We had a huge scare!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

We went to the Sandy Hook Romp last weekend. Some of the doodles had burrs in their paws but my girls didn't.

This has been a horrific week for our family - my daughter's best friend passed away suddenly Saturday night. I have known this woman for 15 years. I have been so heartbroken. They knew that their DM was not in a good place so they sat along side me most of week just being quiet. When they knew I needed to change gears they made me play ball.  We played ball everyday and they were both fine.

Wednesday I noticed Samantha licking her front right paw. After awhile I stopped her licking but she kept going back to it. This just wasn't like her. She never licks her feet. I looked at it, didn't see or feel anything but it was late and I guess my brain and eyes didn't connect.

Thursday she was back at it. I looked again; she did have a little knot of hair that I clipped off. She was happy after that and didn't bother her paw again. She ran, played ball and wrestled with Charli.

Until later that night - upon real close examination, I noticed a big, black, long 'something' attached to the skin between the paw pads. It didn't look like hair so panic set in - melanoma! It was so big and hard. I was just beside myself. Not ever but certainly not this week.

Went to our vet appointment this morning. Vet takes a look - she isn't sure what it is but she left the room and came back with clippers. Really? she is going to shave off a tumor??? WTH is wrong with this woman? This is supposed to be a top notch accredited vet hospital - which I why I bite the bullet and pay $85 just to walk in the door. 

Whatever it was it came off in 2 swipes of the clipper. Turns out it was a hard mat that looked like a tumor. It stunk! The licking Samantha did was due to both bacterial and fungal infections - it was not the mat that was bothering her. She will be on both oral meds and medicated wipes for her feet for 3 weeks until we go back for more.

The lesson I share with you it to check between the paw pads, keep the hair short and don't panic until you know for sure you need to.

 

[Rose]

I'm very sorry for your loss, Adrianne. I'm so glad to hear Samantha will be o.k.

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

whew, that is a scare!!! Lola's had hard dark mats like that...it's really odd!!! I'm glad they caught the infection before it got too bad! I'm really sorry to hear about your, and your daughter's loss.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

thank you all for your condolences!! Em was a wonderful woman, wife, friend and daughter. Our hearts have a huge hole.

I am sure Em was watching over Samantha yesterday.

@Nancy - thanks for that!!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

So sad to hear of your daughter's friend. It is one of those things we just have to ask "WHY?" 

This is a good and timely reminder for me as we have been tromping in the woods this morning and I will be bathing them tonight and checking all 8 paws thoroughly!!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

That is exactly why I posted this. Just a reminder to all of us. It was something that I did not due unless their hair got too long. Funny - Samantha has very little hair in her paw pads, Charli on the other hand has tons.

[Stella]

Glad that Samantha is ok.  Suprising that she got a mat, she doesn't look like she has the kind of coat that would mat.  Hartley never gets mats.  Chase gets mats all the time in between his toes (he has a similar coat to Charli), and he hates being touched around his toes, it is a struggle to keep trimmed between there!!  Definitely a lesson to us all to keep checking their feet.