Still on Restrictions

Beckett is still favoring that foot after two and a half weeks of cage rest and restricted activity.

I stopped by the vet’s office and talked with my vet, who was not working the day I took Beckett in the first time. After much discussion, we decided to continue the Deramaxx (I was going to anyway as she is still in pain) and keep her on cage rest and restricted activity for two more weeks.

If she’s still sore after that, then she will go in and be sedated for more extensive x-rays of her foot, arm, elbow and shoulder. He also might do a joint tap.

We have been assuming it’s her foot/toes since that’s always been the problem, but have to broaden our outlook to be sure we’re not missing something in our assumptions. We did get pain reaction when we handled her toes but then the toes are sore from the arthritis so maybe we did assume.

I’m not looking for a way to somehow get her back in the obedience ring. The title isn’t important. What I want is for her to be able to function in normal everyday things around the house and yard and not be in pain. If somehow we do manage to get her competition sound, then of course we’ll try for that title!

The vet did mention that she is coming on 9 years old and we may have to adjust our thinking as to what is an acceptable pain level for a dog her age with chronic arthritis. But border collies are long-lived dogs and I really don’t want to think about her living the remaining 1/3 of her life in constant, albeit low-level, pain. Been there, done that with my own foot. So I am hoping we find a way to get her high-funtioning with no pain. Competition? Doubtful. I just want her to be happy.

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