SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT OF SYNDACTYLY IN A DOG

This report describes the treatment of simple syndactyly in a Golden R etriever, The left forepaw lacked cutaneous separation between the dig its and had confluent metacarpal and digital pads. After vigorous exer cise, the dog had intermittent non-weight-bearing lameness involving t he affected forepaw The lameness may have resulted from stretching of the thin skin on the dorsum of the paw as the digits attempted to spre ad during weight bearing. Surgical separation of digits 3 and 4 was pe rformed by creating an interdigital web space with dorsal and palmar s kin flaps and by covering the exposed axial surfaces with full-thickne ss skin grafts. At 11 weeks after surgery, the lameness had improved a nd the dog's level of activity had increased.