Fractures in Feet

[M1Tanker]

I posted several weeks ago about an older dog that I thought was having joint issues because he was groaning when getting up and down during rest periods.

The initial diagnosis from the vet was issues with the gastrointestinal tract, possible ulcer and excessive as in the intestines. After 2 weeks of Prylosec and antibiotic there was no response.

I took him back in and the vet did extensive x-rays to take another look at the skeletal framework. When they went to put him up on the table he got real squirrely when they went to the front legs. After a multiple sets of x-rays, what they found were multiple fractures on all feet. Most likely they occurred over the course of his life and never healed correctly. The fractures are now swollen abscess-like pockets above the pads of his feet. The front feet have at least two on each feet and the bones are very small, located on the bones that connect to the what we would call the ankle.

The good news is that they can actually take out the small bones to relieve the pressure. We are still waiting to hear from a specialist they are consulting (they can do the surgery themselves) as to whether or not removing the small bones will lead to an over-compensation that could risk pulled muscles or tendons. If that is the case, we could try something like an adequan regimen as opposed to surgery.

How did it happen? Who knows, as it could be from something in the woods but I would bet that it came from a few years of jumping off the tailgate of the truck and a daily regimen of jumping up and down off his dog house unto the concrete kennel floor.

So...I guess I am posting as an FYI to look out for if you have a jumper.

In addition, once we discovered this, we also noticed he walks on his toes.

Good news is the boy has great hips, joints, and healthy heart and lungs...so we will do something to keep him in the woods if we can.

[Cajun Casey]

Thanks for the update. I would be very interested in the progress of treatment and particularly keen to know what, if any, pathological agent is found in the abcess like tissue. Good thing you persisted with diagnosis.

[Sharon]

Sounds like that old dentist joke - " Do you want the good news or the bad news? Your teeth are great;your gums are bad."

I've never heard of fractured feet. Thanks for the information.