Finnie's leg again...

Surgery would definitely be the worst case scenario and only if it were to rupture which I plan on doing my best to avoid! Clearly we need more rehab and I’ll be calling the vet tomorrow and get a referral...I had no idea how difficult it’d be to heal a hock!
Funny story...I was telling a client about Finnie and I told her how he’d hurt his hock last year...she said he was attacked by a hawk???:ROFLMAO:...I’m like noooo his hock and explained it better lol. Not a dog person lol.
 
I can tell you all about hock's - that's what Tully's surgery was about. It's good you picked it up. I knew Tully had issues with her left leg for a while but it was never picked up until the hock completely failed.

You might want to look into a splint rather than a brace for greater support and to immobilise the tendon. I had looked into a brace but the ortho vet said splints are better, or a brace that is stiffened. I put a brace on her leg now, but that's just for warmth, it doesn't really support the joint.

Also, have a look into collagen supplements. Apparently Shelties have collagen synthases issues which makes them prone to hyperextension problems in the hock and carpal (wrist). Tully's nutritionist suggested 10mg per day of Marine Collagen Peptides (she suggested California Gold unflavoured). Collagen is pretty expensive but I figure so was her surgery and I don't want this happening to the rest of her joints. I ended up buying dome from the local vitamin shop, it's made of pure fish skin and despite Tully's IBD she's coping well with it.
 
Caro said:
I can tell you all about hock's - that's what Tully's surgery was about. It's good you picked it up. I knew Tully had issues with her left leg for a while but it was never picked up until the hock completely failed.

You might want to look into a splint rather than a brace for greater support and to immobilise the tendon. I had looked into a brace but the ortho vet said splints are better, or a brace that is stiffened. I put a brace on her leg now, but that's just for warmth, it doesn't really support the joint.

Also, have a look into collagen supplements. Apparently Shelties have collagen synthases issues which makes them prone to hyperextension problems in the hock and carpal (wrist). Tully's nutritionist suggested 10mg per day of Marine Collagen Peptides (she suggested California Gold unflavoured). Collagen is pretty expensive but I figure so was her surgery and I don't want this happening to the rest of her joints. I ended up buying dome from the local vitamin shop, it's made of pure fish skin and despite Tully's IBD she's coping well with it.
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Thanks for that info Caro. I left a message for the vet to call me back and to refer him to a rehab specialist. My vet isn’t too keen on a brace (she’s concerned if it stayed on too long and about pressure sores) so I imagine she’d be against a splint but I’ll ask her about it. She mentioned something about scarring to get the tendon to stay in place but I’m not sure what exactly she meant or how we’d do this but I’m going to ask her.
 
Piper's mom said:
Thanks for that info Caro. I left a message for the vet to call me back and to refer him to a rehab specialist. My vet isn’t too keen on a brace (she’s concerned if it stayed on too long and about pressure sores) so I imagine she’d be against a splint but I’ll ask her about it. She mentioned something about scarring to get the tendon to stay in place but I’m not sure what exactly she meant or how we’d do this but I’m going to ask her.
Click to expand...
Scar tissue development is the body's natural reaction to repeated trauma such as a tendon that pops out of position or to surgery that removes a connection in joints that normally is present. When a little dog has surgery for HD that cuts off the ball that fits into the hip socket it takes a few months for the dog"s body to develop scar tissue that serves to be the new connection between the leg bone and the hip that no longer exists due to the removal of the ball. Scar tissue development would allow for Finnie to hold that tendon in place without having to undergo an invasive surgery. The one negative is that scar tissue is not as flexible as normal tissue and can tear more easily...although typically it is a positive solution.
Trini
 
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