| Show THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE SUNDAY CORNING JANUARY 13 The New for Dogs Is Made to Fit Perfectly Above “Happy” Shows How the Device Was Placed on His Broken Leg Splint-Cratc- h all dog owners David Levy particularly saddened re- when his puppy "Happy” vu run over The tiny animal’s left front leg was broken at the shoulder and it looked as though it would have to be put to death as many others had been in similar situations ' Levy was just about ready to have the puppy taken away when he heard of an extraordinary new devicor--a crutch that held the bones of small animals in place and enabled them to move around while the broken appendages were healing- - He contacted the inventor immediately Leo Plaut of Mount Vernon Hew York Within a short time Plaut arrived gave “Happy" an anesthetic placed the broken leg in a splint and attached the adjustable crutch Nine days later the device was removed—and the puppy’s cracked bones were completely healed! Plaut explained later that he designed the crutch to save the lives of many injured pets that ordinarily would be decrippled stroyed or Now by using his invention animal fractures can be expertly cared for immediately after an accident Complete recovery follows within a few weeks In the past the big difficulty confronting veterinarians when healing broken hones was keeping the animals quiet long enough for the fractures to knit Plaut therefore knew he bad to develop a contrivance that would permit a dog to move about without upsetting the bones that had just been placed in their proper positions After much experimentation he finally evolved the amazing gadget you aee on this page It consisted of a padded shoulder ring two adjustable side bars An LIRE remain-incurabl- U!ia bts&jto sa3AJ?i®e ml the injured “member was to he attached after it had been strapped with adheHe also worked out a number of rules that had to be followed when using the invention ' Veterinarians Plaut said must obtain alignment reduction and fixation of fractures to correspond as closely as possible to the normal direction and position of the bones involved In using the crutch they must remember that each fracture is a case in itself and may shoyr variations from others The inventor then advised that the injured animal be treated for shock immediately after the accident and that the fracture be reduced as eoon as possible after it occurred "Best results-arusually obtained by keeping the method of reduction and treatment as simple as possible” said Plaut “Usually the amount of traction g and necessary to correct hold the limb securely is relatively alight providing it is constant The needs h length of time the to remain on the leg will depend on the extent of the bony displacements type of injury reaction of the animal etc “This can readily be judged after experience As a general rule it can be said that in most cases a fourteen-da- y period of fixation is adequate” During this time the proper diet must be given to maintain the health of the sive e over-ridin- splint-crutc- Ingenious Veterinarian -- s Invents the Splint— Crutch for D ogs that Ha ve Broken Legs animal and to supply the necessary elements to aid in the formation of bone union Everything should be done to promote its comfort "Gross displacements are always to be expected in complete fractures of the extremities” continues Plaut "The use of continuous extension or traction is the method of choice in more effectively htndling such fractures "Continuous traction prodqpes muscu-ls- r relaxation and involuntary contraction It counteracts muscle spasm which Is the chief cause of pain and displacement Traction secures alignment by a pull in the direction of the normal anatomic linqi and in itself aids in securing immobilization” machine - A fiuoroscope or should be used to make a diagnosis of the existing displacements The animal should be placed under complete anesthesia while manipulations and replace- X-r- being carried out This relaxes all structures and gives comfort to the animal so that better results are obtained In “Happy’s” case Plaut after giving the animal an anesthetic set the bones and applied tape down one sido of the leg reversed it and returned the tape upward on the opposite side A strip was applied spirally to bind the traction bands Six inches of the adhesive traction strip were left free beyond the foot The Inventor made sure that the ring of the adjustable crutch was sufficiently large before padding was applied This precaution was taken to allow normal Circulation Generous padding was then put on the crutch and the device was placed in dose to "Happy’s” shoulder Adjustments on the side bars were loosened and the crutch was extended to the proper length The adhesive hanging from the puppy’s foot was connected to the crosspiece at the base Within a few days “Happy” became accustomed to the crutch and moved about on it freely He displayed almost as much friskiness as he did before the accident When it came to automobiles however he remained far away from them Apparently he had learned his lesson A cartful check was kept on "Happy” to make sure the traction didn’t diminish II it had Plaut would have ex- - Before the Invention of the Adjustable Splint Crutch the" One Above When an Animal Received a Fracture ( r rail First Few tended the For the His AcciAfter to Days crutch produce the traction required V' dent “Happy” Was Vi Quiet "This is a Extremely and Hobbled About simple fairly matter The Slowly on the ' Crutch ffl loosens the burrs on the Bide bars to allow the rods to slide easily An assistant meanwhile holds the animal The veterinarian then grasps the crosspiece with one hand and with the other the ring of the crutch is held firmly against the shoulder He pulls the movable part of the crutch in a straight line parallel to the side bars When the desired extension is obtained he tightens the burrs Nine days liter the adjustable splint was placed on "Happy” the device waa removed and his broken leg was in tiptop shape If yoq looked at him now you lhaJf glad been the - way he tears around these days it appears as though he himself has already forgotten all about it At present experiments are also being carried out to perfect a eplint that will eliminate the practice of shooting horses who break their legs Dr Otto Stader of Ardmore Pa the inventor of this particular device demonstrated it at the last Annual Convention of the American Veterinary Medical Association in New York The Stader mechanism differs considIt is erably from Plaut’s splint-crutc- h attached to the broken limb by means of pins screwed into the broken bone fragments It grips the bone sections in such a manner that they remain rigidly in po eition "Spreading” is thus prevented Sig dogs on which tha splint has been used were able to walk about within 24 to 48 hours after the operation It is hoped that it will work ss well on horses and thus save the lives of many thoroughbreds who each year break their legs on race courses all Over the world Thus by slow but sure stages progress is being made in overcoming a cruel custom of destroying animals with injuries no more serious than are suffered annually by thousands of human beings who through the kind of aid generally denied animals are enabled to overcoma their ill effects fractured 5: - From a Number of Veterinarians Used a Device Similar to As You Can ReaililySee It W as Decidedly Lnwieldy ill 1 1 As “Happy” Became Accustomed to’ the New Contrivance He Perked Up a Good Deal He Frisked About aa Though He Had Never Had a Fracture He Celebrates Above by Dancing on Hia Hind Lega oprrtM by f Lariiiard Ga Im Ww” miH ROBERT BENCHUY m OM Wfi “MsMjf mi TUNS IN ARTIE 5HAWS Orcbaair ererv Staotlav Bight CeUanba Network ’ JPHSHI J'oDhln il open at OUTXR BOTTOM of Urf |
