awanderingbard (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
awanderingbard) wrote2021-11-06 11:23 am
awanderingbard) wrote2021-11-06 11:23 am
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Mystery solved!
You might recall me talking a lot on here about how Pax is so difficult about putting his leash on and we were never really sure why, and we'd tried all sorts of things to convince him and sometimes he just decides he's not going today.
Well, we've noticed he's had a funny gait and sometimes limps if he's been walking for a while, so we asked the vet to check it out yesterday when he went for his annual check-ups and shots. And it turns out he has elbow dysplasia (or something similar, my dad has both hearing loss and a terrible memory, so he couldn't remember the name of the term, only that it was common in Basset Hounds, and that's the best match we've found for the symptoms). It's not serious or life-threatening, we just need to watch his weight so there's not so much pressure on the joint and he may need some NSAIDS later in life because he'll likely get arthritis in the affected joint. So, we think some days his leg might be hurting and he doesn't want to go for a walk, so he won't put his leash on for us. I feel bad we didn't check it out sooner but a) pandemic, b) Scotties are super stoic and he's never shown signs of pain, just sometimes walking funny, and c) he's so active and cheerful, we just assumed it was another weird quirk of his. Anyway, now we know about it we can do better about it.
It's funny, because we've always had what we lovingly call 'reject Scotties', dogs that for one reason or another needed a special home or weren't the most desirable or needed extra care. Fergus, our first one, was the last in the litter because his ears were too big and no one wanted him. Randy was so sick as a puppy they didn't know if he'd survive and our dog groomer recommended us to the breeder because we'd taken such good care of Fergus when he was dying of kidney failure that she thought we could handle him. He was a nervous wreck and had horrible skin and scratched all the time and we loved him. Puzzle had pyometra after her last litter of puppies and the breeder adored her so much she wanted her to have a good home in her 'retired years'. Ascii was similar; no infection but only had one puppy in her last litter and so the breeder decided it was a sign she was done and wanted her to have a nice retirement home. Shilling was too big for a Scottie and was fence fighting with the other dogs. Pax is the first 'normal' dog we've had here and it turns out he needs special care, too. I guess that it's fitting he was chosen for us, even if we didn't know it at the time.
Anyway, I feel bad for the little guy but genuinely seems to be super happy despite any achy joints he has and we'll be a little more understanding on days when decides he's not going out.
Well, we've noticed he's had a funny gait and sometimes limps if he's been walking for a while, so we asked the vet to check it out yesterday when he went for his annual check-ups and shots. And it turns out he has elbow dysplasia (or something similar, my dad has both hearing loss and a terrible memory, so he couldn't remember the name of the term, only that it was common in Basset Hounds, and that's the best match we've found for the symptoms). It's not serious or life-threatening, we just need to watch his weight so there's not so much pressure on the joint and he may need some NSAIDS later in life because he'll likely get arthritis in the affected joint. So, we think some days his leg might be hurting and he doesn't want to go for a walk, so he won't put his leash on for us. I feel bad we didn't check it out sooner but a) pandemic, b) Scotties are super stoic and he's never shown signs of pain, just sometimes walking funny, and c) he's so active and cheerful, we just assumed it was another weird quirk of his. Anyway, now we know about it we can do better about it.
It's funny, because we've always had what we lovingly call 'reject Scotties', dogs that for one reason or another needed a special home or weren't the most desirable or needed extra care. Fergus, our first one, was the last in the litter because his ears were too big and no one wanted him. Randy was so sick as a puppy they didn't know if he'd survive and our dog groomer recommended us to the breeder because we'd taken such good care of Fergus when he was dying of kidney failure that she thought we could handle him. He was a nervous wreck and had horrible skin and scratched all the time and we loved him. Puzzle had pyometra after her last litter of puppies and the breeder adored her so much she wanted her to have a good home in her 'retired years'. Ascii was similar; no infection but only had one puppy in her last litter and so the breeder decided it was a sign she was done and wanted her to have a nice retirement home. Shilling was too big for a Scottie and was fence fighting with the other dogs. Pax is the first 'normal' dog we've had here and it turns out he needs special care, too. I guess that it's fitting he was chosen for us, even if we didn't know it at the time.
Anyway, I feel bad for the little guy but genuinely seems to be super happy despite any achy joints he has and we'll be a little more understanding on days when decides he's not going out.