toe dislocation

[mole catcher 1]

I have a 3/4greyhoundxcollie who last year had a tumor removed from in between his toes. as a result of the operation there is now a large piece of the web missing. This was last year and all has been well up untill last week. When he returned from a hard course over moderately rough ground the outside toe was sticking out at 90degrees. It went back in a piece of p**s which worries me because is this joint now sloppy and will it happen again? One week later the swelling has almost gone and he is walking fine. Ive thought of having the toe removed if it happens again. I dont know if anyone has had this with their dogs and if so did it happen each time they worked? I will try to tape the toe but it is in such a funny area there isnt much of a way that i can get the tape round the next toe. If i do remove the toe will it put presure on his foot which will lead to the whole foot breaking down? He is ony 3yrs old and it is the front outside toe. Any ideas?

[mole catcher 1]

Im surprissed that non of the running dog experts havnt given me an insight into their wisdom on this prob. Any how ive just been on the phone to the vet and he thinks that as the toe has again gone out today whilst walking there is only one option and that is to remove the toe. The cost of this will be between 200 & 290 quid. Who needs that this close to christmas huh

That said a quick recovery will meen a healthy dog for the remander of the season, hopefully no more toe probs

[samba 534]

IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN GET THE TOE TOOK OFF

WILL BE ALOT BETTER IN NO TIME

A OLD DOG I HAD AND A FEW MORE I KNOW

SOON GET BACK WORKING IN NO TIME

ITS BETTER THAN BEING THAN BEING LAID UP

EVERYTIME IT DOESIT

[mole catcher 1]

[you mention road walking,this i do a plenty. this toe has been a prob since he knocked up 2years ago, the jiont has fussed and become a mass of bone so it stops any upward movement. But because he now has no web between this toe and the next because of having a tumor removed, it seems that any time he even thinks about doing anything but walking it comes out sideways at 90degrees. My vet is a dog man himself,coursing greyhounds over in ireland so im sure he has seen this many times before. Like you said my maim concern is how his foot will be in the long run regarding the other toes and the foot itself breaking down. Im at my wits end with this prob as he isnt even 4yrs yet and hasnt done a great deal of work because of this prob. I wont give up on him as he has such potential, this i have seen when i have had him working,big or small takes them all.

many thank for the reply

[DUCKWING 302]

WELL MOLE CATCHER ,

 

I HAVE HAD A DOG WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS YRS AGO ........ HE STOPPED A FALLOW BUCK AS A YOUNGSTER OF 11 MONTH DEAD IN ITS TRACKS , HOWEVER WHEN I CAUGHT UP HE HAD POPPED A TOE ,

I POPPED THE TOE BACK IN AND STOOD IN THE RIVER IN FREEZING COLD WATER TO TAKE ANY SWELLING DOWN FOR AN HOUR ....... I WAS ONLY A 12 YRS OLD KID BUT HAD SEEN A FEW FELLAS USE THE SAME TRICK WITH HORSES WHEN OUT AND ABOUT ,

LATER THAT DAY I WALKED PAST AN OLD MAN THAT RACED GREYHOUNDS WHO LIVED ONLY 50 YARDS FROM HOME , HE SPOTTED THE INJURY AND ........ HE SHOWED ME HOW TO BLISTER THE TOE TO PREVENT CALLOUSING , IT WORKS !!

[ THE BONE HASNT FUSED MOLE CATCHER ...... ITS CALLOUSING THAT HAS HAPPENED , NOT LIGAMENTS ! ]

HOWEVER , AFTER THAT HIS FOOT WAS WEAKENED AND HE DID HAVE TOES POP OUT AGAIN , THOUGH STRANGELY ENOUGH , NEVER THE SAME TOE ............

 

I NEVER HAD ANY OF HIS TOES REMOVED , THOUGH I DID SEE LOADS OF LADS RUN DOGS WHO HAD ........ PERSONALLY I THINK THE VOID LEFT BY THE MISSING TOE [ WHICH IS INVARIABILY ON THE OUTSIDE ] CAUSES OTHER TOES TO SLIP , IMO ......... REMOVING THE TOES A LAST RESORT .

 

ALL THE BEST

 

 

DUCKWING

[mole catcher 1]

my vet has a vested interest in causing greyhounds and has been around them for yrs. he was saying today that because there is no web between the toe and the next this will always be a prob, ive had running dogs myself now for 25yrs plus and ive seen many toe injuries,some of which you all have mentioned. Taping thek up is going to be awkward because of the foot shape and yes taking the toe off is the last option but what can i do if it does come to that? it is just good old bad luck that caused him to get the tumor in the first place. Having a further chat with the vet Friday to discuss options and see the results of the x rays (of which my vet didnt charge me )

make a dission then

[Guest MOLLY]

Are you sure the toe is knocked up Mole catcher, because once the bone has fused i dont see how it can then move at that joint....unless its a different joint which is moving?

MOLL.

[mole catcher 1]

x ray results have shown that the original dislocation has fussed(calloused?) and shouldnt be a prob. The problem is that now there is no web joining the toe to the next when he turns the toe (which is the outside toe) has now became isolated strenth wise making it easy for the to to become dislocated at the next joint up the toe. This is what has happened, twice in 4wks. In his professinal opinion this will always be somthing that may happen when the dog is ran. As i work him and he is too young to retire(3.5yrs) he has asked me to consider what i feel is the best option for the dog,not me. The dog is in a lot of pain for some days after this happens and i dont think i should let him suffer with a dislocated toe when he runs. A second vet has been asked his opinion on this and im waiting on his reply

keep you posted

[Guest MOLLY]

to to become dislocated at the next joint up the toe.

Im with you now MC , thought you meant the fused joint was dislocating.

Its a hard one to answer, i think your at the mercy of the vets. I dont know much about the effects of amputation on the rest of the toes, whether an outside toe amputated will be better than an inner toe? Fusing may not be of any use without the webbing on an outside toe.

Please keep us informed, it will be interesting to hear what the outcome will be.

MOLL.

[mole catcher 1]

will do

[ferreterno1 0]

good luck with his foot mate