We have a broken leg... - Page 7

Linda H · 07-03-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobes4us

I am glad he is OK. You will do fine when he gets home. I am sure he will have crate rest, do you have the rest of that bottle of wine???

If I were a betting girl I would bet it is long gone...

Errica, I just saw this and I am so sorry your little guy had to go thru this.
I know you were just torn up feeling bad for him and guilty for it happening.
The crate will be one of the best investments of your life.
Glad to here all went well and he is coming home today and can be with his Mommy.

PS Don't baby him or he will limp forever to get sympathy.

JavasMom · 07-03-2008, 01:13 PM

Poor pup! Here's to a speedy recovery!

CoDobe · 07-03-2008, 01:27 PM

Errica, I just saw this thread, and having recently dealt with puppy trauma this week, my heart goes out to you.

The worst part is over - Apollo is through surgery and is on his way to being one cool-doberdude with his bright blue cast! You did the right thing and the cast is there to protect him.

Just love him and Athena, and give them both extra TLC and love. I can certainly empathize with you and it sounds like you have a GREAT vet staff there to take care of him when you cannot be there. Before you know it, he'll be up and playing but now is time for him to heal and mend his broken leg. Poor little guy - I am so sorry this happened!

Prayers and best wishes being sent to you, Apollo and Athena.

Heather

**avalonandon** · 07-03-2008, 01:38 PM

Oh poor buddy!! And Im sure Athena was traumatized by his yelping when it happened, omg. They can be so sensitive to eachother and not knowing what happened is probably really upsetting her.

I hope his recovery goes smoothly. Looks like you have a few weeks of discomfort and confusion to deal with. Keep us posted on how things progress.

**Doberdog** · 07-03-2008, 04:43 PM

I'm sorry I missed your thread. I will pray for your boy. I hope your crate is big enough to get that cast inside and him to lay down.
Poor guy, he will be happier when he is with you even if he can't do anything. You can hug and kiss him and make him feel better. Give him a kiss for me.

DobeGirl07 · 07-03-2008, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonman

My heart goes out to little Apollo. I'm glad he came through surgery alright. I am also happy to see that you have invested in a crate. It's a hard lesson to learn and luckily your puppy is OK but you should never leave a puppy unsupervised with an adult dog even when you are home and especially when you're not there.

Crates are wonderful training aids and a very good thing to have. for the safety and wellbeing of your dogs. Dogs consider them their den and will often sleep in them with the door open. Drago and Mariah love their crates to travel in the truck (with a bed enclosed canopy) and use them when we are staying away from home. It's like their home away from home.

I'm a big advocate of not letting dogs ride loose in the car either. Either harness them into a seatbelt or place them in a crate. The safety of you, your passengers, and your dogs is at stake.

Tracy.

I have to agree with what Tracy stated about this being a hard lesson learned. I have two Dobermans one that is 16 months and the other who is six months. I would NEVER leave them home uncrated while they would probaly kill one another. That is just asking for disaster. My dogs are crated ALWAYS when I am gone. I am not trying to be rude at all.

One a side note, I am very sorry to hear about your puppy and I truly hope that he gets better soon. Poor guy!

**dobekiss** · 07-03-2008, 05:23 PM

Hi, I just wanted to send some happy healing thoughts and wishes and I hope he's doing OK today ;-)

**errica** · 07-03-2008, 06:08 PM

Apollo is home and doing well. He's not thrilled about being unable to do anything, but so far he's being a good sport. He has 2 weeks of strict crate rest with only potty breaks. The surgeon will recheck him then and see how it's healing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by berkdogg

Out of curiosity, how much did everything cost in case this happens to my dog?

So far it's been $2500. There will be a few follow up appointments and another surgery in a few weeks to take the pins out, so probably another $1000.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobes4us

I am glad he is OK. You will do fine when he gets home. I am sure he will have crate rest, do you have the rest of that bottle of wine???

That bottle is LONG gone!

Quote:

Originally Posted by avalonandon

Oh poor buddy!! And Im sure Athena was traumatized by his yelping when it happened, omg. They can be so sensitive to eachother and not knowing what happened is probably really upsetting her.

I hope his recovery goes smoothly. Looks like you have a few weeks of discomfort and confusion to deal with. Keep us posted on how things progress.

Athena is quite upset, she went over to the empty crate this morning looking for him. It was heart-wrenching. She hasn't seen him yet, I figure if he wants to nap now I'll let him and then I will let her see him tonight. (with him in the crate, through the door!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DobeGirl07

I have to agree with what Tracy stated about this being a hard lesson learned. I have two Dobermans one that is 16 months and the other who is six months. I would NEVER leave them home uncrated while they would probaly kill one another. That is just asking for disaster. My dogs are crated ALWAYS when I am gone. I am not trying to be rude at all.

This is the advice that I am having the hardest time with, for a few reasons. First, my vet told me two weeks ago that as long as they played well together, nothing too aggressive, etc. that they are fine alone together. Then I asked the surgeon if I needed to keep them separated or crated when I'm not around from now on (obviously AFTER he is completely healed-for now I KNOW Apollo has to be kept quiet and still) and the surgeon laughed and said that there is no reason not to leave them alone together. He said that it is ridiculous to keep them separated, as they are pack animals, and cruel to leave them crated while I work.

I have had dogs in the past, friends and family have dogs and I have never heard of anyone crating their dogs every time they aren't home, or keeping dogs separated from each other. Is this something that is unique to Dobermans for some reason? The biggest reason we got Apollo was so that Athena had someone to hang out with.

**ellenm** · 07-03-2008, 06:17 PM

I never leave mine alone together....Cheers is left in the kitchen area or crate, and Rexy has the run of the house. They play so rough and I am worried it may escalate without me there to break it up. As it is, they move furniture around wrestling!! Your vet said if they aren't too aggressive playing...I would consider body slamming pretty aggressive play, as far as rough is concerned. Athena is just being a dog but she weighs way more than the puppy at this point.

I am a "better safe than sorry" owner, I guess. If you do want to let them be together, I would wait until Apollo is much older and practically full grown. The size difference its just too much right now. I have never heard of anyone leaving a young puppy alone with a full grown dog no matter what breed is involved.

If you need to give them more room, put indoor/outdoor dog runs in at your place, do X-pens so they have more room than a crate, etc. Be creative but keep both of them safe.

rainddobes · 07-03-2008, 06:20 PM

I'm so sorry to hear about the Appllo's break.
I'ts very painful, but Dobes seems to really hold it together and mending should be quick.
You'll be surprised how quickly Appllo will bounce back.
On the other hand, we have had our share of leg breaks with the Italian Greyhounds. They are so fragile and such cry babies.
My daughter has many trips to West Virginia to a IG Leg Specilist to have the surgery done.
The vet, a IG person, would keep the pups until full recovery.

I do wish for a very speedy recovery.