Hind leg fracture

[RatMomZ]

Hi all, just had a call from the vet following an xray of Angel. Turns out she has a fractured hind leg, which is showing up on the xray as possibly due to a tumour, or with calcification around the fracture. Knowing Ange I wouldn't be surprised if she broke it doing something silly in the cage and then the latter has happened.

Has anyone had experience with hind leg fractures? We are waiting for the orthopaedic specialist to comment on the xrays, before deciding anything, but I read that there is now some evidence that NSAIDs can prevent bone healing? Plan was to keep her on metacam while we await an opinion but if that's actually not helping I'd rather look at other options.

She's still running around like a lunatic during free roam and climbing whenever she thinks im not looking so, bar occasional soreness, it doesn't seem to be holding her back. I have had her in a hospital cage where she can't climb for a fortnight now.

I rescued her a month ago and she's allegedly 10 months, though I would say Maddie, who came with her is too large to be 10 months, so she could be older.

I'll post a pic of the xray later when I collect her.

 

[SQ]

Lilspaz68 should be able to answer your questions as I believe she has experience with this.
I believe that she has had at least one rattie have a leg amputated

 

[lilspaz68]

if there's calcification its already healing. Did her hind leg/foot suddenly swell up and you took her to the vet who recommended an xray?

if the swelling was recent it could just be a sprain, and you found the old fracture later on.

 

[RatMomZ]

Hi both, just had the verdict from the orthopaedic specialist. They are very concerned about the leg, particularly about there being a tumour, and don't think it's calcification, but we'd need a biopsy to be sure.

@lilspaz68 could you give me a run down of your experience with amputations in rats please? I know that she may respond differently, but any tips or things to watch out for would be appreciated. She's very bright and energetic still, but if having her pts would be kinder than removing the lower leg and subjecting her to major surgery I'd always rather do that, regardless of how much I want her to stay and the others would miss her.

 

[lilspaz68]

if its a hind leg, rats do amazing adapting to this. They may need help with scratches on that side, or ear rubs. Think of anything that they do normally with that hind leg and help them accomplish it. Itchy ears are not a fun thing for anyone

They should amputate very high up the leg so there is no stump to rub or abrade/get infected if they try to walk or climb with it. A youngster should heal fast and adapt even better. I've had several have hind legs amputated and (Inca was 18 months) and one rat had her foreleg removed due to a crazy fast malignant tumour. Inca did amazing and was running and exploring with a day or 2. I have pics of what to expect.

Pre-op

post-op

2 days post-op

exploring

all healed up

 

[RatMomZ]

Thanks @lilspaz68. Have her booked in for next week and am keeping her on metacam while we wait. She's being a total monster so it's no surprise she destroyed the joint. Her favourite way to get down from higher up the cage is to just drop... regardless of the hammocks and shelves she could use to climb down. Just hoping she does adapt quickly as she still very much uses the foot as an anchor point even without her weight on it.

 

[ViciousCurse]

Did the vets and specialists at all recommend keeping her on a one-level cage to keep her activity to a minimum?

 

[lilspaz68]

I would stop the metacam a few days out from your appointment as it can cause issues with bleeding (blood thinner) and if they do the surgery you don't need that complication.

 

[RatMomZ]

Did the vets and specialists at all recommend keeping her on a one-level cage to keep her activity to a minimum?

Not specifically but I did have her in my hospital cage with supervised play outings for a fortnight. Nothing really improved sadly. She'll be back in the hospital cage today after the op but it was just stressing her out so she's been in the main cage for the last week. I was hoping something would happen but if anything the mass is just more solidified around the joint.

 

[RatMomZ]

I would stop the metacam a few days out from your appointment as it can cause issues with bleeding (blood thinner) and if they do the surgery you don't need that complication.

Thank you. This is really helpful

 

[RatMomZ]

So today is the day. Not looking forward to this at all. Sad there wasn't another option but the xrays showed the joint basically obliterated. No idea what she did to cause that. Feels cruel to take her leg away when she still uses the foot for anchorage, even though the specialists have said it's the only real option. Vet said we could have done a biopsy but by the sound of it (and looking at the xray) it wouldn't achieve much.

Thank you all for your advice, I'll let you know how we get on.

 

[lilspaz68]

Yes please do! Make sure they send you home with plenty of pain meds and pick up baby cereal for her to eat later on while she's recovering. ((Hugs))

 

[ViciousCurse]

Good luck! I'd just like to point out that animals, especially prey animals, are incredibly good at adapting. Please don't feel bad for your baby, she won't have a painful leg to drag around anymore. It'll take some adjusting, but she'll be perfectly happy with three legs. I hope everything went well and she's doing great!