What is up with Mac?

[Hezz]

Instead of taking over Mick's thead concerning the ongoing saga with his mouth, I am moving my concern over Mac's leg to here. In short, yesterday morning all was fine as far as I knew. We walked to and romped around in the park for half an hour or more and walked home. Left the house around 8.30am to get one son to work and the other to hockey. Again leg fine as far as I could see, no limp. BAck home about 11 o'clock to find the poor mutt limping on the leg where he had been bitten by another dog before he ended up at YAPS (Young Animal Protection Society) where he was when we went looking for a dog to share our home.

From the scars on the inside of his leg, the lump is in the same position down his leg but on the outside of the leg. We had a follow-up visit to the vet (at YAPS expense - he was still under treatment when we brought him home) who did mention that there was the possibility of there being small fragments of bone that may shear off (the bite had gone down to the bone and scraped the bone) and them work their way to the surface, break through the skin and expel themselves.

Over the rest of the day (yesterday) he was putting less and less weight on the leg (foreleg) and this morning none at all if he could help it. The skin isn't broken, so not a scratch, scrape, bite from another animal. We do have white-tailed spiders which cause a necrotic break-down of the tissue - that isn't happening. The lump isn't hot, so not a inflammation. Unless it is a piece of bone causing the problem, I am a bit stumped as to what could have caused the problem and so quickly. He hasn't really improved today at all (it is now 6pm here) so think we will be paying (in more ways than one!) the vet a visit tomorrow. Poor mutt, hope he doesn't think it is our fault. He is quite comical in his sadness though and has been "talking" to me about it. Not woofs, but orrrr, oorrrr, owwwooo.

[Deleted]

tell them its on going from before you got him that way you shouldnt have to pay as its nothing to do with you ...worth a try ....
what ever it is i hope they find and sort it ...
keep us posted ....

[skysmum]

Owww poor Mac, could a piece of bone possibly moved around due to the exercises, would seem connected to the excesses, he could have just pulled something though.
Id be inclined to agree with mick, as it was a problem when you got him it would be worth asking the rescue, even if they pay a bit towards. Have you got him insured.

[Hezz]

I think that is exactly what has happened, Skysmum. Romping around like a mad thing may have aggravated it or a couple of days earlier he was in and out of the back of the Hilux a few times. I wonder if the jumping down may have dislodged something there too. At least he is putting a little weight on it this morning, not much.

I am kind of yes/no about hitting them up for the cost of any vet fees - they are a charity and mostly run by volunteers but I am to ring them again in a while when the boss gets back, so will see where that takes me.

[Hezz]

After a few phone calls with YAPS and getting hold of the vet who has gone bush, but luckily remembered the dog and the problems he had. He thinks that yes, it could well be a fragment of bone worked off and while it doesn't need urgent treatment, if we can hang off until next week when he gets back, he would like to deal with it himself, but if I have any concerns and feel it can't wait, take Mac in and someone else in the clinic will deal with it. And YAPS is footing the bill. Poor Wuff, I feel sorry for him. He protested this morning at me going for my early morning walk without him.

[skysmum]

Well that's good Hezz, i know what you mean about them being a charity and i would probably feel the same but you have given him a good home and probably paid for him, the rescues here charge around £150ish for an adoption. You could always make a small donation back to them by way of a thankyou. The rescues here usually say that they will pay for any ongoing treatment if someone takes them on with a problem.
Hope he gets on ok, keep us posted.

[Hezz]

Thanks you, Skysmum. They really are very good, YAPS. There was absolutely no hesitation and I didn't ask about the bill, the lady in charge straight off gave me an approval number to give to the clinic, if I need to take him in.

By the end of the week I don't think I am going to be very popular with the neighbours. As soon as I go behind the tree at the bottom of our drive-way on my early morning walk,he starts to whine. Luckily we have no close neighbours, but still an hour of a whiney dog at 4-5am is a lot to ask anyone to put up with.

[samwiseg]

So sorry to hear about Mac plus your ears with the whining! Hopefully as the vet said something maybe working its way out. What is also reassuring is your relationship with YAPS as it seems like they are being most helpful. Sometimes it is just knowing you can go somewhere for advice that helps. Get well soon Mac x

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2012 3:48:51 GMT Hezz said:

After a few phone calls with YAPS and getting hold of the vet who has gone bush, but luckily remembered the dog and the problems he had. He thinks that yes, it could well be a fragment of bone worked off and while it doesn't need urgent treatment, if we can hang off until next week when he gets back, he would like to deal with it himself, but if I have any concerns and feel it can't wait, take Mac in and someone else in the clinic will deal with it. And YAPS is footing the bill. Poor Wuff, I feel sorry for him. He protested this morning at me going for my early morning walk without him.

poor mac ...i feel for him ...
scamps nearly sorted now ......so thats great.....
i think its best if the same guy looks at mac ....as he noes all about him ....but as he said if you think it getting worse go in anyway they will have his notes.....good luck mac ...i hope they sort you out ....mabe you should pop round and give your neighbours some ear plugs ....lol......your doing the right thing hezz...keeping mac away from your walks ......even if he is complaning .... ..

[Marianne Marlow]

How is Mac today Hezz?

Glad Scamp is on the mend Mick

[skysmum]

Now Hezz, WHAT is all this early morning walk business, 4-5 AM , how on earth do you manage that, its the middle of the night for goodness sake ;D all i can say is WELL DONE, i couldn't possibly do that, not a morning person, now if it were 11-12 at night i could manage that .
Glad you resting him though, its very hard, i had to rest Tilly for a week after she pulled a tendon and was walking on three legs, then it was a week of lead walking well that went down well, we would get back and she would fling herself in her bed, sigh and cut me daggers. I also feel bad when i have to go out in the morning before she's had her walk, as soon as i get in she sits by the front door till ive taken her. Were just slaves to our animals really it good though.

[Hezz]

Thanks, Sam. No not my ears. I go off for my walk and he has to stay behind, and doesn't like it! He protests about me leaving him and I can hear him at times having a whine with the odd little bark thrown in. It is not terribly loud - the boys reckon they don't hear him, but they are at the back of the house, and he is at the front.

Mac is no better, thanks for asking, Marianne. And the lump is still very hard. But at least I have confirmation on what I thought the problem was.

We certainly are, Skysmum. Nothing too much for the creatures we share with, feathered or furred. As for the morning, it started because it is just too damn hot to walk once the sun is up here in summer, so I get it in before, and then I have lunches and etcs to do before breakfast, so that has become my walk time. I couldn't do the midnight thing - never very good at that time - I would have made a good bird in another life, I think; up with the sun and down with the sun.

[samwiseg]

Apr 25, 2012 0:59:55 GMT Hezz said:

Thanks, Sam. No not my ears. I go off for my walk and he has to stay behind, and doesn't like it! He protests about me leaving him and I can hear him at times having a whine with the odd little bark thrown in. It is not terribly loud - the boys reckon they don't hear him, but they are at the back of the house, and he is at the front.

Mac is no better, thanks for asking, Marianne. And the lump is still very hard. But at least I have confirmation on what I thought the problem was.

We certainly are, Skysmum. Nothing too much for the creatures we share with, feathered or furred. As for the morning, it started because it is just too damn hot to walk once the sun is up here in summer, so I get it in before, and then I have lunches and etcs to do before breakfast, so that has become my walk time. I couldn't do the midnight thing - never very good at that time - I would have made a good bird in another life, I think; up with the sun and down with the sun.

Feel exactly the same Hezz, not a night person at all. My eyes go bleary just at the thought of staying up late!!!

Hope Mac feels a lot better soon though Hezz x

[skysmum]

Think i must have been an Owl in my past life ;D

Oh to live somewhere hot i love the tropical weather.

[Hezz]

I couldn't even do the late nights as a 20 year old, Sam, as I couldn't sleep in the next morning! I must have been so boring!

Think you may be right, Skysmum, an owl - yes I can see you as an owl. As for somewhere hot, you are more than welcome to share some of ours. I do appreciate a bit of cold now and then - makes you feel so much more alive, after sweltering for months (years?) on end.

A little more weight is being put on the sore leg this morning - not a whole heap but some. He woke Cam up this morning when I went for my walk and left him. Cameron was not impressed, after his very early morning the day before.