10 month old bitch, had a limp on her front paw, owner took her to the vet, the vet took xrays of all her leg, it turns out that she has somthing very rare (not passed on from her parents).

2 long bones in her leg, one is growing quicker than the other this is makeing the ankle twist to one side. So that vet is going to operate to make the bones the same size. Ok no problems with that as long as she is in no pain and the vet can make this better, owner said do what you can money is no option. The vet said he had never seen a dog with this but he had read about it in the book.

I go see tess last week and where the vet has shaved her fur to put the anasthetic there is a scab like when us woman take a skin off our legs when we have had a shave.

Tess back to the vet, vet says she has had a reaction to the anasthetic, vet says that if the anasthetic goes on the skin this can happen. Tess on antibiotics and a dressing put on her leg.

Owner of tess asks me to come and look at tess today, so i do. Not a little scab anymore tess now has a big hole in her leg, so i get tess in the car and straight to the vet.
Vet says, it is definately because some of the anasthetic has gone on to her skin and it is eating her flesh. so more antibiotics more dressings and now a bucket on her head.

she has to go back on monday am for the leg stitching up. And the operation on her bone will be discussed on monday by the bone vet.

Owner not happy with the vet, for some reason the vet is not charging for the leg (hole and infection) is that because it was there fault perhaps.

I have never seen or heard of anything like it. HAVE YOU ? and if you have please tell me.

I've never heard anything like it either. I would make sure, if it is genuinely a reaction to the injection, that her records are marked accordingly and that all the vets know of this. However, I would think that as the vet is not charging her for treatment they may be worried that they may have introduced an infection into the leg.
Hope everything goes well.
Bec

Bec vets words were " WHEN THEY PUT THE ANESTHETIC IN, THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE NONE GOES ON THE SKIN IF IT DOES THEY MAKE SURE THEY RINSE IT STRAIGHT AWAY WITH WATER"

sorry but it seems like it did go on the skin and it wasnt washed off, this is a hole bigger than a small orange.

Hello,

That sounds really dodgy to me. I thought that the general warning given to pet owners regarding anaesthetics was that if complications occur it is to do with the dog's condition while under anaesthetic. I have never heard of any vet warning a pet owner about the risk of anaesthetic and contact with the animals skin.If this is the case then it should be made more clear. I agree with the above...definately something wrong and suspicious that no charge is attached to the treatment.

If you say it is the size of a small orange that is a bit big and obviously not getting any better. I'd get a second opinion and ask to see all of the dogs notes. Find out if the incident was noted as happening at the time.
I wouldn't be happy if this were my dog.

good luck...and let us know what happens about this.
Claire

Not happy is an understatement ok the anesthetic is called THIOPENTONE anyone heard of this.

I dont have a clue how they are going to stitch her leg up as the hole is so big.

I reckon that it is possible though I'm no expert.
The mere fact that this drug has a PH of 10.5 suggests it could damage the skin.

Found this on a VERY quick search of google:

pH

The pH of a substance outside of the physiologic range (the pH of blood is 7.35 - 7.45) may have an adverse effect on tissue Thiopentone and phenytoin, for example, are highly alkaline and have caused severe injuries including amputations. The replacement of thiopentone 5% solution with 2.5% solution followed reviews of extravasation reported to the Medical Defense Union and Medical Protection Society.

Acid and alkaline agents

Thiopentone, pH 10.5
Methohexitone
Etomidate
Phenytoin, pH 12
Amphotericin
Methylene blue

Source: http://www.extravasation.org.uk/druginfusate.htm

I will have a look on the link very soon the owner of the pup will be home in about 15mins and i will get him to look as well. I think it is best if he gets a second opinion and why does the vet not want paying for this i wonder.

thanks all and please keep the advice and infor coming in.

Kersha

Actually take a look at thishttp://www.extravasation.org.uk/Definition.htm also for a definition of "extravasation" which I suspect might have occured here & some photos.

WARNING: The photos in the link show the injuries that can be caused by "extravasation" and may not be for the squemish !!!

My god I am so angry this was one of my pups, so obviously i am very attached to her.

The owner will be here soon and he is going to flip.

Thanku for that info and please keep it coming.

Kersha

I would get a second opinion by another Vet and see what the hecks going on its not often a vet doesnt charge for services that in itself looks suspicious to me they even charge when your dog dies during an operation so this is iffy. Good luck and keep us updated please

Ok the owner has just come home and i have told him what i know and have been told by all of you i have also shown him the photos on your link (thankyou for that) he is not happy at all, and at this moment he is on the phone to another vet so he can take tess there for a second opinion. one of the photos on the link just looks like tess's leg.

I will keep u updated and thank you all.

Also i have been told the name of the problem with tess's leg bones it is called CALPAL VALGUS where one bone is growing quicker than the other.

Poor tess is in the wars.

Well that is certainly something else that we all need to be aware of when agreeing to surgery! Hope Tess recovers well.
Bec

Whilst i type tess is on the way to vet number 2. I am trying to find out information on that bone name if anyone knows anything more on it.

When nigel (tess's) owner so how bad she was compared to this morning, he was so angry and like he says he wants his baby back to normal.

Vets should let people know what can happen with anesthetic and the danger that it could cause. I for one will not be happy if any of my dogs need to have anesthetic again.

thanks

Hi Kersha
The poor girl. I hope the other vet can sort her out and I hope Tess' owner puts in a complaint to her original vet for putting her through this, and hopefully will get some compensation for it. Keep us updated.
Lisa

Tess is back from the vet number 2. They have said that they dont think the leg will get any worse the damage is done now, this vet will not use thiopentone because of the reaction that animals have with it. Tess could not have her leg stitched today because the dead tissue needs removing and they want to wait until monday then she has had all her antibiotics, so what they did was dress the leg all the way to the top and put the bucket on her head again. Tess is well and truely p -s-d-f-.

Nigel will be putting a litter of complaint into the vet when tess is back to her old self again.

He is going to see a bone specialist on monday to discuss what is best for tess regarding her quick growing bone in her leg.

thank you all for your kind words and advice. if any one has a link for the name of the bone problem i would be very gratefull, because i can find nothing on it.

kersha

Hi,
I can't find a link to the bone problem (and wouldn't know what to do if I could!) but it is mentioned on pages 307/308 of "Veterinary Notes for Dog Owners" with a photo of a St Bernard suffering from it.

According to the book treatment depends on the age of the puppy, with different types of surgery used for those under 6 months to those older.

Hope this helps.

Have you got this book or is it on the web? thanku for looking

tess is nearly 10 months old.

Nigel has pet insurance thankgoodness but i dont want him to put tess through an op if its not needed some vets do it just for the money im afraid.

kersha

I've got the book and frequently scare myself half to death reading it (a little knowledge, etc!) Going by what it says, as she's older than 6 months she should wait until she's skeletally mature and then a wedge-shaped chunk will be taken from the overgrown bone, which will then have to be fixed with a plate or fixator.

If I understand it right, if the puppy is still growing they can surgically break the shorter bone, which will allow it to catch up naturally.

It doesn't sound at all fun for the poor dog, and pricey to boot. But it seems that surgery will definitely be necessary. :(

Kersha,

Have a search for "Radius Curvus Syndrome" or "Carpal Valgus" not Calpal Valgus :)

Glad to hear things are getting sorted.

Fablab is it me or can i just get nothing on this computer. I have tried a search on what you have said and the link that tracey has sent me. sadly nothing wants to work.

I have been to see Tess and she looks dreadful and sad, she has a pink pot like thing on the whole of her leg. :(

Thanku for your help.

Kersha

Just had a search myself & your right very little to be found & what there is seems quite technical.

This [link]http://216.239.57.100/search?q=cache:iFtrPqdZM8QC:www.cvm.missouri.edu/cvm/courses/vm607/growth-deformitiesTrial_3.doc+%22Carpal+Valgus%22+dogs&hl=en&ie=UTF-8[/link] although not specifically about Carpal Valgus gives a pretty comprehensive description of these type of growth deformities.

Best I can find I'm afraid :(

Fablab thankyou very much for the time you have spent helping me find information and doing the links for me. Tracey found a good site with pics on but sadly i need somthing called acrobat installed on the computer.

Tess is geting loads of tlc at the moment she doesnt like the bucket on the head and because her leg is straped from toe to top she isnt walking very well.

I just hope that when they take the bandages off her leg is no worse.

thankyou again

Not a problem Kersha. ;)

Glad to hear that Tess is doing ok & getting about.

If you want to see the site that Tracey sent you download for free Adobe Acrobat Reader from here ( it's quite handy to have this on your computer anyway) :

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Alternatively, if you search for the same site on Google and find it you are often given an option to "view as HTML" if you click on that you should be able to see it. :)

Kersha
Just emailed you web site for carpal valgus
Tracey

Tracey i am trying to get on that site, but with no joy.

Kersha
Just emailed you the link.. and also the main name again.. :)
Poor Tessa :(

Tracey

Still no joy Tracey.

Fablab what would I have done with out you. I have now downloaded acrobat and can now open the link that tracey sent me. Interesting reading. Tess is still sad at the moment, so it is fingers crossed for monday when she sees the bone specialist and finds out what he intends to do with her, also to have the hole stitched, i hope to god that it is not any bigger.

Thankyou Kersha

Kersha,

I really really hope with all my heart that Tess is going to be ok.

This vet sounds disgusting and absolutely useless.

ARGH! this kind of thing annoys me so much...

please give Tess a hug and a treat for me, the little girl really deserves it, and tell her poor owner not to worry..I know thats difficult.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her, you and her owner...

Take care, and hugs..

Lisa

Kersha
I cannot give you any practical advise on the prob with Tess .. but what I have read makes me mad ... and also very grateful I have a great vet in my Robyn .. my dog is also called Tess (well Tessa in full) and although she had a bad start to life, since with me any probs she has had have been efficiently and effectively dealt with by Robyn.
After this fiasco can I suggest that Tess owner registers with new vet in her area I am sure there will be someone in GD who lives in same area who can recommend.
Hope all goes well
Karyn

Lisa and Karen. any one who loves dogs gets realy mad from what has hapened. Tess feels a little better with loads of tlc from us all, hopfuly I will have more news on monday because she sees the bone vet then, and the one that is going to cut the dead flesh from her bloo - y leg and see what they are going to do with it.

When tess is back to normal her owner will be geting in touch with a solicitor, he doesnt want any money from the vet, but what he does want is for them to warn people what can happen with this anesthetic and give them a choice to use a different one. that is all he asks.

The scary thing is my dogs go to the same vet and all the pups go to the same ver, so it looks like the vet will be loosing a hell of a lot of custom.

Thanks for all your kind words and help fablab i dont know what i would have done with out your links.

Kersha

Kersha
although it doesnt help the dog any , I would be FURIOUS with that vet !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You take your pets there to get help and treatment not to make the problem worse and let them suffer any more.
Hope alll goes well for poor Tess !!
lel

That is the angry thing Lel, Tess went to the vet cos she had a limp now she has a limp and a hole in the leg, that will most deffo leave a very nasty scar, i KEEP praying that when the pot comes off on monday the hole has got no bigger. I brought tess into this world, and i would never stop looking out for her, nigel knows that i am there for him night or day, he is a butcher and my dogs love him, all the treats that he brings home. lol

Kersha

:D I just hope things only get better for Tess from here on in, please let us all know how it goes.

Fablab

How is Tess now?

Kersha is unable to reply on this board now but I'm sure she won't mind me giving this extract from an email she sent me :

"The vet has stitched Tess's leg up and all seems ok, the bone vet has said that he wont do the op on tess until she has stoped growing, not sure at what age rotts bones stop growing.

When she has stoped growing he will then take a piece of bone so that both bones are the same size."

Thanx 4 the update as long as the wee girl is ok...