Wynston Broke His Foot

You know when you’re about to go on an adventure with dog and worst case scenarios pop into your head? Like, all those “what ifs” and horror stories that you hear from other pet parents. But, I mean, what are the odds that those things would happen to you while you’re on vacation? Well, get freaking prepared for it.

The other day I created a list of things I needed to travel six hours with Wynston. On that list were names of several nearby emergency vets and vaccination records. I honestly never thought I’d need them, but I gotta be prepared and practice what I preach, right? And let me tell you, it’s a good freaking thing I was prepared because…

Wynston broke his foot.

Wynston broke his dang foot jumping off a chair, which is no higher than a “normal” chair, or one we have at the house. I didn’t really see it happen, but I DO know that after he jumped off of it, he was crying and not walking on this back left foot.

To the emergency vet we went.

I made a couple of phone calls to make sure once I chose a vet and drove there, they’d be able to get Wynston in. We ended up at El Paso Animal Emergency & Veterinary Specialty Center. The vet techs and receptionist were mediocre, but the veterinarian was extraordinary. We discussed options and I even called my vet back home for a second opinion. After deciding to proceed with X-rays (even though we just had X-rays done earlier in the week which came back clear), it was a waiting game. A four hour game, to be exact.

Here is the exact diagnosis, per the vet notes:

“Oblique fractures of the distal aspect of the left 3rd and 4th metatarsal bones with mild displacement of the distal aspect of the 3rd metatarsal fracture fragment. Collapsed T12-13 disc space; differentials include acute or chronic intervertebral disc disease.”

When news came back that Wynston had two broken bones in his foot, I was a little bit shocked. At the same time, however, Chihuahua toes are tiny, and it’s kind of surprising that Wyn has gone six years without injury. “Cast it up!” I said, as I requested a CD of X-rays to take back to Oasis Animal Hospital. I already have a follow up appointment scheduled with them for this upcoming Thursday when we get home.

If you read the diagnosis, you also saw that he has a collapsed disc space in his back. Wonderful.

We had arrived at the vet around 5:30pm and left around 9:30pm, 50mg Tramadol and 8lb drugged up Wynston in hand.

Then, I lost it.

We’re six hours away from home, in a place that we’ve never been before. I don’t know anyone and I’m not familiar with my surroundings. My son is hurting and has no idea what’s going on. He can’t walk. He’s confused. And I’m alone with my tears and guilt.

Why guilt? Because like any parent, I was asking myself what I could have done to prevent this from happening to my son. The real answer? Nothing. He jumps onto furniture like any regular dog. But the hardest part is watching him struggle and not being able to do a damn thing about it.

Thankfully I brought Wynston’s kennel and stroller with us on the trip. When we got back to the hotel room I set up the kennel and made it comfortable for Wyn. I put him in it, covered him up and waited until he fell asleep so I could get into bed. Luckily he was so drugged up that he didn’t really know the difference. I’m the type of dog mom who cannot sleep without me boy next to me so sleeping in the big bed alone was difficult. I kept dreaming about his broken foot and waking up to make sure he was okay.

Wynston slept through the night until about 6am when he began crying and pawing at the kennel door. Sadness overcame me because I realized that it’s going to be like this for the next 6-8 weeks. I can’t have him in bed with me because I cannot risk him jumping off in the middle of the night. However, it may change when we get home because I have a ramp from Royal Ramps that will allow him to get on and off the bed without jumping.

In the meantime we’re just resting because that’s all we can do. I still plan to take Wynston to White Sands, NM, he’ll just be in the stroller for most of the photos. I’m chalking this all up to a new experience for the books. I feel like if I can handle Wynston breaking bones on our first road trip together, I can handle anything…

I think…