Foot Lameness & Fractures

Swelling of foot rot vs deep sepsis

Foot rot is symmetrical and deep sepsis is asymmetrical

Why do we give antibiotics to digital bone fracture patients?

Because the animal is stressed, they will get a ruminal acidosis and bacteria will translocate into blood. There is a hematoma at site of fracture, so bacteremia reaches here and causes infection

When should you NOT amputate a claw?

When there is pathology above P1

Tipped up toe indicates

Severed DDF

What must you do on every MSK patient?

Complete PE, including a rectal

Plantigrade stance =

Ruptured gastrocnemius

Screening for coxofemoral fracture/dislocation

Evaluate the triangle formed by tuber coxae, tuber ischia, and greater trochanter

Dog sitting =

Fracture between T2-sacral vertebral bodies

Fracture casts are most commonly changed every

10 days to 3 weeks

One exception to casts:

in young animal, remove it in 3-4 weeks and then splint

Open fractures

osteomyelitis and delayed healing can be problematic, especially because there aren't great antibiotic options for treatment

Ehmer sling is used for

Coxofemoral luxations