... do I need to see her so often lately?!?

First it was a lump on Rogan's brisket. I could swear it was a little bigger over a few days, so off to the vet. Verdict: "Fatty tumor, no big unless the harness rubs on it, watch for it getting hard or attatching to something in there but most likely it won't." $24 of assurence, which is FINE.

Then last night I was checking Anya over to try to determine why she had two matching dings in her butt cheeks (I suspect a bad dismount out of the top wire crate, but since nothing is particularly sharp on there she had to WORK at it if that's the case). In this process I discovered gunk coming out of a lump she's had on the 2.5 year old 6" incision from her femor break/pin repair, something that *I* always figured was just scar tissue from where the skin had 'puckered' while healing. Nothing smelly or bloody or liquid, my getting it all out obviously didn't cause her any pain, just.... nasty thick brown gunk.

So I call the vet this AM, who asks if I can bring her in early and leave her for the day. Had to call work and tell them I could be late, pack up the 2yo, all our stuff for work/daycare, PLUS the crate with the dog in it, in pouring sideways 35F rain. Then when we get there stuff the kid in the backpack out in the parking lot, gather up the dog, make sure dog doesn't terrorize the office cat before we leave her with the staff.

Verdict: benign sebaceous cyst, possibly from that wrinkled-incision business.

I still don't feel I needlessly pulled the trigger in either case, but GEEZ..... I feel like giving all three hounds a stern lecture tonight about not giving me any more reason for worry!!!

I am glad everything is ok. It's better to be safe then sorry and you feel relieved thats all that matters.

After the 10 days Ava being on Rymidal and play restriction she played with the dogs and her limp returned. I called my vet ASAP and told them she is still limping and would like to have it xrayed. Well 237.00  dollars later back on 7 day play restriction and she has bruised soft tissue. The xray showed nothing. I am glad though better be safe then sorry but the feeling u get and the worry makes you crazy LOL. If it were up to me she would be walking around in full body armor LMAO.

FWIW Dulcie's right knee is a little gimpy, although she's got the go-ahead for running from both my mushing mentor and my vet. After every run and sometimes just when I remember around the house, I have a stretching routine recommended by another local musher who is also a physical therapist. If you decide to try this, just remember to keep you and the dog relaxed, watch the dog closely for pain reaction, and DO NOT force anything. I can see a dramatic improvement in how Dulcie moves immediately afterwards.... maybe it could help you too.

- gently stretch a hind leg straight back as far as the dog will comfortably allow, then with the leg out do a few small circles with the toe clockwise/ counterclockwise. Then let go and do a quick once-over massage on muscles from hock through groin and butt. Do this for BOTH rear legs, since the dog will be compensating for the dinged leg with the other.
- stand the dog sideways with their tummy/lumbar area against your leg, then gently 'bend' the dog's body around your shin by pulling in the opposite shoulder/head and hip. Often they'll lift a leg off the ground, that's fine. If the dog is big it sometimes helps to push a bit with your knee at the same time. Make sure to do both ways, and rub out their lower back and hip area when you're done. The point here is to prevent lateral stiffness through the lumbar area. My friend says that there is increasing evidence in both people and dogs that knee issues may be caused/aggrivated by mechanical issues closer to the body 'core'... regardless, limping can put additional lopsided strain on the back.

I am going to try this thank you