Murph's One Dog Who's Not Faking a Limp for Sympathy

by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger

09 Sep 2008 05:48 PM

The other day I wrote about dogs who fake limps for sympathy after our vet and a neighbor told me stories about dogs they knew who'd done that.

Murph's not one of them.

Bent Paw

Last night I noticed Murph's hurt paw looked really weird (awful is more like it) when he was putting pressure on it. It was sort of caved in.

The best way I know how to describe it is to tell you to look at your wrist. Put it flat, then flex your hand back with your fingers reaching for the sky. That dip in your wrist is what Murph's paw was doing.

Frankly, I almost vomited as I tried to get him home. It looked that disturbing.

Overreacting?

Wayne's forever telling me what a worrywart kind of mom I am. (His favorite story to illustrate his point has to do with our first dog, Budly. I'd heard a horror story about a puppy's balls that didn't drop and all the health problems it had caused him. It was to the point where I obsessed --in Wayne's view-- over Budly's balls dropping. I don't see it as obsessing. I like to think of it as caring.)

At any rate, my gut was telling me Murph's paw caving in like that was not a sign he was getting better. It might be paranoid, but making another trip to the vet just to be sure would be wise.

Referred to a Specialist

Turns out I was not overreacting. I didn't even have to explain my fears for why I'd brought Murph back in. The second Dr. Singleton saw his foot as he hobbled over to greet her, she said, "Oh, wow. That paw's not looking good at all."

While she splinted him up, she had a staff member help me book an appointment with the specialist.

We'll see him Thursday.

I know I've said it before but it bears repeating: I really hope it turns out Murph doesn't need surgery. Any good thoughts you can pass our way would be very much appreciated.

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Learn more about Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k.

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