doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com To go to the vet or not?

I went hunting yesterday with my pup and we did very well, her especially. When we got back, my brother in law and I limped out of the truck after 3 hrs of driving as usual. But I immediately noted that Jas was limping badly, favoring the right front.

About a week and a few days ago, Jas jumped off my terraced garden down onto the cement patio, a distance of about 4 1/2 ft. I noted later that day she was limping a little and it continued for another day or so. So, I layed off any training until Christmas day, whereupon she didn't show any signs of a problem. I figured all was well and it might have been just sore from jambing it on that landing.

Well, I was thinking lastnite that I should take her to the vet and this morning she was just as bad. As I thought about it some more, I thought 'jeeze, you're gonna take her to the vet for every little thing, "real" dog owners (I'm a newbie) would laugh. I thought about seeking some advice here this morning, but didn't get around to it.

I took her in and guess what? The vet check her foot and lower leg and lower leg joint. No problems. Then she felt around the shoulder (my guess was shoulder too) and then pulled on her leg straight forward while Jas sat. The leg popped and that was that. Jas had a dislocated shoulder for all this time and hunted like a champ on it. Boy am I glad I went to the vet.

Yep, better safe than sorry. Jas can't talk to you and complain about what's hurting her. You have to stay on your toes and read the cues. One of the reasons I admire vets so much is that their patients can't give them any feedback. They have to pretty much figure it out on their own.

I have found that even when hurting or injured that a lot of the sporting breeds with a lot of drive will continue to hunt even when in pain. I was training my Chesapeake along a creek several years ago when some how he cut his back foot pad wide open, requiring several stitches. He never showed any signs of being hurt or limping and was in the water for another retrieve when I saw the blood on the sand where he had been sitting. You made the right choice by taking her to the vet and the more time you spend with her you will learn when she needs to go or is just tired or sore.
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Flip

You did the right thing Chuck. Those dogs will work their hearts out for you and drive themselves right into the ground if you don't pay close attention to subtle indications. I always error on the conservative side, checking them carefully after my hunts, particularly multiday forays in SD. I figure it's the least I can do for them given the efforts they put into enriching my life.

Good example, Chuck. If there's ever a question, see the vet!

Chuck, You did the right thing by going to the vet. We are the caretakers of our pet's just like our children. This is a pup and the last thing you want to have happen is something like jumping off a high object possibly leading to a life long problem.

Don't worry about taking her to the vet for every little thing. Trust your gut about what you are seeing with her and I'm sure you'll make the correct decisions in the future like you did this time.

I would have done the same as you, waited and rested the dog. Then, if it showed up again, gone to the vet.

Desire is a magic thing. Today, hunting rabbits with .22 shorts along a marsh, my Lab got all electric and jumped out on the ice along the shore.

There was a goose sneaking along the far shore about 45-50 metres away. The ice broke almost instantly under his 90 pounds of muscle but he was full bore.

I wouldn't hunt if it weren't for my dog.

Yep, no doubt you did the right thing. My wife is a wildlife biologist who has worked with lot's of animals on three continents. She is adamant that we are the keepers of our animals cause like the others have said, dogs will work their hearts out for us, so we need to carefully observe them and care for them, because they won't. Better to spend some dollars and get them checked, rather than be sorry. Good on ya.

Chuck,

There is nothing like a good birddog. I lost my "dog of a lifetime" Prince this year from old age. I have never seen a better birdog and I loved and appreciated him when he was alive. But you never really appreciate something like that until you don't have them. In his later years, after a hunt I would give him an aspirin and I would take a tylenol.

My point is take care of your dog and enjoy your time with her.

What kind of dog is she?

Take Care,
Riprap

So you left your pup with a dislocated shoulder for over a week, and even hunted her with it before seeing a vet. Bravo! I hope, for your dog's sake, no lasting damage happened.

Nobody gets macho points for letting his dog suffer. Waiting a few days in hopes that a problem will go away by itself is (sorry, I can't think of a polite way to say this) stupid. If the dog is injured, you're leaving it in pain and the problem may get worse. If the dog is okay, whatever you pay the vet buys you peace of mind - and fulfills your responsibility to your best hunting partner.

Our dogs trust us to look out for their health and safety. Please, don't let 'em down.