Expert: Jannie Balliett - 9/4/2010

Question
Hi Jannie,
I found you searching for info on my boxers broken distal tibia and wanted to say thank you for what you do!
I'm a huge boxer fan and this is my second male fawn. I'm hooked! Despite the issues that they can be prone to. There just is no comparison to other breeds!

Is it odd that he broke his tibia by jumping? It looked like he over exerted his jump and when coming back down lost his balance. His back twisted, and as he tried to land, his full body weight came down on his right hind leg, as it lost balance and twisted. It was a terrible moment.

And, is a fiberglass cast the best way to go? The very expensive...emergency vet hopital's surgeon/ortho doctor seems to think it is. But another hospital I spoke with said fiberglass casts aren't used anymore. It needs to be changed, or checked every week and the hospital is very costly. Just wondering if there are other options.
Thanks!! I love what you do.

Blessings,
~Wendy

Answer
Hello Wendy,

I haven't seen a fiberglass cast used- only plaster. Maybe the ortho wanted it because it is light weight-- I don't know.

But, which ever you choose- remember, it is for a dog that will walk.

Usually a plaster cast works well and is more cost efficient.