What should I do about my dog's broken foot?

i know for humans a torn ligament in the ankle is more commonly known as a SPRAINED ANKLE.. and i know people who have been going to therapy for over a year for this… personally i think they are getting ripped off since it should take no longer then 2 months to heal.. but here is what i think heh.

1. find a different vet, get a second opion (sorry for spelling Dx)
2. if it is NOT causing the dog pain, do nothing.. and just let it heal
3. if it is causing the dog pain.. painkillers maybe? untill you can afford it.. or find a different solution
4. amputation? if its a serous injoury and cheaper to just get rid of it (had to do this with one of my rabbits toes. vet said it would cost 500 bucks and my dad said forget it its a 20 dollar rabbit that my uncle gave to me. then the vet said ok 100 bucks.. ) so you could always try and do something like this IF it resorts to that..i don’t think the dog would mind

i cant seem to think of anything else at the moment =/ hope this helps

I would rush my dog to the vet. But that`s just me because I cant stand to see my Chloe Bear in pain. I cant stand to see anything in pain, it just kills me.

Can you work out a payment schedule with vet? Can you beg, borrow or steal from relatives or friends? I don’t even know Winston and I love him.

Poor baby!!!! I’m so sorry! Maybe if every flutherer pitched in a little we could all help save his foot! Yeah I know, I live in a fantasy world , but it was my first idea.

Awwwww tell your little baby even though I dont know him that I love him dearly and I wish I could help you out with the payments. Beg, fuss, borrow, save, or break it into simple payments. I love animals so I am getting all teary now. I`ve gotta go find a tissue. But tell your little buddy Winston that I hope he gets better and give him lots of treats for me.

I’d get a second opinion. I’m skeptical that an accident stemming from the chasing of a mockingbird would require orthopedic surgery. Could you get the broken foot fixed and see if the ligament heals on its own? Is it a break or a fracture? Could you make a splint yourself and see what happens? How much pain is Winston in? How serious does the injury seem to you? How much does the surgery cost? How much would someone else charge?

It is worth getting a second opinion. However I worked in a Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital for many years.
It is indeed quite costly to repair broken legs. You may have different options though.
1) The first thing I can suggest to you is that if you have ok credit you can apply for “Care Credit” www.carecredit.com which is a credit card for pet care that most animal hospitals except.
2) Any good hospital should be able to offer you options based on what you are able to afford. This being said, what you can afford is not always what is best for the animal. I am sorry it is the truth. I am in no way saying this to make you feel guilty.
Did he offer you different options? What kind of break does Winston have? Can you describe the type of repair that he was suggesting? It might give me some more insight.
Did you take him to your primary vet or to an emergency hospital?

Ask people that love Winston and just ask if they could pitch in you might even have to suck up.

@petethepothead I have seen dogs break there leg simply by stepping in a hole funny or tripping down a deck or landing the wrong way after jumping up trying to catch a ball. Like people they have freak accidents. It is unfortunate.

One time a dog was on a trampoline and its leg got caught between the springs and when someone jumped….... awwwwww do i have to say it? Poor baby.

@Adina1968: Wow. From now on I’m going to have to be more careful when I’m out running with my dog.

@petethepothead I could tell you all kinds of crazy stories! I worked in Animal emergency for 5 years then I had to give it up. I got compassion fatigue!

As Winstons dad and Mzgators husband. I will tell all. We all love Winston. He actually did not break his bone in his foot. He tore ligament severly in it to the point of dislocation of the metatarsels which acorsing to the vet is worse. Bones heal. Two vets have now said there are a few options. 1 pay over $3000 to LSU medical and fuse the joints. 2 amputate the foot for $500. 3 put him down. 4 change his splint every week which is not what the doc said but at least he will be alive and not hurting. My family loves him and so do I but $$$$ we can’t afford right now. How do I decide. There is pressure on me right now

@gooch Who gave you the splinting option and what did they say the result would be?
There is ABSOLUTELY NO NEED TO EUTHANIZE WINSTON!
Splinting and Strict crate rest with some pain medication may be an option. It is a gamble but you could take a shot and see how it heals.
Amputation may also be an option Finacially if you simply can not afford $3000— It is NOT cruel and animals do realy well. They get around just fine.
I would say that those are your top two options.
If it were me I would probably opt for splinting with strict crate rest and pain medication and see how it goes but…. That can add up too $$$ Medication, Bandage changes, (DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE BANDAGE YOURSELF UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! IT MUST BE SONE BY A VET! If you put the bandage on wrong ex. to tight or too loose. It can cause more problems!)
I am sending you positive thoughts! Please let me know how things work out!

NO PLEASE DO NOT PUT HIM DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been through that before and dont want to go back.

ooohhhh LSU!!!!!

I gave the splinting opion base on the vet saying splint it until you decide or get the money together.

Poor Winston. And his parents… sending you all my good thoughts.

Good thoughts coming from me also. Let us know what you decide.

Thanks guys for all of your warm thoughts. Winston is happy and alert this morning getting around on his three legs. He seems to be in no pain at all. The splint really annoys him. We will be taking him next week fir a second opinion . It will have to be at the end if the week, due to everything being closed because of Mardi Gras. We will keep you updated.

I know it’s silly to some to love a pet as we do Winston, but we do. He has brought so much pure and honest joy into our family. Troy can often be a hard person at times. Last night I watched him holding this little dog in his lap and crying. He wants so badly to fix him. I hope that we will be able to find a solution.

Again, our heartfelt thanks to all of our Fluther family for your kind words to our family. It really means a lot. Along with Winnie’s crisis, Troy is having to deal with his grandmother’s illness. He got a call last night, and she is not expected to live throughout the next week. He is really having a hard time .

I don’t think it is silly to love a pet that much. They become family members and for some of us, that is all we have to come home to. The solution has to be out there. I hope you find it. Love to Troy’s grandmother and hope that the next week for her is peaceful.

Hey just checking in on little Winston! How is the little guy? Better I hope.

@mzgator, it’s not silly to love a pet. I agree with @chyna that they can become family members. Give him a scratch behind the ears or under the chin for me!

Love Winston and Troy with all your heart. I’m sorry your family is going through so much heartache.