Home Forums Birds & Dogs Hunting Dogs Wrist injury

So Wednesday we were out hunting with our 1 1/2 year old vizsla. Not real heavy cover and things were going well. Suddenly she is yelping and favoring her left front paw. When I got to her I could see there was a serious injury. Paw was out at 90 degree angle from normal. So, got her loaded up ASAP and to the vet. Turned out to be a dislocation of the "wrist". No fractures noted on XR. Reduced under anesthesia and splinted.

So my question is, what is the long term consequences, possibly? Anything now that I need to watch for? What, if any, rehab will she need? This vet was close to where we are hunting but he is not a canine ortho specialist or anything.

Here she is with her owner!

Welcome to the expensive hobby of maintaining a gun dog.
Did the vet have any instructions for after care? I would try to keep her off of her feet as much as possible for a couple days, leash for outside potty breaks even.
You will be amazed at how fast she will bounce back, dogs are amazingly tough.
Even Vislas.

At this point the plan is splint for about 3-4 weeks and as you noted, mostly crate rest with minimal activity. Vet felt like the joint was still tight so his suspicion for underlying ligament damage was pretty small

Hmm, so splint follow up and now they finally took a post-reduction film. Even though I am a people doctor, I can see that something is not right. Consult with ortho vet, fracture/dislocation of carpal bone. Now so far out that the only option is a fusion of the joint. Crap. And about $2800

Sorry to hear the news. I opened the thread hoping to see your Viszla up and running.
What is long term prognosis?

Well, not sure exactly. The fusion will allow her to have a pain free wrist (hopefully) but will obviously change her gait and mobility. Probably not enough to affect her hunting with a old fart like me, which is good and she is not a field trial dog anyway, just a pet and hunting buddy. One of the things so amazing about her was her speed and grace but I will be happy to have her back in any form. Probably about 4 months for total recovery after the surgery.

My dogs grandmother has a severe limp from tearing tendons in her right shoulder while phez hunting.
She still hunts hard, at age 11, and goes GSP crazy when she sees the guns come out.
The breeder just has to shorten the hunts a bit so she does not exhaust herself.
Best of luck

I wonder if some type a brace on it in the field would help? I'd guess something made from heavy saddle leather. Never heard of this happening before.

It was a unusual injury for sure. Likely stepped in a hole while we were in the field.

The appt. is set for the 23rd with the ortho specialist at Iowa State Vet school. Hopefully all will go well

Went to ISU yesterday. Very impressive place and service. Unfortunately there is some concern with infection in the paw so that has to get cleared up before any kind of surgery on the ankle. She will need a fusion of the joint with a metal rod but they are first more worried about the foot and pad right now

Infection and pads seem to be healing but surgery is not scheduled yet. Hopefully tomorrow or Monday

Home from ISU, surgery went well. Now just some healing and then rehab. Long road ahead still

Best wishes.

Starting to look better and she seems to be starting to feel better. No weight on that foot/wrist yet but stitches out next week.

First trip back into the field since the injury last November. She was a bit rusty but did well overall