Poor, poor dog!

[TreeDoc]

My pooooor baby dog is illin'! :(

He was outside with me when my neighbor came over and we started chatting while standing on our quiet street and he started throwing one of Jack's tennis balls way down the street on the asphalt for him to retreive. The first one was exceptable but I made the comment that's tough on the ol' feet hoping he'd get my drift as he hauled off with another throw which Jack promptly took off after. As Jack picked it off on the bounce he made one of his trademark pirouettes and began trotting back towards us about 1/3 the way only to drop the ball, go immediately to a sitting position and hoisted his front right paw in air. I knew it was bad because this dog NEVER shows a reaction to pain. :rolleyes:

As I manipulated his foot the problem seemed worse in the toe. I soon felt a clicking sensation as I moved it.

I knew it was broken.

My friend and Jack's Vet confirmed it the next morning after Jack's very uncomfortable and sleepless night. The X-Ray shows a longitudinal fracture of P1, the first phallanx on digit 5, his pinky toe.

Not a damn thing we can do about it aside from keep it immobile and let it heal. My Tripod Labrador is just hatin' life right now. we're going to be diligent about the proper care and recovery though since we have about 3 months till Duck Season.

Poooor, poor, dog! :(

[fabsroman]

I feel for you TD.

Nitro does the same thing. It seems as though they cannot just pick the thing up, but they have to be sliding by it and on their way back before they even have it in their mouth.

Rarely do I ever let Nitro retrieve on asphalt and when I do throw him something it is usually less than 10 yards.

I hope your boy heals up for the season. Nitro is laying next to my chair sleeping right now with the AC blowing on him.

[DogYeller]

If it was my neighbor he'd be carrying that ball around in his.........well you know. I taught Gus to "leave it" when he was young, because I was afraid some idiot would throw a ball across a road or street, in front of an oncoming car or truck. I have told people if they want to play with a dog to get their own.

[BILLY D.]

LABS ARE CON ARTISTS.

MINE CUT HIS LOWER LEG ON A BARBED WIRE FENCE ONCE AND I CLEANED IT UP, BUTTERFLY STITCHED IT, WRAPPED IT AND WHEN WE GOT BACK TO TOWN I TOOK HIM INTO THE VET.

I SYMPATIZED WITH OL' BEAU AND TALKED TO HIM ABOUT HIS OWWIE, ASK HOW HIS PAW WAS AND SOOTHE HIM. THAT HAM WOULD GET THIS REALLY PATHETIC LOOK ON HIS FACE

AND GUESS WHAT, HE STILL DID IT YEARS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY, "HAVE YOU GOT A SORE LEG" AND HIS JOWLS WOULD DROP AND HE'D LIFT HIS SORE LEG AND SIT THERE LOOKING ABSOLUTLY CRUSHED. OF COURSE THEN HE THOUGHT HE WAS WORTHY OF A TREAT.

BY THE WAY, I ALWAYS CARRY A FIELD FIRST AID KIT WHEN I HUNT, NOT JUST FOR THE DOGGIE BUT FOR ME ALSO. MOST OF MY FRIENDS ARE MUCH YOUNGER THAN I, SO IF I HUNT DURING THE WEEK I HAVE TO DO IT ALONE BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING. POOR SLOBS. :D

I CARRY A CELL PHONE AND HAVE A VERY "POWERFUL" CB IN MY TRUCK. I DON'T LIKE MY FRIENDS HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT ME.

BACK TO DOGGIE. DON'T MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF HIS INJURY, AT LEAST NOT IN FRONT OF HIM. YA MIGHT END UP WITH A HAM LIKE MY DOG WAS. THEY SURE KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE SYMPATHY CARD.;)

[TreeDoc]

I don't mind him milkin' his injury. He deserves the attention. I wish it were as simple as a cut, we've been down that road before and they usually heal in a couple-a-few weeks. With this one he could easily re-injure it and we would have to start all over if not worse so we're going to have to be real careful. It will be hard because he is a very active dog and is usually with me everywhere I go. Now he's bound to the couch or the king size pillow top bed :rolleyes: and very short, three legged walks.

I'm usually very careful about how and where he plays and the asphalt is not one of the choices but the circumstances were akward and it happened fast. Next time (though there won't be), I'll just have to be an azzhole about it right off the bat!

btw, BILLY. That tool box seen in the background behind Jack is HIS first aid kit! It goes where he goes and is never too far away.

[BILLY D.]

HEY DOC

HERE'S WISHING HIM A QUICK RECOVERY. WHEN I SEEN THE PICTURE OF HIM I JUST HAD MEMORIES OF BEAU AND HAD TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.

THE LEG UP AND HEAD TURNED TO THE SIDE CAUSED FLASHBACKS.

NOT MUCH TO DO ABOUT A BREAK IN THAT AREA. JUST LET THEM HEAL AND KEEP THEM AS IMMOBILE AS POSSIBLE, WHICH IS LIKE TRYING TO STOP A TRAIN THATS DOING 80. THEY HAVE A LOT OF HEART. HEART IS GOOD, BUT IT CAN BE OVERDONE. ASK ME, I KNOW.

GOOD LUCK AND GIVE HIM A BIG HUG FOR ME. DOUBLE UP ON HIS RATION OF BEGGIN' STRIPS. I SAID SO. :D

[gspsonny03]

Sorry to hear about this TD. Hope he heals all right. Sure is a bad time to break a pinky, but better now than three months from now. Poor guy, give him a hug from me.

[TreeDoc]

It's been just over 3 weeks since the break. The wrap came off at 2 weeks for just one afternoon for washing and airing while he loafed around the house (master bed and couch). He favored it a bit at first but put weight on it while walking and lifted it while trotting. He raised cane when I put the wrap back on so I removed it and left it off this whole past week. I am watching him closely and he is still on restriction from any significant activity. I took him swimming on Sunday while I paddled my kayak beside him and he really got his ya-ya's out on that! He slept the whole next day....I think I let him swim too long. It's gonna be swimming from here on out with his excersise plan to keep the impact low. He'll be so buff by late October!

[Jabba]

Good deal Doc. I wish I had a decent place for Cooper to go swimming. At least I have a big neighbor's yard to take him running with the Quad. Man that dog LOVES to run FLAT OUT.

Jabba