Help Needed: Urgent!!!!!

[Tiffany]

My dog Eros has a brachial plexus injury in his front leg he has no feeling in his paw. Last night while everyone was sleeping he chewed off his toe. We rushed him to Tufts Vetrinary School Foster Hospital for Small Animals. They told us our options are either to amputate his leg or lock his wrist in an extended position forever. since the accident he has been walking on his wrist just recently he has been trying to straiten it out so we really don't like either option and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about this or has any suggestions. He is staying at the hospital till monday when they are planning for the surgery so this is really time sensitive I am looking for a second opinion but being a sturday I haven't gotten ahold of anyone yet. I would greatly appretiate any response.
Thanks Eros & Tiffany

[CarolC]

Hi Tiffany,

That's actually a positive sign, it means the feeling is coming back. You might like to read this while I find some other stuff.


http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/ ... read=24436

[CarolC]

http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/ ... read=17146 Homemade protection for chewing feet

http://www.handicappedpets.com/wbbs/web ... read=11201 Medication for chewing feet

<a href="http://www.handicappedpets.com/wbbs/web ... Medication continued</a>

<a href="http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/disc.htm">Bitter Apple and Liquid Heet</a> (scroll to very end of webpage)

There is also a product called Bandgard (spelling?) you have to get through a veterinary supplier that is supposed to be the worst tasting stuff ever and can be put on bandages or the skin itself.

<a href="http://www.handicappedpets.com/wbbs/web ... 6">Sheri's experience with Pete</a>

The link above shows you just one message from Sheri about Pete. Pete was paralyzed from being shut in a door, and he had repeated incidents of chewing his feet as the feeling came back. At least once he chewed his foot nearly off. Sheri and her vet got it healed up each time. This went on for months, so a lot of patience and faith were needed. He has now progressed to walking and hasn't chewed for quite a while so hopefully he's past that. If you want, I can find quite a few messages Sheri posted the times this happened.

[Tiffany]

Hi thanks for your response I thought that too but the vet said its possible but more likely he got bored and frustrated or got a little cut and licked it liked the taste and got carried away. I don't know if I just have a pessimistic vet or what I'm going to get a second opinion before I do anything. I don't know why they just can't bandage it and send him home maybe there afraid that he'll just chew it more I'm so confused I'm going crazy!!!!

[CarolC]

Here is the link that the information came from. You might want to print out the complete article and mark the section that applies to chewing feet and show it to the vet. Tell them you want to try conservative management of the problem till the dog gets past it, just like the article says. Tell him you are aware of others with dogs recovering from nerve injuries that chewed their feet and they got past it. This is such an authoritative article by a specialist that there is little room for them to argue. I'd consider bringing him home.

Article on nerve regeneration

[Tiffany]

Thank you so much for all your help. I'm going back up there today and I'm going to tell them that we aren't going to have any surgery yet, that I want them to fix his toe and I'll do preventative maintenence. We have actually started to see improvement. I'm not going to do anything permanent yet. You have been a lifesaver today I really appreciate everything you've done for me. I wish I had found this sight when he first got hit. Thank you so much again!
Eros & Tiffany

[critters]

Not only would I get him home, but I'd get him a splint. Not only will it probably deter chewing, but it'll hold his wrist in the position of function. http://www.handicappedpets.com/splints/


http://www.handicappedpets.com/splints/

[Max's Mom]

Tiffany,

First let me say that I have no experience with this problem. But I can tell you that surgery is something you can't change your mind about later, as well know. If delaying surgery will not increase the dog's risk of complete imobility later on, I say, why rush it ? At least with a splint, you can later decide on surgery if need be. Go the conservative route, and put off surgery for now. You're his mommy. Once he/she comes home, you will know what to do.

[BethT]

Hi Tiffany,

I have a paralyzed dog named Waffles, I do not have any experience or knowledge of your dog's injury but I do have an opinion. Whenever I hear of a University veterinary hospital I am always concerned that they are looking for "learning experiences" for vet students. I say this because of my own experiences at another very well known veterinary school on the East Coast. On weekends frequently you are dealing with the most inexperienced doctors. Waffles emergency surgery for his rupture disk was done on a Sunday night by a first year resident vet. His surgery did not go well. If your dog isn't in a life or death situation then I don't know why they would be pushing for a Monday surgery. I would definitely get at least one second opinion from another facility. Please keep us posted and good luck. BethT

[Tiffany]

Thanks for your response He already has a splint but this happened at night when everyone was in bed and He didn't have it on. I talked to the vet and he told me that he was just making an educated guess as to what the orthopedic team is going to say when they come in on Monday. Unfortunately his paw is worse then I thought his first toe bone is completely exposed his second and third toe bones are partially exposed and there afraid of infection (he just finished a round of antibiotics for MRSA, a very resistant staff infection) He has to stay there until Monday at least, because there is not enough skin left on his foot for them to stitch him up. But if they can save his foot I am very optimistic that this means his nerve injury is healing and if they can't then at least I wont have to make the decision to take his leg of when there's still a chance for him to get better. Thank you all for your responses you guys have all helped me out a lot today I never really realized how great this place can be in a jam.
Thanks again and pray for my baby!
Tiffany & Eros

[Tiffany]

Thanks so much for your help earlier today. I talked to the vet and he told me that he was just making an educated guess as to what the orthopedic team is going to say when they come in on Monday. Unfortunately his paw is worse then I thought his first toe bone is completely exposed his second and third toe bones are partially exposed and there afraid of infection (he just finished a round of antibiotics for MRSA, a very resistant staff infection) He has to stay there until Monday at least, because there is not enough skin left on his foot for them to stitch him up. But if they can save his foot I am very optimistic that this means his nerve injury is healing and if they can't then at least I wont have to make the decision to take his leg off when there's still a chance for him to get better. Thank you all for your responses you guys have all helped me out a lot today I never really realized how great this place can be in a jam.
Thanks again and pray for my baby!
Tiffany & Eros

[Tiffany]

Thanks for your response. I talked to the vet and he told me that he was just making an educated guess as to what the orthopedic team is going to say when they come in on Monday. Unfortunately his paw is worse then I thought his first toe bone is completely exposed his second and third toe bones are partially exposed and there afraid of infection (he just finished a round of antibiotics for MRSA, a very resistant staff infection) He has to stay there until Monday at least, because there is not enough skin left on his foot for them to stitch him up. But if they can save his foot I am very optimistic that this means his nerve injury is healing and if they can't then at least I wont have to make the decision to take his leg of when there's still a chance for him to get better. Thank you all for your responses you guys have all helped me out a lot today I never really realized how great this place can be in a jam.
Thanks again and pray for my baby!
Tiffany & Eros
P.S. Eros's story is on this message board its under story FCE recovery I think but I don't know how to find it without getting out of this page and then I'll have to retype all of this. but it isn't to far back if you want to try and find it. Its a long story and I'm beat or else I would tell you myself. (Sorry):-(

[CarolC]

Hi Tiffany,

Here is a webpage about Peg, who lost her foot to gangrene. It was reconstructed at a later date. Please do not let them try to tell you they cannot save the foot, and therefore must take the leg. What you describe does *not* sound that bad.

Peg's webpage

Here are some of Sheri's messages about Pete chewing his foot. It took over 6 weeks for the foot to heal one time, so you know he did a job on it, yet it healed. I hope you won't let the vets talk you into surgery when just letting it heal might do well enough.

<a href="http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/ ... d=9648">14 July 04</a>

<a href="http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/ ... d=9718">20 July 04</a>

<a href="http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/ ... d=9736">21 July 04</a>

<a href="http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/ ... d=10413">8 Sep 04</a>

<a href="http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/ ... =11009">13 Oct 04</a>

<a href="http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/ ... =11145">20 Oct 04</a>

<a href="http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/ ... d=12714">5 Jan 05</a>

<a href="http://www.handicappedpets.com/cgi-bin/ ... =15618">11 May 05</a> Pete's party

A fall-back position on Monday might be to tell them you had not planned on surgery in your budget. That would be true, how could you possibly have planned it? They are used to people who cannot afford expensive treatments, it may be one way to get her out of there without too much argument. Just ask them to send you home with antibiotics.

[critters]

They might need to do a little skin grafting or something to close it up; even amputating the toes probably wouldn't be too bad. If they have MRSA, that's another reason to get him out ASAP!!

Tristalyn never messed with anything as her radial nerve healed, but I sure would've as my ulnar nerve did. It felt like a million millipedes in hobnailed boots walking on my arm, but it eventually passed.-

[Tiffany]

Hi again this is in response to everybody as I don't have time to respond to all of you individually. After sleeping on it I've definitely decided that you guys are right. It is way to early to do surgury. knowing my dog the only reasoning that makes sense is that feeling is returning. in the two weeks before this happened He has tried to straighten out his wrist more then he has in the past three months and the other day he was outside and he started kind of jumping backwards (like he would if he saw a frog or something) and then he laid down and didn't want to get up I thought at the time that he just didn't want to get up because it was warm outside for a change and he didn't want to go in.Thinking back it definitely COULD have been that he was getting little shocks of feeling from that leg the way he was doing it. I'm trying not to get false hopes but I know my dog he has NEVER been a chewer just out of boredom. Furthermore if he did get a cut and licked a little bit of blood and liked the taste I don't think he would of kept eating just because even if he didn't know it belonged to him (wich I think he would have) he would've known it was ALIVE and I don't think he would have kept going. This dog has NEVER killed a living animal and my yard has woods in the back and is teaming with creatures he's had plenty of opportunities. Also he hasn't worn an E-collar for aver 6 weeks and during that time he has been left alone for alot longer periods then friday night not to mention we were home when he did it. I know that the doctors could be right. I've also considered the fact that maybe this is his way of telling me he's sick of it and just wants it off. But I'm definitely going to let the foot heal and see what happens first. I'm not really sure how to stop him from getting at it again. When he still had his external fixator He learned how to get around his E-collar to lick the pins in his wrist. I'm afraid He'll do the same for his other paw. well I wont really no more until the othopedic team comes in and looks at him tomorrow. Thanks again for all your help you guys are really great.
Eros & Tiffany