Hi, i'm looking for some advice. I have a 3 month old puppy who had an operation on Friday for a fracture of her condylar but I think the vet has failed to carry out the procedure properly.
My puppy cannot move her leg and will not attempt to use it or bear any weight on it at all. I fear the vet may have damaged her nerve or something else has gone wrong. I do know the vet had some problems as she said the first screw she used didn't work so she had to use a larger screw which is too big for my puppy but said she may grow into it I had to take her back Saturday morning for her to check on it and she admitted my dog had limited movement. and she wants to see her again Tuesday morning.  I've had a dog previously that has had this procedure and she was able to walk on the leg the next day.  I've tried to encourage my puppy to move her leg which she either can't or won't do.  I've tried stretching exercises on the leg which have caused her to cry out in pain, and she flat out refuses to use the leg. i've tried the pinch test on her toes to see if that will make her move leg and she still won't or can't do anything with the leg  She had more ability in the leg before the surgery took place and i'm wondering if the vet has caused nerve damage.  I'm just looking for any advice from anybody with any knowledge of this procedure on how to go forward from here if there is no improvement by the time I return to my vet or any advice on what I can do to help get movement back in her leg

You have the right to take your dog to another Vet for a second opinion, it is only etiquette that you inform your vet & obtain your pet's medical records so the vet doing the examination etc is fully informed about past treatment, conditions etc

No matter what some may say(like you have to get current vet's permission)you are a paying client & have the right to go to whichever veterinary surgeon you choose.

Thank you Ann, however i#m financially not in the position to be able to do that right now. And I was thinking my vet has to correct the problem that they've created.
In my opinion the screw needs to be removed before it causes any further damage   I just don't know what options are available to me if that happens.  I was also wanting to find out if any damage done will reverse once the screw is taken out.
I'm so upset for my puppy, I could cry right now to see that she's completely lost all function in the leg since the operation and was wondering if any nerve damage done during the procedure will recover?

I'm assuming you don't have insurance - otherwise I'd be, on referral, off to Noel Fitz. with this one.   I'm surprised the vet has done what this surgery sounds like on such a young puppy who is still growing.

At any rate, I'd be off for a second opinion even if yes, I think the operating vet should put right what's gone wrong, but can he!!

I would be discussing with the original  vet and if possible a second opinion. Time may be needed followed by physiotherapy. Again I am not a vet though
I have never had any issues with vets about referrals or second opinions in fact I have had vets suggest that a referral would be helpful.

Getting frustrated by 'treatment' for one of my girls who was, it turned out, terminal cancer, I phoned my vet across country for her opinion (without seeing her) and then went to see my sister's vet.  I told the vet who had been seeing my girl which produced the Senior Partner who FINALLY x-rayed her (which the first vet refused to do saying scanning was good enough) and sadly discovered the original cancer (probably in her bladder) had spread to her lungs.

Sometimes taking a second opinion (and my sister's vet didn't want, or need to see her medical history - he went straight to saying why no x-ray - as my vet across country had also said) gives a vet a kick up the backside! 

It can help in these cases, when there are multiple vets in the same Practice - you get multiple opinions without needing to go outside the Practice.