Puppy problems - Sorry it's so long!

kennedy_ka

My parents had a Bichon Frise from the time I was 7 years old. Now I'm 22 and he's still alive and just turned 17. I have always thought Bichons were the cutest sweetest dogs. I just got a Bichon Frise puppy and I love him! However we have had serious problems from the get go and I need some advice.

First of all our breeder was absolutely horrible! When I first contacted her about the puppy, she was very helpful and informative, answered my questions and did everything she could to help me. I went to pick up my adorable 8 week old puppy and discovered he was covered in fleas! This was not your average case of fleas either. There were thousands of them and they were even crawling on his eyes! As soon as I realized this, I knew this was not the best person to buy a puppy from, but I also knew that there was no way I was sending him back with her to that flea infested place where he would be neglected. I spent nearly an hour trying to find a flea dip that was safe for a puppy that young (most say not younger than 12 weeks). I also spent about 7 hours picking fleas off him that first night.

Bringing him home was also a trial. He got diarrhea right away (I know it was just from the stress, but it was still frustrating). He got better quickly and has also become accustomed to being left alone during the day while I'm at work--he doesn't whine about it anymore! With the diarrhea and the fleas, I decided to take him to the vet right away and get him a quick check up even though his shots weren't due yet.

After that he was great! SO happy and cute! Last night though, he was on the bed with me and he fell off! The poor little thing fractured his leg. It was just a hairline fracture and it is not displaced, so the vet didn't do anything. He's so tiny that they did not have a splint that would fit him. I don't know what to do. He's only 9 weeks old - I don't know how to keep him inactive and I don't know how long it takes for puppy bones to heal, or what this could mean for him in the future-will it heal properly, will he have a limp, etc?. Today he has been babying his leg a lot and taking it easy, but my little guy (Merlin) has a lot of energy. How do I get him to release this energy without injuring him. He's supposed to go easy on the leg, and I'm worried that he's going to break it all the way if he gets too active.

I love Merlin so much, but I'm beginning to wonder if I'm getting myself in too deep. I've done my best to take care of him, but I'm really worried about him. He has had some very serious problems already and I've only had him a week. Does anyone have some advice for me? -Kathy

DeLaUK · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:29 am Post subject:

If I were you I would take him either back to your vet and request that a splint be placed or to another vet, a hairline fracture can be made worse if there is any more trauma to it, i.e. the puppy trips on something, he turns too quickly and loses balance, he lands too hard on the leg. Ive worked for years in animal hospitals as a tech and I can tell you there is always a way to make a tiny splint, weve used tongue depressors, small syringe cases, weve had to make splints for birds legs before and used matchsticks, it can be done. There are cases were the 'patient' will comply and stay quiet and calm and the leg should heal fine without a splint, more likely with a cat as long as its kept on strict cage rest, but in most vets opinions, (that Ive worked with) its not worth the risk.
Front or back leg doesnt make much difference, for the back leg you sometimes have to get a bit more creative, if its the upper bone in the back leg sometimes bandaging it in a position so the pup cannot use that leg often works, its more like a sling than a splint so it still can be done, a front leg splint is easy enough. The leg should be immobilized.
(Just my opinion)

Good luck.

lil96 · Super Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 1260

I don't know very much about that stuff, but i remember once we had a tiny chi who broke one leg, so we took him to the vet, there they put him in a crate with a wire bottom, he fell through and broke the other leg! but he had big purple casts put on his legs. he healed fine.
I think, the younger something is the more likely the will recover.

LucyLu · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:49 pm Post subject:

Please don't give up on your sweet baby. I know it is a lot of work and $, but the rewards are priceless. You are doing such a wonderful thing for him! I understand how frustrating it can be and like you said, how deep you are, but hang in there!

kennedy_ka · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:33 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your support! Does anyone know how long it will take for his leg to heal? I'm taking him to my regular vet tonight after work (On Wednesday night I had to go to the animal emergency clinic). Hopefully my vet will actually be able to help out!

lil96 · Super Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 1260

i think it took my dog 6 months to get the casts off.

DeLaUK · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:31 pm Post subject:

With a puppy this age with a splint on everything is usually healed up after about 8 weeks but still taking it easy for about another 4 weeks....no major stress on the leg, they do heal faster than an adult dog generally.