Dog Community

Ugh, they do like to scare us

Posted : 2/14/2008 5:11:41 AM

I didn't post about this last night because I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but now that it's all OK, here goes:

Last night at agility class, Ben and I were running a course and he, as usual, was going hell-for-leather and I was doing my best to keep up lol. He loves the dog walk and one of the biggest challenges I have is making sure he hits it straight, instead of cutting a corner and jumping on it at an angle....which, last night, he did. It's rare now that he does it, but clearly it still happens sometimes. He couldn't right himself and he fell off. He yelped, and my trainer and I both checked him - much to his irritation, because he wanted to go back and do the dog walk again because he hadn't "done it" the first time. He seemed fine, we did the dog walk and completed the course. We ran one more time, not a very successful run at all, he didn't seem quite himself. While waiting for our last run, I happened to glance down at his feet and his dewclaw was sitting at a very odd angle. Oh dear. I told my trainer we were leaving early, came home and called the vet, who said that they would do what they could in a normal exam but there was a good chance he'd have to be sedated and they'd remove it. (In which case, I would have had the other one removed as well, he only has his front dews.)

I, of course, spend all night FREAKING OUT because having him sedated is scary - the only time he has been was for his neuter, and I was freaked out then too.

Head to the vet first thing this morning after about 3 hours sleep, and lo and behold, he's just broken it. Quite a clean break, too - took the vet all of 2 minutes to cut it off at the break, he now has a tiny little nub of a dewclaw on his right foot but it should grow back normally. He bled a little, and she did give him a shot of painkillers so he'd be comfortable today, but he's fine.

The next time he has to be sedated for anything I am having them removed - I didn't before, just because I keep them short and they've never been a problem, but it's not worth this stress! I am returning to normal now, but I was so worried - I HATE HATE HATE anything happening to him, I love the little nut to pieces.

ETA: And now I need a nap!

TheDogHouseBCMPD

Posted : 2/14/2008 7:58:53 AM

Ben, you gave your mom quite a fright! Glad to hear it turned out ok.

kpwlee

Posted : 2/14/2008 8:34:46 AM

whew I am glad he is OK and yes the do like to scare us.

Here was my morning - pitch black and Bugs and I go out to get the paper at which time I notice its black ice everywhere.

Anyway I give Bugsy the paper and he goes into zoomies I mean full out legs flying insane zoomies. For Bugsy zoomies always mean jumping onto the deck and flying off the other side, its a two tiered deck and he leaps off the highest tier over the steps to the lower tier, one touch and he leaps off the lower tier off to the side to land on the grass. So this morning with the deck so slippery I could barely walk on it he launches into zoomies with the paper in his mouth. The more I said be careful ( he usually knows this command) the crazier he ran. So he is leaping up at full speed onto the high end (about 4 ft high) taking two steps launching over the steps and then off the other side on BLACK ICE!!!!!!!!!!! Indifferent

All my little mind could see was him in a pile of broken legs, torn acl's etc. My heart was racing.

It went fine though so just a little adrenaline to get me going Surprise

glenmar

Posted : 2/14/2008 8:38:24 AM

Poor Ben! And gosh, poor you! Please don't beat yourself up....many of us don't remove nice, tight dews. All of my dogs have them, and my crew gets out in the woods and gets pretty rough and tumble and the ONLY reason I'd remove one is in event of injury. I sure keep an eye on them, but there are just as many dogs WITH dews as without, and accidents honestly are pretty rare.

I think, and I'm not sure, but I think that some folks actually wrap dews in heavy brush and what not.

Jewlieee

Posted : 2/14/2008 8:47:37 AM

That is scary! Poor little guy. I'm glad that he's ok

probe1957

Posted : 2/14/2008 8:57:23 AM

Poor Ben.

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 2/14/2008 9:39:51 AM

Go take your nap, Kate. I'm glad that Ben is okay.

Bugs, dude, must you give your mama a coronary like that? Silly pupper.

janobonano

Posted : 2/14/2008 9:52:03 AM

Owie! Poor guy. Did he just break the nail?

BEVOLASVEGAS

Posted : 2/14/2008 10:28:57 AM

Kate, why not just wrap his dewclaws when you're on the agility course? I'm pretty sure that it would be easier, than having to deal with the recovery time of dewclaw removals.

mudpuppy

Posted : 2/14/2008 10:36:13 AM

Dogs use their dewclaws to make tighter turns, so removing or wrapping them isn't as good an idea as it might seem.

Benedict

Posted : 2/14/2008 11:44:17 AM

Janice - yep, he just broke it, pretty near the top but the vet was able just to cut it where it broke.

Wrapping them, I have considered...but have ruled out, for the reasons mudpuppy states. I will have them removed if he ever actually tears one, or if he ever needs to be sedated for something else, but I can't envision what he might need to be sedated for, so that's an "if" not a "when". We have gone this long without an injury to them and he is a really rough-and-tumble dog....I think this was just a very unlucky accident, and actually my vet said the same....so for now we'll just see what happens.

He is pretty dopey this afternoon from the meds the vet gave him, so we skipped our walk in the park and he just got a short leash walk around the neighbourhood. I was watching him and he's not favouring the foot, so I don't think he is in much if any pain.

Thanks, everyone.

ottoluv

Posted : 2/14/2008 11:46:26 AM

Ahhhh, Kate, I'm so glad Ben is feeling better! Naughty Ben scaring mom!

Sheltieboyz

Posted : 2/14/2008 12:18:49 PM

Awww poor puppers, I'm glad hes ok...and yes they do like to scare us!

Sera_J

Posted : 2/14/2008 12:32:30 PM

Ben, you silly boy... you just couldn't wait to get back on the dog walk, huh? Broken toe-nail and all. Aww, he's got the heart to play, Kate. I'm glad it's all OK now and that he's dopey and happy :)

Give him snuggles for me.