So annoyed with myself. Took Lady out for our evening walk and ended up playing with her with a tennis ball. She did one of those diving retrieves and has strained her left elbow really badly. Poor lamb can't put any weight on it and she was limping so badly I tried to carry her part way. She'd been doing so well after her ED operation 2 years ago and she's worked really hard all through this shooting season with no problems at all and I think I fell into a false sense of security. Anyway I've given her a dose of Metacam and a half paracetamol and I'll see what she's like in the morning. If she's just as bad I'll pop her down to the vet. On the upside it hasn't spoilt her appetite. She's just wolfed down a couple of pheasant legs and is still licking out her bowl. So annoying - poor lamb. Got the full sit down and hold out paw routine. :'(
Re: Small Black Dog Strains Elbow Badly Oh no :'( Poor lamb indeed , the Metacam should help David , and the pheasant legs of course
Re: Small Black Dog Strains Elbow Badly Sorry to hear that David. Don't be too hard on yourself though - it's pretty much impossible to have control over a dog's efforts in a scenario like that. And 99.9% of the time nothing untoward happens when they do give it their full enthusiasm. Its just a freak accident that will hopefully heal with a bit of rest and tlc.
Re: Small Black Dog Strains Elbow Badly Oh no! I hope she is fine by morning. Let us know. I know what you mean - I am constantly questioning what I do with Charlie since his cruciate operation. You have to let them live full and happy lives though....and what's a life for a Labrador if it doesn't involve tennis balls?
Re: Small Black Dog Strains Elbow Badly ;D Yes and we were interacting really well too! Just given her a small cheese cube out of my evening olives and cheese nibbles. Nothing like a pampered patient. [quote author=UncleBob link=topic=9763.msg141207#msg141207 date=1422903323] Sorry to hear that David. Don't be too hard on yourself though - it's pretty much impossible to have control over a dog's efforts in a scenario like that. And 99.9% of the time nothing untoward happens when they do give it their full enthusiasm. Its just a freak accident that will hopefully heal with a bit of rest and tlc. [/quote] Very true, but still feel guilty about it though. We could have had nearly as much fun doing a few blind retrieves.
Re: Small Black Dog Strains Elbow Badly Oh no, that's horrible. Poor Lady. Hope she feels better in the morning.
Re: Small Black Dog Strains Elbow Badly So sorry to read that but no need to feel guilty. Hope she recovers very quickly. I did hear from a vet that you shouldn't give dogs Paracetamol! Apparently we should stick to drugs for animals and not humans as if the vet needs to give medication it could muddy the waters.
Re: Small Black Dog Strains Elbow Badly Rest up Lady and feel better soon x Try not to feel guilty, hard I know
Re: Small Black Dog Strains Elbow Badly [quote author=Stacia link=topic=9763.msg141221#msg141221 date=1422905231] I did hear from a vet that you shouldn't give dogs Paracetamol! [/quote] Lady was prescribed up to two half tabs a day after her ED op for pain relief. She just had one half tab this evening as she was in a bit of discomfort.
Re: Small Black Dog Strains Elbow Badly Lady was prescribed up to two half tabs a day after her ED op for pain relief. She just had one half tab this evening as she was in a bit of discomfort. [/quote] That's ok then ;D
Re: Small Black Dog Strains Elbow Badly [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9763.msg141212#msg141212 date=1422903877] I know what you mean - I am constantly questioning what I do with Charlie since his cruciate operation. You have to let them live full and happy lives though....and what's a life for a Labrador if it doesn't involve tennis balls? [/quote] Yes - I think you just have to keep your fingers crossed a bit. Is Charlie fully recovered now? I was feeling really desperate for Lady last night trying to get her to do a last wee in the garden. She could hardly walk and ended up doing bunny hops down the garden. This morning she was just the same when she first got up and she won't wee etc in the garden in the mornings so I steeled myself for a slow and painful hobble to the fields, but after a few yards she seemed to free up and started walking normally. Anyway took her for the shortest walk possible and gave her another Metacam shot with her breakfast and she's going to have an enforced duvet day. Need to get more Metacam as we're just about running out. We have it for occasional use for her elbows. Thanks for all the kind words. It helps enormously with the worry.
Re: Small Black Dog Strains Elbow Badly So glad she seems to be picking up! That's good news. Charlie is recovered, yes, with a clean bill of health to return to normal. But I worry, all the time. I strictly limit how many seen retrieves he does, as those are the ones where he'll slam on the breaks, or end up in a rush of overshoot and a mad scramble, but it still happens time to time. If I let him go mad with a ball, it's in water - which does absolutely nothing for his steadiness around water! The vet says let him be a dog, just try to curb the worst of his antics...so that's what I aim at. Over Christmas, he started shaking his leg when he got up from resting, like a human would with cramp. So I guess this is a touch of arthritis starting (which is inevitable). Although he hasn't done it since. I suppose it might just have been cramp! So yes, constant worry...
Re: Small Black Dog Strains Elbow Badly So glad she is better this morning. I'm also constantly worrying about Ziggy's elbow even though he is fully recovered after breaking it last summer. I keep reminding myself that that elbow is probably stronger than it has ever been with a pin and a screw in it.
