Guys, I'm a little beside myself here. Vince has been plagued with accidents since Dec. 24th but I'm really worried about this last one.

On our hike on the 24th, I tossed a ball into a thicket (in the middle of nowhere) and he came out bleeding profusely. He'd torn the bottom and side of his pad. We didn't go to the vet thinking Neosporin, Vetercyn, gauze bandages and rest would do the trick (not to mention it was Christmas). It bled easily for about five days then started to close nicely but I was noticing some discoloration so I took him to the vet after the holidays. Sure enough, a small amount of infection had set in, nothing the vet felt needed attention, just a course of antibiotics which he is currently on.

He was feeling really good, no more limping, which he actually was and we went out for a walk along our icy river bank. I tossed a ball for him and he must have caught his upper pad/dew claw (other front leg) on a piece of ice or something, blood streaming down the front pastern, lots of it.

As we were heading back, still unleashed, he was dawdling a bit. I called him and he came in fast, did a slide and flipped around a bit on the ice. Five days later and his back end is almost completely unfuctioning now. He's moving like those really decrepit show line GSDs.

On top of all this, he'd been doing a bit head shaking so I asked the vet to check his ears. He had a grass seed lodged deep in the left canal. The vet said he'd have to put him to under in order to get it out. Said he had to go deep in the canal with a metal tool and there could be no movement. It's not infected and he didn’t see any immediate problem allowing me some time to think about it.

He said if the initial pad didn't clear up or became worse (one he said he actually would have stitched - it was pretty bad) he would have to go in and clean it out. He didn't probe too deeply into it because he didn’t want to disturb, what he felt, was some really good healing.

I expressed my concern about the anesthetic and could we not just drug him up really good to do this ear thing. He said no, there could be no movement whatsoever. Not to mention the fact Vince is fairly hot tempered with his touch. (Vince is always muzzled at the vet and I got the Dr. to play - we practiced the handshake command which settled him nicely - I was so impressed but that's a different matter). He also wanted to wait and give the pad a couple of weeks. If it took a turn it would be good time to go in and do both.

Now I have this other pad we're dealing with, much smaller, not nearly as bad. The bleeding stopped quickly and it's not an area he's actually stepping on so it's healing up nicely.

But these hips. What on earth could have happened there?

Bob took Friday off, he's pretty sick with the flu himself but wouldn't dare miss a day due to "a cold", said he wanted to be there for Vince, making sure he rested really comfortably and was hoping for some improvement. He called me at work that afternoon as he felt it was getting worse.

I called the vet's office immediately and explained this last incident. The vet that's been dealing with Vince wasn't there but get this, he was contacted at home and recommended I get him to an orthopedic specialist as soon as possible and made the referral. Said based on my description he would have ended up making the referral anyway. They're set up with specialists and the latest technology, CT scan machine, water therapy pool, etc.

The vet tech (just love her) made the appt, shipped them his records and giggled as she assured me she gave them the low down on Vincent. There were 2 muzzles inside the file jacket when I got there. Of course not necessary, he has his own.

The 6 hour round trip drive in our weather was an experience in itself too.

After the initial exam and some discussion, they were able to simply knock him out with something she said had a morphine base because he needed the pain killer anyway. It was very weird having him fall asleep in my arms.

They took x-rays and removed the grass seed from his ear. However, she said it was so deep she ended up puncturing the ear drum. Said it should completely heal within about 2 weeks but in the mean time nothing is to get into his ears. No drops, no swimming. OMG, I can believe this on top of everything this poor boy has gone through.

He's finally stopped whining (hours of crying that was just piercing my heart) and he's resting comfortably. I’m exhausted.

The X-rays were concerning her and she said a whole bunch of stuff. Nothing definitive and she wants the opinion of their expert. Said she should have results within 24 hours but being the weekend, it may be Monday. She'll call immediately when they have some answers.

Here's some of the X-rays, can anyone see anything that's concerning. She was really worried about the pelvis area, the first two.

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/vdlumbar.jpg

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/vdpelvis.jpg

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/latthoracolumbar.jpg

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/latlumbar.jpg

http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv210/wolfpup2227/vdthoracolumbar.jpg

Every one of the accidents could have been prevented. He's just such a high drive, capable boy, I've kind of thrown activity caution to the wind with him, thinking he didn't really have any boundaries. Boy have I learned my lesson.

And this ear now. Oh my. I feel like I’ve failed this boy.

You haven't failed Vince, he has been unlucky, but it isn't anything you have done through malice, neglect or indifference, he just sounds about as accident prone as my Pointers, I have lost count of the cut pads, the limping and lameness caused by them crashing through the undergrowth in persuit of a Hare or a rabbit, if I kept them on a 'keep to heel' walk for the hours we were out, they would go home frustrated and no where near as tired as they do; I have just got in after an hour and a half of ditch jumping, galloping over the fields, chuck and fetch and both the pointers are drying off from frozen water, (covered in fresh fox poo) Sugar has nicked her front pad, (again) and Kaiser has skid marks down his left leg where Sugar crashed into him and he careered across the foot bridge, a fairly uneventful walk for us lol!

Accident prone dogs are a pain in the arse, like accident prone kids, it isn't down to any lack of care on your part

With the hips, I can understand your concern, but could it be just the cherry on your shitty cake, rather than anything you have or haven't done??

Hope things get resloved quickly for you and Vince, will keep eveything crossed for you.

Oh, CJ, please don't feel like any of this is your fault in any way, shape or form. It's just a string of bad luck. You say you believe everything that happened was preventable. How? By keeping him confined to the house and an outside kennel run and never letting him run free? Even then, accidents can and do still happen, and your dog will not thank you for that kind of an over-abundance of caution.

It sounds to me like Vince is a happy-go-lucky, active dog who has an owner who loves him and takes exceptionally good care of him. I'm so sorry to hear about the injuries he's had lately, but they have all been accidents. Not your fault! Think of all the human children who get skinned knees, cuts needing stitches, and even the occasional broken bone as they grow up. Doesn't mean their parents weren't doing a good job.

I can't help you at all with the x-rays, but I sincerely hope everything will be okay. I hope Vince will be back to himself in no time. Wishing both of you good luck.

Stop beating yourself up CJ and that's an order! You have a high drive maniac instead of a dog and an exceptional run of bad luck. Imagine the poor dog if he didn't have an owner that cared about him.

Honest to God every time one of my dogs reach their first, second, third birthday relatively unscathed a kind of give myself a high 5.

But how was any of it preventable? Encasing him in bubble wrap? Taking him on leash to potty and back to the crate? Let me tell you the on leash isn't full proof either. Pepper managed to git bit by a suspected scorpion once on a 6 ft leash and had a severe allergic reaction. We might of lost her if I hadn't gotten her to an emergency vet so fast.

<<hugs>>

Oh you guys, you're the best. Thanks for the support. Things have been kind of crazy around here and all the things happening to Vince. Quite frankly, I think the universe is telling us to slow down and doing it through him, because he's the one who knows how to handle it.

I was so tired yesterday, it's not like me to whine, but trying to ease Vince's pain (and he's not a whiner) was just so heartbreaking. All that self doubt was just flooding over me.

I threw the ball into an area I had no idea what was in there. I threw the ball on ice (he quite likes that spinning for traction thing), I recalled him on ice with a bleeding pad and other front pad still healing/hurting. Front end sore, probably using his back quarters more to relieve some of the pressure. He flips and now can't walk properly.

And the ear, well yes, the vet said she has days where that's all they book. Removal of stuff. She said this was nothing, some dogs come in with gardens in there. But the puncturing of the ear drum. That's gotta be painful. And no, that wasn't my fault.

Betty, I thought about bubble wrap.

But you guys are so right. And it's not like I worry every time they get a nick. Gosh, we're set up with so much emergency ointments and bandages these days, the neighbor brought her dog over for a dressing when her nose got chewed on by "something".

But if you could just see this boy, he's such a trooper and struggling with every movement now. He started out so physically healthy and now he's this invalid because of accident after accident.

And this back end is scaring me. I hope she calls soon.

So sorry to hear about your string of bad luck but definitely not your fault. It could have happened if Vince was chasing a cat or bunny or who knows, but not your fault.
My heart goes out to you & Vince and I'm praying for good news and a speedy recovery.

High energy dogs are going to be nuts if you don't do anything with them...

We've all had those could have, should have, would have moments. After I found out about Missy's cancer all I cold think was maybe if I had scheduled her yearly cardiac ultrasound earlier then the cancer would have been found while it could still be removed. But you're going to go nuts having dogs if you try to blame yourself for everything. We do everything we can but life still happens.

Have you asked about finding a good veterinary chiropractor? It could be that something just needs to be realigned. I'd as about one if they don't have a definite "we know what's wrong" when they call back. As far as the whining yesterday, could it have been from coming out of the anesthetic? Some dogs can whine terribly for hours coming out of it.

And (((hugs))) to you!

Amongst everything, a new granddaughter on Jan 6th included (I'm far too young for this - anybody got any other names than gramdma? ), exercising the boys is one our highest priorities. They get at least 3 hours of a pretty intense workout every day, Vince could go all day when my northern guys are dropping.

And we have such a natural playground, steep mountainsides, wildlife and critters to work on proofing recalls, culverts to go through, logs to walk on, bridges for OB. He’s not in anything formal because of the temperament issues at this point but we practice everything Schutzhund with the exception of protection - no heavy duty tug or send out bite kind of stuff.

With the progress he's been making with this handshake command, it's renewed my hope in an eventual, judged BH though. You guys may be the only judges, depending on whether he's allowed to participate. I intend to be fully up front with his past. He's a sport dog through and through though and I've done everything I can to make sure he gets to do everything he's capable of. He's amazing.

He's always got something going on, a scratch here, a bump there but nothing has ever slowed him down. This last round of accidents has me realizing he is not in"vince"able. My Vincent Van Go Go Go is now missing a few "go's".

Thank you all so much for the support. I can't tell you how much it means. We're going to ride this one out, doing everything we possibly can. Hopefully he makes a full recovery. I really want my healthy boy back.

And Mara, you know, you might be right. He wasn't put under a general anesthetic, simply knocked out. She said the name of the stuff but I can't for the life of me remember. I will ask when she calls. It was not that promace (or whatever it's called - she knew what I meant) stuff though. I was adamant that he couldn't be aware of what was going on.

I do remember her saying it had a morphine base, he was in a euphoric state, fast asleep and then they were able to counteract it to bring him around. I was with him the entire time, except the doctor and I left a room, when the techs were doing the x-rays.

She sent me home with Meloxicam Chews and there's been no whining today. So yes, you may be right. Maybe something to do with those drugs. It was so painful to listen to though and nothing seemed to relieve him until he had to be so exhausted that he finally settled down.

I'm not at my computer (and can't see the links) but had to log on when I saw this to say OMG! The poor guy! AND you!

The punctured eardrum .... is he moving his head freely now, with the Metacam? Not acting as if he doesn't want to move it (from pain)?


"You say you believe everything that happened was preventable."

Oh, please ..... I wish I had my regular keyboard to type in depth how crazy THAT is. But everyone else did fine.


"And this back end is scaring me. I hope she calls soon."

Do you know when that will/might be?

Harley has over 34 stiches since may and got a Kevlar vest. Vet said to avoid going in the wood so Harley found some "grass" to cut himself on.

On his file at the vet it say the "walking accident Frankdog"
I tell myself to look where the ball goes, keep him in field of vision. but he can make nasty holes on his side.

Yep your not alone.