Doesn’t Thunder look pitiful?

Poor Pitiful Me

Back in July we took Thunder to the vet to have his left leg checked.  He was limping on and off and we were concerned that training and testing was further injuring it.  We are lucky because our vet has an orthopedic vet on staff.  The orthopedic vet manipulated Thunder’s leg, took x-rays of his wrist, elbow and shoulder and felt it was a soft tissue injury.  Thunder was prescribed medication which helped and that problem seems to have resolved.

Then in August he was doing some of his crazy water entries…

Fetch

…and he came up lame again.  However, this time it was his right leg.  He would limp when he first got up from rest and then it would resolve.  We cut back on his training and that seemed to help.  A couple of weeks ago he finished his medication and the limp seemed to be worse and was happening just about every time he got up and tried to walk.  I also noticed a bit of swelling around his wrist.  It was not swollen all of the time, but was there and then would go away.

Time to go visit the orthopedic vet again.  I pointed out the swelling on Thunder’s wrist and this time when the vet manipulated it he heard a little “clicking”.  The vet said it could be strained ligaments that Thunder keeps re-injuring before they get a chance to heal.  Just to make sure he took x-rays of the right wrist, elbow and shoulder.  Again the x-rays were clear: no fractures, arthritis, tears, tumors.

So that is the diagnosis: “strained ligaments”.  The vet recommended putting a cast on his leg to take the pressure off the ligaments and give them a chance to heal completely.  It is a “walking” cast so there is a bend in it, but Thunder is on limited activity and it has to be kept dry.

So yeah, waterfowl opens on Saturday and somebody is in a cast for 2-4 weeks…

Not Only Did I Have To Spend The Night At The Vet But Now You Say No Hunting For Me!

26 thoughts on “Pitiful

  1. Oh Thunder!! I hope you get better real soon!! Are they making you wear that horrid cone too?? Ugh, I can’t bear to think of it all!

  2. Awww that’s a huge bummer! It’s one of our concerns with Wyatt too as he likes to jump off things right onto his front feet and I know many dogs can injure themselves doing that. Luna is so light I don’t worry about her much. Maybe you can borrow someone’s dog for waterfowl season? I know it’s not the same, what about storm? Hope he leaves the cast alone so it can heal. Good thing you spotted it pretty early.
    Anna
    http://www.akginspiration.com

    1. Storm was bred in August so she is out until we figure out if there are puppies. If there are pups she will probably miss the whole season. 🙁 Freighter just wants to fidget and eat stuff. Freighter’s mom is available when dh hunts with her breeder.

  3. I’m so sorry Thunder. That is the same wrist I have an issue with, but mine is a problem from a cyst. Sorry you can’t go hunting, I know how much you enjoy it. Feel better soon!

  4. poor guy doesn’t even get to go hunting! Hope it all resolves well, though – better to miss one season than do serious enough damage to prevent any more seasons.

  5. Oh poor Thunder! Thank goodness it is something that is fixable and will heal, but boy he sure does look depressed. I sure hope it heals up quickly for him and he doesn’t miss out on too much water fun. 🙂

  6. Yep Thunder you do look pitiful buddy – can you get your cast signed? 🙂

    I hope you’re better soon 🙂

    Your pal Snoopy 🙂

  7. Oh Thunder I hope you get better real soon. I know it will be hard for you to stay calm for that long. But in the long run I know you will be glad. You do have the pitiful look down.
    Blessings,
    Goose

  8. OH no! Poor Thunder! Your lucky he put his leg down! When I have to wrap Sherman’s leg or paw he acts like it is impossible for him to walk!
    Hope Thunder’s sprain heals fast!

  9. I’m sorry Thunder You can’t do anything fun I know you are miserable. Lexie wasn’t allowed to woods walks, or play or even have walk in the evening, she was really depressed. I hope you let it heal quickly so you can get back to doing what you love:(

  10. Better keep an eye on Freighter….he may just get bopped with Thunder’s cast if he’s training and Thunder isn’t

  11. Poor sweet Thunder we are so sorry you don’t get to hunt. We sure hope your leg heals up quickly and you don’t have any more problems. Hugs and nose kisses

  12. Oh dear! What a perfect title for this post… so you have to keep him out of the water huh? And next you’ll be teaching us all how to nail jelly to the ceiling! Good luck! 🙂

  13. Poor guy! Give him lots of bones to keep his mind off the upcoming duck season.

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