Sasha's had a rough few weeks

In the week or so after we adopted her, we tried to get her on the same diet that Daphne's on: Costco chicken and kibble.  But, she wasn't having any of it; she wanted the canned cat food -- badly.  We finally decided that she must have fed canned food so I bought one of everything that didn't have wheat in it.  The assumption being that her ear infections (like Mikaela's) were due to a wheat allergy.

Fortunately, the first one we tried (beef) she liked so I took the rest back and bought a stock of the same brand but three different flavors.  Unfortunately, shortly after she had the two flavors we didn't try, she erupted in hot spots.  One vet visit later and Prednizone for two weeks and the hot spots are gone.  But, she was famished and constantly thirsty while taking the steroids.  It also brought out a surprising side of her.  She is so shy and sweet that when she charged across the street, barking ferociously, to protect us from our neighbor's Labrador Retrievers, it surprised us both.

Literally the day after we ran out of Prednizone (Tuesday), she started limping on her right front leg.  It got progressively worse throughout Wednesday and, by the time I got home from racquetball, she had a huge, hot swelling around her "elbow" on that leg.  By this morning she couldn't put any weight on it and really couldn't lay down or get up.  She was in obvious, constant pain.

So, this morning I called the vet when they opened at 7am and took her in immediately.  Andrea was surprised at the swelling's size and how fast it formed.  She asked if we were aware of any spider or snake bites and said we needed an xray.  She showed it to me and pronounced her joint "pristine" given her age and pointed out the swelling and a pocket probably full of pus.

They kept her all day.  They lanced the swelling releasing "a LOT" of blood and pus, flushed it and put drains in at the top and bottom.  It turns out that there were no obvious puncture wounds, so the infection was probably caused by microbes working their way into her system through the callous on her elbow - a fairly common problem with older dogs.  She's on antibiotics and we need to massage the blood accumulating in the tissue below and above the wound, apply warm compresses and flush the swelling twice a day with Betadine and give her antibiotics.  She goes back in seven days from today to have the drains removed but the swelling could last three weeks!

She's definitely feeling a little better post-surgery.  She walked anxiously out to meet me in the waiting room and walked herself to the car.  Then, when we got home, she immediately picked up a stuffed animal and walked aimlessly around the house for nearly a half hour.  Then she crashed and hasn't moved a muscle since.  Poor girl.  I just hope she doesn't associate living here with medical emergencies!

Comments

[Gayle]

Omigosh! Poor, poor Sasha and poor Bob and Denise! She still deaf? Is her ear infection all gone? So, sorry!

[wayne]

Hey Sasha - if a spider bites you, bite back and teach thm who's Boss!