Hi everyone, my name’s Fergus and I am a 1 and a half year old Parson Russell Terrier. I live with my Dog mum Stef in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
About 2 and a half months ago I was hit by a car when I escaped out the front door and chased a cat across the road, I was taken to the vet and had to get a big operation to fix my broken pelvis. Luckily nothing else was damaged.
After my op mum took time off work and helped me get back to normal, we went back to the vet for my post op check and to find my pelvis had healed nicely, and the vet was pleased with my progress. After that I was aloud to start physiotherapy as the nerves in my foot were still a bit damaged and I was struggling to put my pads on the floor and walking on my toes instead.
We were given exercises to do by the physio which we did religiously everyday but the scraping on my paw was getting worse and worse with not standing properly until I got an infection. I had to get my foot bandaged and go back to taking yucky tablets. I decided I didn’t need the bandage and have caused my mum a lot of trouble trying to get my foot better and haven’t been able to go to my physio sessions. The last time I bit my bandage off I bit some of my toe off too because I cant feel what I am doing. Mum had to take me back to the vet again who wasn’t pleased with the progress of my nerves and doesn’t think I will ever get them back.
The vet suggested amputating my whole leg, mum cried a lot and doesn’t seem to know what to do, she’s told me she is determined to get my foot better so we can try some more physio before we have to go down the amputation route and we have to go back to the vet in 4 weeks time to discuss it further.
If anyone has any advice or stories that could help it would be much appreciated.
Love
Fergus
Hi Fergus & Stef! I’m sorry I don’t have experience with this but I know there will be people here who do! Your story and introduction is lovely and shows just what team you are but to get some feedback it might be worth posting your experience into the forums? I’m no expert on this sight but there are different catagories you can post questions under and people usually get some great advice! I hope you can get some positive guidance as if you can save fergus’ foot that would just be amazing x
Hi Fergus,
So sorry to hear what a rough time you’ve been having, but you have come to the right place to get some support for you and your Mum.
Just to be clear, I’m not a vet, butI do have some experience with my dog, Meg, who had serious ongoing problems after fracturing her elbow.
The first thing I wanted to ask is whether you’ve had a second (or third) opinion. Is the vet you saw an orthopaedic/neurological specialist? If not, it would definitely be worth seeing one, and if so, I would say definitely worth seeing another. Have you had a CT/MRI?
The second question is whether the loss of sensation in your foot has been the case ever since the accident, or occurred some time later. Meg also lost sensation in her foot after breaking her elbow (not immediately, perhaps a month or so later), and she was also dragging it and causing injury. This turned out to be a result of bruised nerves, which healed on their own after a couple of weeks and the sensation came back. If the nerves got caught in the fractured bone however, either at the time of the accident or during the surgical repair, it is possible that there is irreversible damage and the feeling will not come back. If this is the case then amputation may well be your best option. Of course, I realise this is an upsetting prospect but if you look around this site, you will see what a great life dogs can have on three legs. If it is only your foot that would need amputating, this also means you may well be a candidate for a prosthetic foot. Certainly worth exploring before amputation (should that prove necessary), as it affects the way they do the surgery.
With regard to the injury from dragging your foot, how much of your foot is dragging on the ground? Is it just your toes/claws? If so, glue on claw caps can offer great protection and stop you wearing through the front, leading to soreness and bleeding.
Whatever course you end up taking, please don’t lose heart. My Meg had huge problems which, after nine surgeries over several years, ultimately resulted in her losing her leg six months ago. To be honest, it was a blessed relief and she has a fantastic quality of life, chasing rabbits and squirrels, swimming etc. My feeling (in the absence of more definite information) is that two and a half months is not long enough to rule out the foot recovering, but of course I’m not a medical expert and i also don’t know the full details of your situation. As I said, I would strongly encourage you to get a second/third opinion from people who are and do.
All very best wishes, do stay connected and let us know how you and your Mum are getting on.
Meg and Clare (and Elsie Pie)
Dear Fergus, tell your mum that if you need to go ahead with the amputation of your leg, that dogs do AMAZING on 3 legs! There is another parson Russell terrier here named Quixote, who also has 3 legs and is still a working terrier! Amputation is much scarier for our humans, because they haven’t yet learned to “be more dog”; dogs live for today, and only know that they aren’t in pain anymore with that pesky leg gone. I was terrified to have my Dobe, Nitro, lose a leg (due to cancer), but he’s doing awesome, even 2 years later. And tell your mom she’s found the best place in the world to help her through this – Tripawd’s Rock!
Paula and Nitro
Hi Fergus and mum, welcome to Tripawds.
I can’t help with the nerve damage- it’s smart to exhaust all PT options though before choosing amputation.
My current Tripawd is a little pug mix named Elly. When she was 7 months old she got away from her original owner and ran into the street. She was hit by a car and her right rear leg was too damaged to repair. I adopted Elly when she was 10 months old, almost a year ago. She can do just about anything a 4 legged dog her size can do, although I have to scratch behind her right ear! We spend a lot of time on core strength and go to a lot of classes to try and boost her confidence. Here is Elly’s blog: http://rescueelly.tripawds.com/. In my most recent post you can see what we did at our last class.
Also- if you have specific questions or concerns you should post in the forums- lots more people over there.
Fergus- I hope you get to keep your leg, but if you don’t tell your mum you will do just fine!
Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls
Oh, Fergus! Your poor Mum is worried I know. And it surely is good to try to make rehab work, but nerves are tricky. If you don’t make progress, lots of us here know that even though it is a shock, you can lead a very happy life as a Tripawd dog…
Lisa and Pofi
Oh WOW! So sorry you and your little Fergus are going through this! You are doing a great job of taking care of your sweet pup and doing everything possible for him!!
I know amputation sounds drastic and scary. It IS major surgery and Fergus has just been through that!
However, IF you have to go that route, you will be amazed at how well dogs do on three legs, especially the little guys!!
I’m gonna suggest you post over in the forums and maybe you can get some insight from someone who has experienced something similar.
Wonxsr if it’s possible that an Acupuncturist could help? I don’t know if they would have any suggestions or not.
Sorry I don’t have any solutions. Just want to welcome you and let you know you are not alone! We are here to support you any way we can!
Lots of hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Sometimes the most extreme therapy gets the best results. Is there an orthopedic specialist there that you could get a second opinion from? Wishing you the best result and sending you hugs as you move forward to find the best solution.
Greetings, Fergus! My name is Phoenix and I’m a 6+ year-old female pit bull. I live in Eureka on the NW coast of California with my 13+ year-old beagle sister, Chloe, and my human parents, Neil & Judi. I’m commenting on your blog because I also became a tripawd after being hit by cars. Back in early Sept., 2013, in the San Francisco Area, while escaping a bad situation, I tried to run across a highway and not one, not two, but three cars hit me. Two Good Samaritans named Ralph & Mya helped me get out of traffic, and took me to an animal shelter. The shelter said I was too badly hurt and would have to be put down. But Ralph & Mya said, “No way!” and they drove me 6 hours northwest to a place named Miranda’s Animal Shelter–which has a no-kill policy for all its animals. Well, my front right leg was pretty damaged, so after I lived at Miranda’s for almost 3 weeks they took me to a vet who amputated my bad leg. (I’ll stop here and make a 2nd comment.)
Hi again, Fergus! It’s Phoenix, continuing my story . . . After my surgery, I felt so glad to not be in pain anymore. They say here on the tripawds site, “It’s better to hop on 3 legs than to limp on 4!” and it’s true. Three months after my amputation, my humans met me & they picked me out of all the dogs @ Miranda’s and brought me to my new home. Now it’s 2 years since my amputation and approaching 2 years since I’ve lived here with my new family who love me. I’ve met 2 other tripawds and all us dogs enjoy life. One likes chasing sticks and going swimming. I’m not a stick girl myself, but I like running in our back yard, in fields or at the beach. Stairs are not a problem. I can’t tell you or your mum Stef what to decide in your situation. But if they decide to amputate, I’ll tell you, living on 3 legs works just fine! My dad says I have “a 3-cylinder engine,” and most folks remark that it doesn’t seem like I miss my leg. They’re right. Well, I hope the best for you, Fergus! My dad said to tell you he had a smooth-hair fox terrier for 14+ years. That was before I lived here.