Plastron healing after surgery?

[Speedy-1]

Sorry to hear this Jodie ! I know how frustrating it can be !

 

[Jodie]

Finally got a reply. Very unsatisfactory. Theory is, may be healed underneath, not sure.
I knew that much.
Taking her in tomorrow. Hopefully After forking over $100 the vet will be smarter. Local vet can't re-apply the fiberglass, so probably have to drive to Pullman. Hoping for better options.

 

[MPRC]

Jodie, who do you use in Spokane?

 

[Jodie]

Jodie, who do you use in Spokane?

Cathy Ratcliff at Mt. Spokane Vet Hospital.

 

[MPRC]

I'm not a huge fan of Dr. Ponti in Otis Orchards but he may be able to do the fiberglass with out a trip to WSU.

 

[Jodie]

I'm not a huge fan of Dr. Ponti in Otis Orchards but he may be able to do the fiberglass with out a trip to WSU.

Thank you

 

[Gillian M]

Good luck!

 

[MPRC]

I've been racking my brain trying to think of other alternatives, the only other place that comes to mind is the surgical specialists that work out of the Pet Emergency Clinic during the daytime hours. It may be cheaper to go to Pulllman though. You pay a premium for their services.

 

[Pearly]

Oh wow! 2 years??? I know human bone healing process takes at least 6-9 months for scar tissue to start sealing the injury. Not sure how it works with keratin, but if timelines are supposed to be similar I'd be curious about what keeps it from getting sealed up. Wonder if there is something in the deep bottom layers that just keeps it from closing up (i.e.: gap too big to make the edges approximated enough to start fusing, or... foreign body of some sort?) Imaging would be nice, but I just hate it that you are having to deal with the expense now. Recently I went through some vet care expenses too. It's ridiculous how much everything cost! All the prices keep going up, but pay checks stay this same... Pooooo!!!!

 

[BrianWI]

I don't like the looks of the cut. Seems wide, plus aren't they supposed to cut the shell at an angle, like the top of a jack-o-lantern?

 

[Yvonne G]

I don't like the looks of the cut. Seems wide, plus aren't they supposed to cut the shell at an angle, like the top of a jack-o-lantern?

That is normally how it is done, Brian...the jack-o-lantern reference, I mean.

 

[Pearly]

Well, any news???

 

[BrianWI]

That is normally how it is done, Brian...the jack-o-lantern reference, I mean.

I thought it didn't look right. Not sure how you'd bridge a gap for sure.

 

[Jodie]

So the bone is solid underneath this flap on top. She is fine.

 

[Pawciorc]

Jodie, in your first post you stated that the part of shell is not attached and pushes in. So how can the bone be solid now?

 

[Jodie]

It is flexible. The flap is not attached to the bone underneath. Pushes in, is not exactly accurate. It flexes out. The vet used an instrument slid under the flap to feel the bone underneath. She also pulled the flap out and could see healthy bone underneath.

 

[Pawciorc]

So it means that the removed for surgery and attached with fiberglass patch part of plastron is not connected with the shell, and underneath, your tort has developed a new bone?

 

[Jodie]

No. I am not a vet, so forgive my un-technical understanding. The bone has a keratin (s) covering. This is the flap. When this shell is injured, the new bone grows underneath, and pushes it off. I have seen this are significantly smaller injuries. I am assuming that cutting the shell has caused the entire outer layer to die. The healing is taking place underneath. Hopefully someone with better knowledge will come along to explain this better.