[Dailydrool] Learned something new

[KR1204 at aol.com]

In addition to my five I have been 'hound sitting" my ex's two for the last  
month. Tuesday, Gracie who is about  9 went out before breakfast, after  
breakfast and then slipped out while I was letting another in. When I went to  get 
her she went to  step up the one step into the house and began  screaming in 
pain. I quickly palpated her, checked pads, toes but found nothing.  She 
refused to leave the laundry room because there are two more steps so I made  her a 
bed and got an apt for the next day.She could walk but any attempt at  steps 
had her screaming. Vetlady Linda listened to my description and said  its  
probably Lymes. She said when there is no known trauma and a sudden  joint pain(in 
this case about 20 min) that is the usual cause. She checked her  spine, legs 
and toes and Gracie just sat there. Then  she pulled on her  hips and Gracie 
went beserk, screaming with bared teeth about an inch from  VetLinda's nose! I 
grabbed her collar and said "she didn't like that much".  Anyway, she is on 
doxycycline for 30 days, Tramadol and Rimadyl. Vet Linda said  if it is Lymes 
she will have a great improvement in 24 hours. She was right,  Gracie is 
wagging her tail again, going up the  one and two steps without  screaming and 
eating like a horse. It turns out that looking at her records, she  tested positive 
 for Lyme in 2006 but because she had no symptoms she was  not treated.
My other option would have been to knock her out and get xrays to rule out  
disc/leg problems which would have been a HUGE vet bill. 
Something to keep in mind if your basset develops sudden pain but can still  
stand and walk.
Kathy with Spanky, Elwood, Sonny, Crackers, Loki, step bassets Gracie and  
Drummer and Ginger the  pointy eared dog next door who I am also watching  but 
in her own house.



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