healed fractured P1 3rd digit with rub injury

[lehughes]

Hi Laurie. Welcome home, and I hope you get a nice relaxing Christmas with your family.
I have another rehab question for you and I never really know how I should pose my rehab questions to you. I looked at trying to ask you a specific question via your Four Legs Website and could not quite figure out how to do it? Anyhow, I'm sending my question through your usual email, but let me know if there is a better way to do this.

Anyhow, Tiga is a 1.6 yr old Whippet who broke her P1 3rd digit LHL at 11 months of age. We splinted it for a couple of weeks, but only succeeding in annoying both the dog and the owner with the splint. With the advise of a surgeon we decided to just rest the dog and let it heal without the splint....which it did quite well, with the owner doing regular traction and us doing laser. Owner has been diligent with her rehab and the dog's muscle mass and strength is now excellent. However, we are having rub issues with the 3rd and 4th toes P1-P2 joints rubbing against the other. I've tried light protective piece of moleskin and vetrap between the toes, but nothing stays on well and the rubbing continues. The owner has even talked about amputation - which I have firmly said no to. This is an agility dog. I've watched the dog walk and there is minimal contact between these two toes, but just enough to cause the rub. I suspect with time, this area will just callus up and stop bothering the dog. I've included a photo of the toes and a link to a video that shows how the dog walks. Please let me know if you have any suggestions on how to help the dog stand/walk/run differently to decrease this rub, or whether we just need to wait this out until the area calluses.
The video link is: https://youtu.be/1h1HjrHJxT4
Thanks so much
Jen Stelfox

[lehughes]

Hey Jen,

Sorry for my tardy reply! I’m now in Norway! No rest for the wicked!!
In regards to posting questions - putting them on the forum is great:

Now as for your whippet!
It sounds like a difficult case! And it sounds like you have thought outside the box for sure!
Question: is the P3 digit thicker or deviated? Is the ROM reduced? (Just trying to figure out why the rubbing).

Ah, which would make me say, be sure you’ve checked the neck. But I’m sure you have!

Okay, so what to do! That’s the tricky part. you’re right, a callus in the area would be wonderful! Might something like 'liquid bandaid’ work to protect the area? Maybe the owner could purchase a 5mw pointer laser to use daily (10 minutes / day to deliver 3J/cm2) to help heal those wounds as we await callus formation.

Beyond that, I’m not sure what to recommend! But I’m going to post it to the Forum t see if others have any inspiration.

Wishing you all the best for a fabulous 2019!

Cheers,

Laurie