Good feet and amputated toes

[Tyla 3,179]

Im after a bit of info from some of the experienced people on here.

 

My bitsa bitch works to a standard im happy with but is constantly injured. She has cost me thousands, being stitched back together, stapled, toe ligaments reattached, a never ending mystery shoulder problem and the latest- amputation of her toe.

 

She tore a toe ligament which was duly surgically reattached at great expense but the operation failed and she was left with a flappy toe which was bound to get caught on things and cause more problems. The vet recommended we take it off so he did.

 

I intend to try her again this season and want to give her every chance to avaoid injury as otherwise she'll be retired and i'll have to get another puppy. What is the best way to toughen up the foot and condition her? She has always had good food, plenty of free running and as much work as she can cope with between injuries. She possibley has not done enough road work, will that help? Our other lurcher, jrtxwhippet, has the same routine but has excellent feet and has done a great deal of varied work only ever recieving one serious injury.

 

The second part of the topic is about good feet. Obviously it is impossible to stereotype all of any cross as having good or bad feet but in your experience which crosses are least prone to injury? If she has to retire, shes not even 4 yet, and i have to get another pup im very keen to avoid the problems i've had with her.

 

Any input much appreciated

[phil_h 53]

Im after a bit of info from some of the experienced people on here.

 

My bitsa bitch works to a standard im happy with but is constantly injured. She has cost me thousands, being stitched back together, stapled, toe ligaments reattached, a never ending mystery shoulder problem and the latest- amputation of her toe.

 

She tore a toe ligament which was duly surgically reattached at great expense but the operation failed and she was left with a flappy toe which was bound to get caught on things and cause more problems. The vet recommended we take it off so he did.

 

I intend to try her again this season and want to give her every chance to avaoid injury as otherwise she'll be retired and i'll have to get another puppy. What is the best way to toughen up the foot and condition her? She has always had good food, plenty of free running and as much work as she can cope with between injuries. She possibley has not done enough road work, will that help? Our other lurcher, jrtxwhippet, has the same routine but has excellent feet and has done a great deal of varied work only ever recieving one serious injury.

 

The second part of the topic is about good feet. Obviously it is impossible to stereotype all of any cross as having good or bad feet but in your experience which crosses are least prone to injury? If she has to retire, shes not even 4 yet, and i have to get another pup im very keen to avoid the problems i've had with her.

 

Any input much appreciated

I had problems in the earlier days with my deer grey colly grey, he use to knock his toes up all the time and would constantly be limping after a night out, as he's got older this problem seems to have vanished, he's only 3 in nov mind. he runs well now. as for advice, well i'd just say plenty of walking and as you say free running and with some luck you'll come through these problems. all the best anyway and good luck with them in the coming season. phil_h

[border lad 1,047]

if it is possible, try exercising, her, you on a bicycle, and she on a lead, early morning, start off with about 2 miles and gradually,

building, up to around 6 miles a day, ((( works wonders for the dog, and the owner, my dog has a middle toe, on front Paw, he severed, the leader, as a pup, it keeps there feet correct and No problems with Nails, and also conditions, all running muscles,

[weasle 1,119]

road work dos help but if a dog has bad feet it wont turn them into good feet.Making sure the parents have good feet is important.Out of interest what cross is your dog?

[chartpolski 23,099]

Saw a bitch at the Whippet track this morning, that had the nail and 1st joint of it's inside front toe removed. The vet saved the pad off the ist joint and brought it up over the end of the 2nd joint and it's healed perfectly, a fantastic job !! The vet is a Greyhound Specialist and it shows !!! The bitch is back to running her best after only a few weeks off.

 

Cheers.

[Tyla 3,179]

weasle - she is a saluki grey x lab bull grey. i know i cant change the feet she has and certainly cant do anything about the toe thats gone. Im just looking for advice on how to make the best of the situation. Im not even sure that its her feet in particular, she is just accident prone all over. She gives 100%, goes like a rocket and dosent think at all about the consequences. She a good dog to watch run if you dont own her, very exciting lots of thrills and spills but unfortunately that comes with massive vet bills.

 

chart - She had to have the whole toe off. Its the inside middle on her rear left. The original injuries was a lateral ligament joining her first and middle toe bones that had not only detached from the bone but pulled a big piece of the bone off with it. Our greyhound vet did the op to reattatch it but it failed. He said the ligament was so tattered that the stitches didnt hold.

 

Its good to know you've seen dogs come back from it. Looking at it though it looks very weak to me but fingers crossed.

 

Borderboy - thanks for the advice. I'll dig out the old push bike!

Edited July 10, 2010 by Tyla

[CarraghsGem 92]

you can get specialist boots designed for working dogs and those recovering from injury, might be worth looking into, she wont like them at first but its worth a try if it means you get to keep a loyal and hardworking lurcher.

 

http://www.canine-spirit.com/categories/dog-boots?gclid=CNXOouHE4aICFRdBIAodZXEcxg

Edited July 10, 2010 by CarraghsGem

[Top Lamper 2k10 169]

more or less the same thing keeps happening with my dog he always get ripped to bits off barb wire its pissed me off that much ive give the dog to my dad coz i know he will only get ran the odd couple of times and get well looked after but my dad said i can take him out when ever i want so happy days realy but ive got 2 dogs in at the min so i problys wont take him out much anway atb with your dog mate

[bendrover 556]

weasle - she is a saluki grey x lab bull grey. i know i cant change the feet she has and certainly cant do anything about the toe thats gone. Im just looking for advice on how to make the best of the situation. Im not even sure that its her feet in particular, she is just accident prone all over. She gives 100%, goes like a rocket and dosent think at all about the consequences. She a good dog to watch run if you dont own her, very exciting lots of thrills and spills but unfortunately that comes with massive vet bills.

 

chart - She had to have the whole toe off. Its the inside middle on her rear left. The original injuries was a lateral ligament joining her first and middle toe bones that had not only detached from the bone but pulled a big piece of the bone off with it. Our greyhound vet did the op to reattatch it but it failed. He said the ligament was so tattered that the stitches didnt hold.

 

Its good to know you've seen dogs come back from it. Looking at it though it looks very weak to me but fingers crossed.

 

Borderboy - thanks for the advice. I'll dig out the old push bike!

think youve answered the question yourself really mate,the ones that dont lern to steady themselves and time their strike etc if they just keep hammering away at their quarry.they tend not to stay sound .and in my experience poor greyhound blood can have a strong bearing on these injuries.just my opinion mate.

[lofti 579]

Tyla i can sympathize with you on the injurys my fawn bullx was riddled with injurys last season

to the point were i was asking my self whats he point! i felt like packing it in.

here worst was a broken toe which took 10 weeks to get sorted,but even after that she seemed to

be a little lame after a good run.

on the vets advice i added bone meal to her food and plenty of road walking and it sorted her.

do you not have insurance for your dogs mate?it has saved me a fortune!

i use NFU it works out £10 a dog per month.defo worth having:thumbs: .

 

lofti

[merle24 61]

bull blood can throw bad feet..

[weasle 1,119]

bull blood can throw bad feet..