help fast!

**cali** · 09-02-2006, 07:46 PM

ok normally when I come home Mist is at the door to her kennel crying and pawing at the door, but when I got back from my dads today Misty was just sitting quietly in the back of her kennel, I didnt think much of it but then she came and stood beside me, I absentmindendly bagan petting her, but as my hand ran over her back I stopped and looked because she felt very stiff, and her back was arched, I looked her over and she is obviously stressed because she is dropping her hair like mad, and she cant level out her back, its like stuck arched over the loins, and both right legs are swollen, not her forelegs but up top, around her armpit and her hips, other then being stressed and not walking proper she does not seem to be in pain, Misty is VERY dramitic about being in pain and she is not acting dramatic at all, it does not seem to hurt her if I stretch out her legs or squeeze them. I dont understand what could have happend to her in a plastic crate. does anyone have any idea what could have caused this?

right now getting her to a vet is NOT a possability, earlier today there would not have been a problem, but right now its impossable, so I need more then a "go to the vet" response please.

**Karen** · 09-02-2006, 07:56 PM

Call an emergency vet - they can at least give you an idea of what to look for. If you do not have one in your area, Here are numbers for the two near me, but I have no idea what this could be symptomatic of, or how serious it is.

Veterinary Emergency Center: Needham, MA: 617-453-0143
Angell Memorial Veterinary Hospital: Boston, MA: (617) 522-7282

**cali** · 09-02-2006, 08:37 PM

I just called an emergncy vet, she said there is nothing she can really do without looking at her, she has no idea what could have caused it, when she was alone in a crate. she said since I cant take her in,all I can really do is try putting ice on it to help with the swelling and take her for short walks to keep her from getting to stiff.

**wolf_Q** · 09-02-2006, 08:49 PM

I hope Misty will be ok. It kind of sounds like an allergic reaction with the swelling, maybe she was bitten or stung by an bug (spider?) while in her crate?

**sanford8916** · 09-02-2006, 08:53 PM

If you think she might of gotten bitten by something, you can give her benadryl(sp) Lou Lou weighs 45 lb and the vet said we could give her 2 adult tablets! I hope she feels better soon!

**cali** · 09-02-2006, 09:01 PM

if she is not better by morning I am using the money I have saved for Electra to get Misty to vet.

I called my friend and she said to call her when I get up in the morning and we will get her the vet. she does not look quite as bad now as she did earlier but she is still limping a lot on her right side, and her back is still arched though not as stiff as before. she is eating and drinking just fine.

**cali** · 09-02-2006, 09:50 PM

I snapped some pics with my cell so you can see what I mean by how she is standing. also I asked her to sit and she cant do it, she can only stand and lie down.

**wolf_Q** · 09-02-2006, 09:54 PM

The only thing I've found on the internet that describes her symptoms is Lyme disease...http://www.crsar.com/Lyme_disease.htm

The infected dog is often reluctant to move, and when they do, they limp badly, or walk with their backs arched in an attempt to carry their weight on their “good” legs.

Swollen joints that are warm to the touch, A stiff gait or lameness that shifts from one leg to the other

Those may not fit her exactly and there's other signs as well....I have no idea what is really wrong with her, I think you should get her to a vet asap. Hope she's ok!

**luvofallhorses** · 09-02-2006, 10:03 PM

I'd get her in asap and I really hope she's okay!

**cali** · 09-02-2006, 10:10 PM

first thing the the morning is the soonest possable. I sure hope its not lyme, but the symptoms are definatly there, arched back, bad limp, stiffness, reluctdent to move... and she WAS at the dog park last night playing in an overgrown feild and bushes near water...

**luvofallhorses** · 09-02-2006, 10:16 PM

Did you check her whole body for ticks??

**Corinna** · 09-02-2006, 11:12 PM

If you do find a tick on her or in her bedding save it and take itto the vet for testing too.

**cali** · 09-03-2006, 08:37 AM

no ticks that I can find. she seems to be mostly better this morning? her back is leveled out again and she is no longer limping, she can stand and sit, lay down and jump. however the muscles on her hips that were very tight last night suddenly feel odd, like she normally as big firm muscles, but now they feel I dunno, smaller? and they almost feel looser if that makes sence? also she is walking just fine but when she trots she barly moves her back legs.

**Karen** · 09-03-2006, 08:46 AM

I'd still take her to the vet.

**cali** · 09-03-2006, 09:54 AM

I e-mailed my mom to see what she says, but I dunno is she is back on the road or what. I want her tested for hip dysplasia soon, I was told yesterday though that they cant do any x-rays on the weekend, so thats out right now anyway. I played fetch with her for about 5 minutes so I could closly watch her hips while she played, a couple times her hips just sorta fell, and after 5 minutes she started moving her back legs together when she trotted, and of coarse her being a Border Collie.... hip dysplasia is the thought that keeps reoccuring in my head. what gets me though is that she has no difficulty standng up on her hind legs and no problems with jumping, its just the way she moves keeps changing latly she is sometimes walking normal and sometimes walking like a runaway model, crossing each foot in front of the other, and sometimes her hips just randomly swing a little.