Hi folks. I am on here hoping to show the replies to my neighbour as we are in disagreement over her german shepherd pup. She purchased the pup at 8 weeks old from a very poorly chosen breeder. The dog Kim is now approximately 8 months old. She has never really been quick to thrive. She is fed a high quality dry food with added meat or chicken from the day my neighbour got her. However she was diagnosed with rickets after 2 weeks and put on a calcium supplement by her vet. I personally do not use this vet for several reasons but it is irrevelant. Anyway,Kim has always been very lean despite getting plenty of food. She has a very sensitive digestive system so her routine doesnt change. However 2 months ago, or possibly 3 at this stage, Kim bolted from my neighbour and was struck by a car. She was knocked unconscious, cut her tongue, dislocated her front elbow and had a nasty gash along the leg, requiring ten sutures, and some grazes. My neighbour rushed her straight to the vet, he put her on a drip, relocated the elbow and sutured it. No xray of the leg. In the following weeks, the front paw began to turn out at the elbow. 5 weeks after the accident, vet puts her leg in a cast for 3 weeks. Doesnt xray it or manipulate it etc. just casts it. Kim gets 3 spots of infection under it so has it off for2 days midway. So cast comes off and the paw is no better. I am very anxious for her to seek a second opinion from an orthopedic specialist and get expert advice but she thinks that her vet knows best. I feel he is beyond his expertise at this stage . How will I get her to take heed?

I think there are quite a lot of issues going on here.  First off, this is not your dog.  I understand that you feel an obligation to help but I would take offence to a 'neighbour' sticking her nose into how me and MY VET cares for my dog.  I had to say that first to get it off my chest.
Sensitive tum - You'll find loads of GSD's (and indeed dogs in general) suffer from this.  It's usually a case of finding what the allergen is and excluding it from the diet.  A lot of people have had great results with RAW feeding(myself included).
Lean build - I would be scared for you to see my 8 month old bitch.  She looks like she has never had a meal in her life and she is fed a very high quality, active puppy food with meat/fish added.  Still, she eats what she wants and no more regardless of how I try and tempt her.  Lots of GSD's are built this way and it is in fact very good for the joints to have less weight on them.  They are slow maturers and don't fill out till around 2 yrs old.
The leg - I would want a referal to an ortho.  But I would have wanted this from the start.  Has your friend got insurance?  If not, this could be the reason for the reluctance.  My first thought was the dog might lose her leg if not sorted soon as she didn't have the good bone structure to start with.
But it is up to your neighbour.

PS This struct a cord as my first dog I can remember was a GSD called Kim.  Hope she's on the mend soon.

Thanks for the reply. I have a giant breed and 2 large breeds,one of which is a gsd so I am well used to them taking time to fill out so I am not too worried about that. But I think her poor start has left its mark on her and she should be in better physical shape given her intake and reduced activity levels. She doesnt have insurance and cannot understand why I have it for mine. She has paid quite a sum over the past few months and she would not have an issue with cost. Its just a reluctance to seek a second opinion  that we are stuck on. Kim currently is back running and jumping around as normal but ends up carrying her leg up afterwards. It clearly is painful and she is on no further treatment.as thee vet said to give it a chance

I think you've answered your own question.  She doesn't have insurance.  Ortho surgery is very expensive and ordinary people without insurance probably couldn't afford it. 

Oh I can understand your frustration. I know of people whose vets have treated their animals appallingly (in my eyes) and yet they think the sun shines out of their....  Many people though haven't had some of the experiences that perhaps you or I have had. What makes me more frustrated is the poor treatment by the vet.  Likely this poor girl will have recurrent lameness her whole life, due to the treatment by the vet.

I too would have to give my opinion, in all conscience I would not be able to live with myself if I didn't at least try. I wouldn't necessarily expect the owner to appreciate it though, or do anything about it. Many people feel that it is an insult to their vet to seek a second opinion, and this can be a reason they don't do it, and, as Cracar said, cost may also be a factor in this situation. I would maybe try and say that it is quite common practice to seek a second opinion, especially as the local vet is the equivalent of a GP  etc....but I am sure you've done that already. 

So very sad and frustrating, especially when you are seeing her in front of you day in and day out.