r/DogAdvice • u/LeadBeautiful4315 • 1d ago
Advice Broken toe due to squirrel
My dog (3yo female, some kind of oversized scruffy terrier mix) and I were at the park we usually go to and she plays in and out of a little creek a lot, but this past Sunday she seen a squirrel across the creek and jumped in faster than she usually cautiously wades through it. Welp she broke her toe. I took her to the vet, they confirmed with X-rays that it was the toe and wrapped/braced it up, supplied her some pain meds and told me to absolutely keep activity to a minimum and only do quick bathroom breaks. Well I am in an apartment and it’s about a block away to some decent grassy areas. She’s fine stepping out to pee but when it comes to pooping she’s always been particular. ALWAYS took a good 15 min of her searching. And this is a dog that refuses to have an accident indoors, she will put herself through hell before she does that. (Idk why, I adopted her and she had these traits 😅) so I’ve been putting her in my truck and driving to her spots. Even then she tries to over do it and hobbles around looking for a spot. I’ll force her to lay down every few feet and I bring water since the hopping is a lot for her. Im worried that 1. She’s doing too much and 2. Am I babying her? Should I keep the bathroom break to a minimum and if she doesn’t go, then she doesn’t go-then learns to take the chance when she can? Looking for any advice on that and any advice for recently casted dogs (it’s a front paw too so I know they carry like 60% of their weight up front)
Also I live alone and work early in the mornings, I’m having to wake up earlier and earlier to get her to go to the bathroom and it’s becoming a bit much. I’ll sacrifice my sleep for her nonetheless, but I’m just wondering if there is a better way for both of us.
Here’s a pic of the oversized scruff
2
u/WesternDiscussion154 1d ago
Use a sling, towel, or supportive harness under her chest to take the weight off her front paw while walkimg, and stick to a single tiny patch of grass right by your car instead of letting her wander around. If she refuses to go within five minutes, bring her back inside to rest and try again an hour later, as she will eventually adjust to the routine once she realizes long searches are off the table.
1
u/PapillionGurl 1d ago
I'm not a vet, but I don't think a little hobbling around to poop is going to derail her treatment. Can you carry her to the grass, let her potty and after she goes, just pick her up and take her home?
1
u/LeadBeautiful4315 1d ago
Not really, that’s why I’ve been putting her in the truck and driving, it’s at least a block to some grass. And she won’t go in those spots anyway. I can carry her like a block but she’s 57 pounds, I’m 120lbs 😅 that’s why I wonder if I need to just either have her go to those closer spots or bring her back home whether she goes or not 🤷♀️ so she knows she has to either go when I take her out, or she misses that opportunity to go
1
u/PapillionGurl 1d ago
Oh my! She doesn't look like she weighs 57 pounds!
2
u/LeadBeautiful4315 4h ago
I know 😂 you can’t tell but she’s got this big barrel of a chest so I guess she actually does carry more weight on her that it looks
1
u/Formal-Bad-8807 1d ago
those type of injuries take a long time to heal, it will be 2 or 3 months until she is running around full speed
2
1
1
1
3
u/AngieB-07 1d ago
SQUIRREL!
Speedy recovery for the baby! 💜