For those of you who have been here a while, you may know that little Mudflap has had quite a few interesting run-ins. Numerous attacks by the neighbor's dog, resulting in a very torn up leg, a split nose.... A spider bite resulting in an allergic reaction and a very puffy face. I know I'm missing something....anyway, while the boys rarely ever get injured or into anything, Mud's just accident prone. I've barely had her a year, but already she's become a regular at my vet's office. Lol. Poor girl.
So two days ago, I come home from work and she was just barely favoring her back left leg. Hardly even noticeable. My first thought was perhaps a strain or just a little soreness from rough play perhaps. No visible wounds, not tender...so I just decided to keep an eye on it. Yesterday, she was worse. Tip-toeing on that leg but still putting some weight on it, and tender at the lower leg near the back of the leg by her paw pads. Closer inspection revealed nothing.... Still wondering if it was just a strain, I gave her a good all-over body massage, paying special attention to that leg and her back. Today I wake up and let her out and she's not putting weight on it at all. (Being a workoholic Border Collie, she will ignore her discomfort if she's running around doing something important.) So I've curbed her activity and am keeping an eye on her... Lately she has been a bit down, and although she's been enjoying her training, she's unusually mellow...in a not good way. She's happy, but just not herself.
I'm staying calm and not overreacting. It's probably something very minor. Of course, it could be a variety of things but I'm not making any assumptions. There's no swelling, no cuts, no abrasions, no major breaks that I could feel. No ripped out nails or unusually short one, nothing embedded in the paw pads. I've been using paw pad conditioner on her pads because they get so dry and crack easily, and they've been looking much better so no problems there. If she doesn't improve, we'll be making a vet visit Monday; much sooner if necessary. My poor Mudflap. I'm worried of course but trying not to overanalyze it. -sigh- Wish us luck.
So two days ago, I come home from work and she was just barely favoring her back left leg. Hardly even noticeable. My first thought was perhaps a strain or just a little soreness from rough play perhaps. No visible wounds, not tender...so I just decided to keep an eye on it. Yesterday, she was worse. Tip-toeing on that leg but still putting some weight on it, and tender at the lower leg near the back of the leg by her paw pads. Closer inspection revealed nothing.... Still wondering if it was just a strain, I gave her a good all-over body massage, paying special attention to that leg and her back. Today I wake up and let her out and she's not putting weight on it at all. (Being a workoholic Border Collie, she will ignore her discomfort if she's running around doing something important.) So I've curbed her activity and am keeping an eye on her... Lately she has been a bit down, and although she's been enjoying her training, she's unusually mellow...in a not good way. She's happy, but just not herself.
I'm staying calm and not overreacting. It's probably something very minor. Of course, it could be a variety of things but I'm not making any assumptions. There's no swelling, no cuts, no abrasions, no major breaks that I could feel. No ripped out nails or unusually short one, nothing embedded in the paw pads. I've been using paw pad conditioner on her pads because they get so dry and crack easily, and they've been looking much better so no problems there. If she doesn't improve, we'll be making a vet visit Monday; much sooner if necessary. My poor Mudflap. I'm worried of course but trying not to overanalyze it. -sigh- Wish us luck.