Agility Collie With a Wrist Injury in a Splint: Rechecks and Diet
Reader Question
my three year old collie bitch developed a front right leg limp after agility , she was taken to the vets after we had semi restricted her mobility and after no real improvement after one and a half weeks, she was given naids for one week, after no improvement after one more week we returned her to vets where it was mpre apparent it was her wrist joint. she was xrayed and manipulatd under sedation, the vet said x ray showed no broken bones nothing apparent on it, she was given an intrajoint injection of nsaid and a spliknt and caste applied, of ourse she is limping still as she has this splint on, we are restricting her mobility to walking for toilet purposes on lead in the garden and gentle walking in the house at will (which isnt much atm) she is a little overweight despite high activity normally the vet requires a further x ray next week and wants us to cut her food down to half during tbhis recovery period do you think that this is correct because 1. how would another x ray be beneficial and 2 wouldnt she require a higher protein diet to aid healing ...many thanks
Answer from Our Team
A follow-up X-ray is common with wrist injuries. Some ligament damage and small fractures only show up over time, and a recheck shows whether the joint is stable once swelling has gone down, which helps your vet decide when the splint can come off and whether surgery is needed.
Following your vet's plan to reduce her food during strict rest is sensible, since the exact amount should be set by the vet who knows her weight and condition. A resting dog burns far fewer calories, and extra weight puts more strain on the healing wrist. Ask your vet whether her diet needs any adjustment for healing, rather than simply adding protein, since a complete, balanced food usually provides what she needs. Ask about a structured rehabilitation plan before she returns to agility, as wrist injuries in sporting dogs can recur if they go back too soon.
See dog sprains and strains.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
Click here to post comments
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Sprain.
