Sage may effectively be retired just a week and a half from his fourth birthday. We've been dealing with an injury off an on since our trip to Texas in January. Sometimes after some hard work he'd show a slight limp and favor his left-front. We have done quite a bit of bikejoring through the spring and honestly I thought we had beat it. Then, after I get back from fishing I knew they needed some exercise. Sage couldn't make two miles without limping this time and upon inspection the joint was inflamed. I gave rimadyl a few days and it still didn't come down. No exercise for two weeks and still swollen. So I took him to the vet yesterday. He said it appeared Sage suffered an injury and the joint has calcified around the injury, and that likely he will be like this for the rest of his life. He suggested some glucosamine treatments and I'm researching those. I suspect he's in some pain because this spring he started growling without provocation, growling at me or my girlfriend, sometimes the neighbor kids, and at Ike. Other times he's sweet as can be.
I feel completely devastated, hopeful (or is it denial?), frustrated, regretful, and confused. I don't really know the extent of his injury, how it will affect him, or if I can break him of the growling. I've decided to get a second opinion so I will be taking him to a vet who has and hunts setters; hopefully he's got better news or suggestions. I'll post some pictures as soon as I can.
Cowboy Logic
2 months ago
5 comments:
Jon, Sorry to hear the pup is ailing. You may want to go to a physical therapist for a possible remedy.
Good luck, man... it would be a bummer if your had to retire the dog so early.
M
John: thought we might have a chronic injury issue to deal with, too... although mercifully it doesn't seem that way. However, we did get a recommendation for an accupunturist... who had treated another friend's vizsla's chronic injury issue. Three treatments, no drugs, and the dog is now an AFC. So, good luck, and keep your options open.
A.
Jon...
I hope the very best for Sage! Please keep us posted!
I think the loveable bastard is going to come through it, pal. I've written Dot out on a number of occasions, and I'm continually impressed at how dogs just pull through it. And just because he's retired doesn't mean he's not going on trips... he's welcome in my back seat anytime.
Jon, something similar happened with our first Brittany. We started her on half a human dose of glucosamine-chondroitin, it went away, and never came back. I hope he comes back strong. - Bill
Post a Comment