Seamus is hurt ... long post *UPDATE - home from follow up visit *

[L.M.]

Hi all.  Though I've been checking in every so often, I haven't posted in a while.  Baby plus dogs, work, and grad school has been time consuming, but things have been going great.  My son turned one in April and while this year has been a whirlwind, Seamus, Stella, and Patrick (my son) have become the best of friends.  

Unfortunately, we've had a really bad week.  Seamus had begun limping last weekend.  I came home one day after work and he didn't come to greet me (not AT ALL like him.)  He was acting strange all day and limping a bit, but nothing I couldn't explain with maybe playing too rough with Stella the day before.  Well, he behaved like this on and off all week, but not constantly.  Last night, Seamus and Stella were outside.  Seamus came trotting over to my husband and all of a sudden began yelping in pain.  He was crying and holding up his front leg...putting no weight on it whatsoever.  *Little side note- this happened a few months ago....same leg, same symptoms...took him to our regular vet who said it was simply a sprain, did no X rays, gave us some pain pills and that was that.  I should have trusted my better instincts and paid more attention to the fact that he never COMPLETELY healed and still walked a bit with a very slight limp.  

Well, last night my husband took Seamus to a wonderful veterinary hospital in Red Bank.  For those of you from NJ, I'm guessing you've heard of it?  Everyone tells me it's the best of the best and so far they seem to be wonderful.  They were there from 7:30pm to 11:00, checking his vitals, doing x rays, and all that.  Turns out he either has a fracture in his shoulder or it's dislocated.  They gave him morphine so when he came home he was in an awful state....panting, completely dazed, and just about passed out.  He woke up at 3am crying, so I brought his water bowl to him and he took a huge drink...that seemed to be what he wanted.  He stayed in our dining room all day today...he likes the carpet under the table, and this is where he's been since 6:00 this morning.  Ate a little, has been drinking, but won't walk and cries a little now and then.  It's terrible.  When he does walk, his front left leg is up and his back leg on the same side shakes because all his weight is there.  

We have an appointment back at Red Bank Vet on Saturday with a surgeon who will do more x rays and examine hi to determine the next step.  Does anyone have any experience with either a fracture or dislocated shoulder?  We will undoubtedly get this treated, but any ideas how much it will cost?  Will the surgery even work?  Can this happen again after surgery?  (Of course I'll ask the vet all this, but I just wanted to reach out to those of you who maybe have experienced it firsthand.)  Are there other questions I should ask the surgeon?  As always, thank you so much for your help.  

UPDATE:  Well, we just got home from the vet.  We met with a wonderful surgeon...everyone there is so friendly.  EXCEPT for another little dog patient who snapped at Seamus and bit him in the nose while we were in the waiting room...lol what a way to start...the little thing actually drew blood!   Anyway, so far, all we really know is that it is not a fracture or dislocation.  It seems to be something systemic...an infection of some sort.  They drew fluid from Seamus' shoulder joint and immediately knew that something was wrong...the fluid itself was abnormal, had blood in it, there was a lot of fluid itself, and whatever else would lead the doctors to believe something was off... But of course we don't know exactly what is wrong with it because they will be sending it out for testing.  She said any number of things.....lyme is being considered, bacterial infections, and she said the dreaded word (cancer), but I'm trying to stay positive.  We will know probably mid week.  For now, we still have his pain meds and she prescribed antibiotics for him to start immediately in case it is, in fact, an infection.  Any other ideas you all may have in terms of what else could cause fluid in his joint?  Please keep sending positive thoughts our way.  

[L.M.]

Thank you so much!  This is a big comfort, especially because my worry is that whatever the issue is actually began months ago when we first visited our regular vet.  If that's the case, then Seamus' shoulder would have healed already too.  In just the 3 days now since visiting Red Bank, it seems like he is already starting to "adapt" to it.  Will update everyone later on.  

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Keeping positive thoughts for Seamus. What an experience in the waiting room! Poor Seamus! Hope you hear results asap.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

JD and i are sending positive thoughts for you and Seamus, and hoping for the best possible diagnosis and outcome. Hugs to you both. 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I'm keeping you and of course Seamus in my thoughts for some good news next week, something that can easily be treated and that he will be back to full health very soon.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Sending prayers, hugs and good thoughts to Seamus and you!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh I'm so sorry....keeping positive thoughts that this is something that will be easy to treat.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Thank you for updating. Waiting is so very hard. I'm so glad you intend to stay positive. That has to be good for Seamus too. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

This is turning into quite a nerve-racking mystery. Hoping the tests show something easily treated and he will be back to his old self again soon.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.  Hopefully it is something very simple and easy to fix.  Our minds do have a way of wandering though don't they!  Please try and stay positive until the results come back. 

[DJ & Chance]

Oh, this has been so difficult for you and Seamus.  Positive thoughts and hugs.

[Adrienne]

Sending lots of hugs and prayers your way, hoping that Seamus is given the all clear soon.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Thinking of you guys while you wait for answers.