Guilt about injury

[Kirsten]

Luna did something to a hind leg in the other room, so I didn't see what happened.  She didn't yelp, which is unusual.  She's a bit softer compared to the other two in that she will tell you when she hurts whereas Cole will try to man up and Ruby doesn't seem to notice usually.  So no yelp and no crash, but she returned to the living room limping.

I went over and examined her paws, but she was flinchy with all of them so I couldn't locate a specific source on the one I knew was injured (the one she was favoring).  I couldn't see or feel anything wrong either.  So I decided to wait and see if she'd shake it off on her own.

Now here's the part that just tears at my heart.  She was reluctant to lie down and obviously in some pain.  Worse, I could see she was distressed because she kept drooling.  But I couldn't think of anything I could do but watch and wait, and hope.  I was pretty sure she'd toss a fit if I tried to ice the whole leg and didn't want to stress her further.  It's a difficult call when you can't tell what is wrong.  If she'd been a human child, I'd have explained and comforted as the treatment was applied.  But this is my willful girl who doesn't want to be comforted and will talk back somewhat (wriggle) when I hurt her unless I'm very firm with her.  I chose not to argue and just let her rest.

But I felt so guilty watching her stressed and in pain and doing nothing but sitting and waiting.

Eventually (about 10 minutes) she stopped showing obvious stress and laid down to nap.  Just now I offered Cole and Ruby meatballs (a dog treat that looks like meatballs) to see if she would come and investigate.  She's not called "Miss Piggy" for nothing!  And she didn't come on her own, but did when I called to her.  She's still favoring that leg, but will put weight on it.  I wanted to see her using it more than a few steps, so I invited them to potty, and she accepted.  Whew!  She did continue to favor it, but she also went out voluntarily and she even peed.  By the time she came back in the limp was definitely improved.

So waiting was a right choice this time.  Why then do I still feel like a terrible steward for letting her suffer like that?  I'm such a big mush.

Anyone else crumble around the edges when their dog is suffering?

[autisticgenius]

Toward the end with Milo, it was so difficult to watch and know there's nothing I could have done. He would drool as well, so I'd just bring him close and stroke him, hoping he could get some comfort from it. I think they might know to a degree that we are trying to help them, even if we don't always do the right thing.

I hope Luna is feeling better!

[Sheenar]

I know I do. When Pebbles started having her hip issues --that was really hard. She still wanted to work, but it got to a point where medication no longer helped enough. I felt guilty even though there was nothing I could do.

She is much better off being a much loved and spoiled pet with her new family as well as being a part-time therapy dog for some kids her owner works with.

[Kirsten]

Miss Piggy is moving normally now, but not until after she milked me for a lot of those meatball treats.  Okay, she didn't actually ask for them.  I just couldn't make myself stop testing whether she was willing to get up and walk around of her own will (not just because I asked her to).  Cole's the only one who gets away with asking for treats.  That comes with being so old it doesn't matter any more if you're spoiled rotten and your training has deteriorated.

[Stephanimal]

No you aren't the only one who feels guilty over not being a good steward or owner--especially when it ends in an injury.

 :caution: Speaks of serious injury to dog, and possibly death, but does end ok


Abbi broke her leg this spring and ran off! We looked for her for over an hour with the guy who hit her. We thought the worst and had prior engagements (dr. appt and some jobs). Well we had to leave, couldn't find her, and thought she went to die. Much of where we live is wooded and the other is pastures. She went towards the woods. So the next day we planned to go look for her again and signs of vultures. The next day was a stormy day and we didn't get out side to look for her early.

About noon a person is laying on their car horn and then beating on our door. Abbi is well known and well loved in our area. That lady was driving a small sedan said your big white dog is injured trying to walk up the hill. William nearly kissed this women (who we don't even know), but we got my pick em up truck and drove down the hill. Loaded her up. She was limping and soaking wet. She didn't fight with us picking her up to put her in the bed of the truck. She did keep standing up, I had to sit back there and keep her laying down. We went to our regular vet and found out they close at noon on Saturday, so to the E-vet we went. Because we had to go on the main road I got back in the cab. She stayed laying. When we got to the E-vet they couldn't lift her so William carried her in and laid her on the table. She wasn't whining or anything just being the baby doll she had always been.

You knew she had to be in pain and the only sign she gave that she wasn't herself was trying to cover her eyes with her paws. So hubby put his hat on her head. (http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg14/mybigwarwagon/doggies%20and%20stuff/2011-03-05_14-19-41_214.jpg) Even when they had to adjust her leg to put a splint on it, she didn't do much but flinch. She broke her left leg just above the "wrist joint", she actually broke both of the bones there.

Then on Monday we took her to out regular vet to have her casted and after a week in the cast she learned to club you with it if you weren't giving her what she wanted. She was also playing like a big puppy! She would run full speed, but put her on a leash or tell her to go in the house she would be soo slow. She knew how to milk us. We felt terrible about it and even worse that the E-vet said she needed surgery to fix the bones at the tune of 5000$. Well we couldn't afford that which is why they didn't cast her, they told us to take her, and her x-rays to our vet and see if they thought it would be okay to just cast.

[FrostedAcres]

The first vet I ever used told me a secret--The ones that look like they'll never make it, pull through, and the ones that look like it's just a bruise-- they are the ones to worry about most.

I learned a long time ago to take a 'wait and see' type attitude for most injuries- but then, I have had vets teach me more than the basics. Kirsten, I  don't think I  would have done anything different--except maybe  been a bit more stingy with the meatball treats My kids always said I was the only person they  knew who could resist a dog's begging...

[Roxie]

I too, go through agony when Tay is sick, or when Sara was in pain and dying.  Usually all I can do is touch, stroke, talk to my dogs when hurt or ill. It never seems to be enough for me, and I feel very inadequate and undeserving of my animals.

But I had a lot of experience with critically ill kids in ICU's and kids with fairly serious chronic illness. Not much different at all between kid or dog as far as the emotion of just sitting - watching - waiting.

[autisticgenius]

The first vet I ever used told me a secret--The ones that look like they'll never make it, pull through, and the ones that look like it's just a bruise-- they are the ones to worry about most.

That makes sense- in the wild, an animal could be eaten if it appears sick or lame. It makes it harder for us though...

[Stephanimal]

The first vet I ever used told me a secret--The ones that look like they'll never make it, pull through, and the ones that look like it's just a bruise-- they are the ones to worry about most.

That makes sense- in the wild, an animal could be eaten if it appears sick or lame. It makes it harder for us though...

Agreed! Our old boy Zoomer got shot twice and did his best not to look hurt despite being covered in blood. William slept with him on a low mattress all night--he pulled through even though the vet didn't think he would. Nothing they could have done for him, but give pain meds and watch and wait.

[Magesteff]

All of the dogs my family had, when they were injured (usually nothing serious) all seemed to know I was trying to help them by checking the injured area. One of our dogs, Teddy (apricot min poodle) discovered that if he "pretended" he had an injured foot/leg and limped, we would just load him up with attention. At which he would wag his tail and stop limping!

But yes it is hard to watch them be in pain. My brother's dog Ozziescratched his side one time so much that it started looking raw, and I took him to the vet right away. THankfully it wasn't mange or anything serious - other than his allergic reactions, so he got some medicated pads to be rubbed on him when he would get redness, hives or be itching an area a little too much.

WHen Hobbes my cat had got on top of the bathroom door and came down and caught a toenail in the towl and pulled it hard, I took her to the vet to have her toe checked out, after I waited a while to see if she would stop limping. Luckily she hadn't pulled the nail out and it healed just fine. Even though that was her own fault, I still felt bad for her.

But sometimes it is ok to wait a bit and see if it resolves on it's own, as vet visits can be expensive.

[blkpanther0001]

I feel guilty about neiko, he is having health problems (the reason I got Moulin earlier then planned), their are days/times I leave him at home and take her instead. No she does not wear a vest and just goes to places that allow pets as I know she is no where near trained at 7months.

My work is working with me and on Thursday evenings I am just their for 3 hours, 1 hour to work on stuff I need for my training classes, and 2  hours for class, they are encouraging me to bring her in to get experience in a low key way at work.

any way Neiko feels bad allot of the time so I have taken to bringing in his orthopedic memory foam pad to work with us it is 4 inches thick soft and fuzzy. it is extra work for me to bring it in but i do it for him.  when he is limping i have opted for a wait and see tactic with him also.

HUGS glad she is feeling better.

[Magesteff]

Panther, I'm glad your workplace is being so cool about Moulin, allowing her to get some public access experience. ALl the animals at my place are sending Neiko hugs and massages. (KItty massage can be pretty nice if you can get them to knead just where you need it).

[labs4ever]

heck  I felt guilty the other day when I accidently kicked Sophie in the head with my foot. She was not hurt,  but I felt bad anyway.  I think  with the close relationship with these  guys  we have, it is normal to feel guilty,  as long as  you are taking care of  the dog that is what is important.

 I remember when my  third dog  got diagnsoed with hip dysplasia, and  when she started showing symptoms I knew something was majorly wrong, even though her symptoms were not noticeable to   anyone but me (she was a three year old dog acting like she was eight)   My friends scoffed that I was over worrying and such, but I wasn't.  I  felt bad   taking her out  to potty even  after the diagnosis. 


 I am glad   that   Luna is ok.  I would venture to guess  most of the time  we as handlers know if something is   potentially serious or not.     I think  it just hurts us to see them hurting!

[caring canine]

crumble around the edges????

I've dealt with broken limbs, multiple stitches, fainting spells, numerous hospital stays and that's just the kids, we won't go into hubby's list of ailments. 

but something wrong with one of my animals, I'm a bumbling mess reaching for the speed dial. 

[blkpanther0001]

Thanks Magesteff,

Yea my work wants Moulin to succeed, and they dont want to see neiko suffer and they know i cannot work without him.