Hi I havent posted for a while but just felt I needed to tonight!

I have just got back from the vets, my girl was hit by a car tonight and its not looking to good!!!
She is a two and a half year old GSD, she was in the field with my husband when something must have spooked her she just ran to the other side of the field went though a gap in the fence and on to the road.
She has broken both front legs one quite badly! Our vets cant fix it so tomorrow we have to take her to Potters Bar 'the collage' the vet kept calling it, so a orthapedic surgen (excuse spelling) can treat her, if she gets though the this (and I'm praying she will) she will have to stay up in london for a while they said. Has anyone heard of the this place in Potters Bar?
I am so upset I just dont know what to do with myself!!
It is going to cost a fortune, but I have to give her a chance, and she is insured, does anyone use Tesco's insurance? if so are they ok? we have never had to claim yet so dont know how acommidating they are.

The main thing I wanted to ask you all is does anyone know of any other big dogs that have broken both front legs and got better? The vet did say if she does get better it is going to be a long process and a lot of hard work, but she is worth it all.
I will post again tomorrow to let you know how she is.
Kayl

Im sorry to hear about your girl :( no advice to give other than shes in the right hands.

Sending healing thoughts to your girl, Good Luck.

Thinking of you.  The 'collage' at Potters Bar, is the Royal Veterinary College - so there's probably no better place for your girly to be.

If it's any help, about 12 years ago, my then 5 month old pup fell over in the garden and broke her elbow - although she didn't have to go to Potters Bar, the vet said he'd do the best he could, but he wasn't holding out much hope - 12 years later, she still has a slight limp, which she's had since the op, but it's got no worse in that time - but it has spoilt her chances of being an agility dog :(

My thoughts are with you, you must be feeling terrible.  I hope everything goes OK - keep us informed.

Poor baby :(
I really do hope she gets better soon and I will be thinking of you both. Keep us posted on how she gets on,
Sara

Kayl
I used Tesco insurance when I had all Archers ops done.They're very quick to pay out and very efficient.The only problem was that the limit was reached rather too quickly but hopefully you case wn't be as expensive
Archer

hi the veterinary college in potters bar is excellent and as was said you will not get better treatment anywhere else. as for tescos pet insurance my cat had cancer in his leg and had to have it removed and they paid out very quickly with no questions asked but it may be best to contact them asap

Hi
Thankyou all for your kind messages, She will be having her op tomorrow or monday they are just going to keep her comfortable until then, she was in quite a bit of pain this morning it was awful. The hospital gave us an number to ring so we could see how she is doing but I have tried to ring and its just a message saying they are shut and giving a number for urgent problems do you think I should ring that number? the vet did say I would be able to leave a message on the number she gave me and they would ring back but I cant leave a message.
I'm really pleased she is in the best possible place but I wish I could find out how she is doing.

Thanks for the advice about tesco insurance we have already spoken to them so hopefully the forms will be on the way, the estimate the hospital gave us is way over the limit, the limit with my policy is only £2,500 but if it takes every bit of our savings and more, to have saffy back well again will be worth every penny.
I will post again when I eventually find out how she is doing.
Thanks again I cant even begin to explain how I'm feeling I dont think I have cried so much for as long as I can remember.
Kayl

At least you know that she is in the right place and that you are doing all the right things

Good luck, and keep your chin up :) let us know what happens after the operation.

Look on this site and you will see the Queen Mother Hospital at Potters Bar which is the hospital your dog is being referred to. The link below is direct to the orthepedic section but browse the site. You will have to copy and paste it into your address bar.

http://www.rvc.ac.uk/Hospitals/QMH/Orthopaedics/Index.cfm

So sorry to hear about your poor dog, will keep my fingers crossed, say a little prayer and light a candle for you.  Must go as I am having a little weep, can imagine how you must be feeling. x

I do hope your GSd will be fine, Kayl. Thinking of you and wish you well for Monday. If its any help at all, our trainer has a 6 year old Dobe bitch who had a front leg amputated for cancer and now has a good life, if somewhat quieter than before. Not suggesting your girl will come to this, but this is a big dog on 3 legs still enjoying life.

Thankyou all for your kind replys.
She had her op yesterday, a very long one! she is doing well today and may be home in the next few days.
She has plates and pins in both her front legs and will need complete rest for the next 6 weeks, I will know more tomorrow, apparently she has already tried to stand today, but sat back down again quickly, so it sounds as if she is going to be a fighter, I am really looking forward to seeing her again the house is not the same without her, to be honest I didn't realise how attached I was to her, obvoiusly I loved her to bits, but the effect this has had on me has shocked me, I wasn't able to stop crying all weekend and have not had her out of my mind once since it happened, if the worst had happened I dont know how I would have coped!!!! I know how lucky we are to still have her and really feel for those people that this has happened to that have not been so lucky.
Thanks again I will let you all know how she is getting on soon.
Kayl

Great news! Dogs are amazing creatures...they deal with pain and injuries with such acceptance!
Keep us updated
Archer

Hi Kayl
Sorry to hear about Saffy's accident but glad that the op went well.  As Archer says, animals have great powers of recovery. It might take a little while to nurse her back to full health but it sounds as if she's been blessed with a very caring owner, so she's half way there already  :)

Just thought I'd  add a post.

I knew a border collie that had a very promising career as a working sheepdog ahead of him, who was 2 yrs old when he was knocked down. He was so badly injured that the vet on call wanted to put him to sleep as he said it was the kindest thing all round. His owners decided that he was worth trying to save as he was such a special boy regardless of the fact that he probably wouldn't ever work again. He spent almost 3 months in the vet college having various operations and pins put in and out of 3 of his legs. After many months of nursing he made a full recovery and surprised everybody by working for the rest of his 21 years.
Hope your baby is ok
Alli

Hi
Just to let you know how things are going, shes home!!! we went to collect her today.
She is not very good on her feet she can stand but has a lot of trouble walking which is understandable, but from what the vets who have been looking after her said I thought she would be a little better on her feet than she is, also they said they would not be sending her home untill the swelling on her right leg had gone down. It was a different vet working today he had not meet her before, and he discharged her today saying she was aggressive towards him, he said she throgh herself at the cage to attack him as he went past her kennel, To attack him!!! I couldn't believe what I was hearing no one else has said any thing like that, she is not very good with vets admitedly but they know that and have been using the female vets as she is ok with them, and I can see her barking and maybe growling at this vet as she does not know him.
I am now wondering if she has come home to soon as one of her legs is still swollen quite abit and one of her wounds has been bleeding, so needless to say although I am really pleased to have her home I am now worrying if she is home to soon.
We have her confined to a large crete to keep her calm which the vets recomended but to be honest she is very very calm anyway. I have just checked her wound and it seems to have stoped bleeding.
Its a nightmare taking her outside to the toilet we have been using a towel under her chest to help support her. I will keep you informed of her progress.
I have felt very happy with the vets collage all week but now feel this vet just wanted her out because he didn't have the time to make friends with her.
Kayl

Hiya Kayl
Just wanted to empathise with what you must be going through :(  There's nothing worse than seeing them struggle after an op - especially after the ordeal you & her have experienced. At least you can see the bleeding has stopped and she's home with you - she'll feel better just for that at least. I'm sure he wouldn't have sent her home if she wasn't ready. Being a novice, I have no advice to give - apart from forgetting what the Vet said about her not being happy when he passed her cage - she's no doubt a clever cookie who didn't want him coming and touching her while still so sore and understandably 'grumpy'. You know her more than anyone else - if you have any concerns - you don't need me to tell you to ring the out-of-hours Vet ;)  You'll probably watch her like a hawk all night - and I'd like to bet she'll be a whole lot brighter tomorrow - and then the next...and then the next day :)
Thinking of you both anyway.
Jo
x

Hi Jo

yes I am sure you are right maybe I am just panicing over nothing, just seeing her like this is awful, I'm sure he wouldn't have sent her home before she was ready really, well I hope not anyway! I'm just feeling parinoid about what he said no dout! she may well have got to excited about seeing us and being home today and now her legs may be hurting her again, its got to still be quite painful, shes proberbly very tired after the long journey home  and all the excitment.
we are going to take it in turns to sleep down stairs with her for the first few nights.
We got home at lunch time and have took her out in the garden to go to toilet 3 times but she hasn't gone yet, I'll start worrying about that now!! and no dout tomorrow I'll start worrying about something else and the next day and the next! Roll on when she is better.
Anyway thanks for making me feel better.
Kayl

I do hope your dog is better today,you poor things, they are such a worry. I'm sure she will be feeling better just to be at home.

:D ;)  ....wonder if anyone is feeling a little better today?....I do hope so :)

Jo
x

Hi
Yes we both seem to feeling a little better, tonight anyway, I started worrying again this morning so rang the vets collage and spoke to one of the vets who was looking after her while she was there and that has put my mind at rest! Tonight her swollen leg looks like its starting to go down and she seems to be standing on it better, she is eating better but still not drinking much but has managed 2 wee's today which is an improvement on just 1 a day. I think we will we have to just take it one day at a time for now and hope that she improves day by day.
I cant believe this has happened to my lively bouncy dog, to see her just laying in her crate is heart breaking, I can not explain how all this has made me feel, let alone how she must be feeling!
I will keep you up dated.
Thanks for your replys.
Kayl

Hi Kayl - glad to hear that you're feeling a little better about things.  This is obviously going to be a long haul for you and Saffy - it really is a case of taking a day at a time.  But just try to appreciate every improvement, however small, and you'll get there. 

Best wishes
xx

So pleased to hear of a little improvement. Keep your chin up.
Take Care
Jo
:)

Hi
Well today Saffy managed to get the lampshade thing off her head and deceided to help the vet do her job by picking out her stiches!!! shes only got a few left in her wounds now! so she is on anti-biotics again!! but her wounds are holding together, she was meant to have them out friday so i'm hoping she will be ok.
Its the happiest we have seen her since her accident! she looked really pleased with her self!!! I imagen getting that lamp shade of her head made her feel better, that must by horrible having to have that on all the time.
She is walking better on her legs and her swallen leg has gone down quite a lot now, so she does seem to be doing better each day I just hope her getting to her stiches doesn't set things back!
Kayl

Hi Kayl

Just wanted to wish you and Saffy luck.  Regarding her stitches, as they've come out with only a couple of days before they were meant to be removed in a more orthodox way, then her wound should hold together pretty well, just try to prevent her licking it (easier said than done!)  Glad it's good news, fingers crossed for you both.

Glad to hear Saffy is feeling better. Funny how dogs and kids always seem to get naughty as they recover! :)

Thats becuase they know they have your sympathy and get away with things.
Glas all is ok

Hi
Just to let you know we took Saffy to the vets today to have the few remaining stiches took out. They are very pleased with how her legs are healing and how she is managing to walk so I am feeling alot happier now!
She is walking very well considering, her limp seems to be getting better every day, mind you she is shut in her crete most of the day we only take her out  3 or 4 times a day to eat and to go out side for a few minutes, but it must be working her swaalen leg has nearly gone right down now.
She is still quite down if that makes any sence, but I think once her lampshade is allowed off she will feel better.
Kayl

ahh thats great news i hope she gets better soon :) seems like shes on the right track now :)

Kayl
What a terrible trauma for you. Haven't seen this thread before, so have just read right through and so glad she's on the mend. Queen Mother hosp are really good, and although it wasn't done there, my last GSD had hip replacement ops, and I was having nightmares through recovery. At one point she was leaking blood and clear fluid through the stitch holes! But it was just the body doing it's job and expelling excess fluid. She recovered brilliantly and no one would ever have known that she had an artificial hip. So I'm really sure that everything will turn out fine in the end. It's quite a long haul with restriction of exercise but well worth it in the end. Good luck to you both
Kat

Hi Kat
Thanks for your message, she is doing very well considering infact I cant beleive how well. Today is the first day she has been asking to come out of the crate, she seems to want to play a bit which is a shame as we cant let her yet, but I look on that as a good sign. How long was it before your GSD was back to normal? What I mean by that is when was normal exercise allowed again or do you always have watch what exercise they have?
Thanks
Kayl