
Hi Peter,
Definitely only once daily.
Great care needs to be taken using a blistering agent not to rub it in too vigorously or too often as it as the name suggests will cause a blister like swelling that could if done badly cause the skin to slough off and a nasty sore.
When applying repeated daily doses of a blistering agent it is painted on at the first application so that it thoroughly wets the skin, and any repeated applications are done lightly so that it basically wets the hair only.
All blistering applications must be stopped when a swelling in the area occurs. If further applications are recommended by your vet they cannot be restarted until all swelling has disappeared.
Cheers, Tom
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Post by Peter on May 22, 2019 6:25:43 GMT 10
Hi Tom did you ever use zheng gu shui for bones and would u recommend it thanks peter
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Post by Tom Meulman on May 22, 2019 19:37:18 GMT 10
Hi Peter,
Zheng gu shui is formulated more for pain relief rather than bone repair, and as such it’s best used as a pain relief for sore muscles and joints with only limited value in regard to speeding up the repair of bone fractures.
Cheers, Tom
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