Taking dogs to the vet.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Shayna was limping today, she was not bearing any weight on her left rear leg.  Of course Sharon got very concerned, off to the vet.  It is sprained.  Have try to keep her from to much running, etc.  Easier said than done.  Previcox for the pain.

 

All three were just (last week) to the vet for their yearly checkup.  BTW both Shayna and Boomer have anaplasmosis.  Boomer had no symptoms and Shayna tested positive a few months ago, both are on chloramphenicol.  Mariner's blood pressure is low but as he seems to be doing well lately and all his blood tests came back fine we are just watching it.

 

They see the doctor more often than I do.  Are we overprotective?  Maybe if they could talk, it would help.  Shayna really doesn't complain.  If something bothers Boomer he becomes a real winer.  Mariner we just have to be in tune with him.

 

(Mariner, almost 3, is our special guy, he fractured his skull at 7 weeks old.  He was blind and after his accident he had to relearn everything, from walking, eating, peeing, etc.  He slowly regained much of his eyesight but we are constantly working on managing his seizure disorder. Every once in a while other issues present )

 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't think you're overprotective, but I go to the vet any time I think there might be a problem. I'm just not a "wait & see" kind of person, especially when it comes to health. I was the same way with my kids. I have almost never been sorry that I took a dog to the vet or a child to the pediatrician.
I always use the example of strep throat. I knew people who would keep the child home for school a day or two and see if it got better on its own. When it didn't and they brought them in, it turned out to be strep. Now they have to stay home for at least another day feeling sick, when if they'd gone the first day, they'd only have missed one day of school and be feeling fine by then. I know one adult who ended up with rheumatic fever and a damaged heart valve because her parents were "wait & see", home-remedy kind of people. My own grandson, at 5 years old, walked around on a broken leg for a week before he saw a doctor because "it didn't seem that bad".
I don't want a dog (or a child) to suffer one second if there's something I could give him to make him feel better & start healing faster. Jack is at the vet a lot, probably for things some people would treat at home. (Once, I was being over protective (he bit his tongue and was bleeding profusely, but it stopped by the time the vet saw him) and the vet didn't even charge me!) This is just me.
I'm sorry there have been so many vet visits among your pack lately. I hope everyone feels better soon!

[BG and Gavin]

Gavin hurt his leg two weeks ago. EVERYONE told me to wait and see. So I did for a few days and the limp did not go away even though I could touch every part of his leg with no reaction. I went to the vet. Soft tissue injury (what does that mean really?). She gave me some NSAIDs to give him. Day by day it improved and for $60 I felt way better. I wish I would have taken him sooner. So there you go!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We've been through leg injuries a few times with our Sophie. The problem with getting pain meds is it makes them feel better (no pain) so they tend to want to be more active. Our vet is more of the if we can get by without giving the pain meds, she will rest a lot more and heel more quickly. I normally call the vet with any issues I have with the girls and they decide whether or not they think I need to come in. Many times they are just able to tell me what to do at home. Always with the legs issues though they have wanted to see her. Hopefully your crew is all back to normal and healthy real soon.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Me too! I'm a big one for calling and talking to the Vet Techs or the Vet first. They're great about telling me over the phone whether or not they need to be seen. If there's any question she'll have them come in, but often it just takes the phone call. Poor Mariner....I know with my Doodle went through something like that as a puppy I'd be pretty overprotective too. You're a good Mom.

[Karen and Bridget]

Better to be safe and make sure it's nothing too serious. My lab had the same type of injury when he was a year old. Unfortunately there can also be longer term ramifications as my lab (now age 4 1/2) is recovering from knee surgery to put his kneecap back in place. Our vet thinks the original injury caused repetitive wear which caused a bone spur and ultimately a kneecap that would not stay in place. Rather than waiting for him to tear his ACL we opted for surgery to stabilize the knee. He is doing great just 7 weeks after surgery and is back to his walks and playing in the yard. Our doodle is sooooo happy to have her brother back in wrestling form!