Arthur Itis
The other day I had to go down to the village.
If I am bringing Penny I always put on her harness. She can easily slip out of her collar so a harness is necessary even though she can slip out of that too [I don’t know how -she’s just a bit of Houdini in her]. The sight of the harness always gets her tail wagging and she sits patiently while I put it on.
We trotted gaily out to the car, or should I say that Penny trotted gaily while I just walked? Anyways, we arrived at the car and I opened the back door for her to hop in. She stood and looked into the car but made no move to jump in. She gave me a sad look and backed up a bit. It was obvious that she wanted to go but just as obvious that she couldn’t. I lifted her up and placed her on the seat. It was the first time I have ever lifted her without her wriggling like mad. I began to worry.
Once I had parked, instead of jumping out of the car, Penny very gingerly and hesitantly stepped down. I noticed that her gait was different too – she was very slow and stiff legged. Shit! I didn’t like the look of it at all. And as we slowly made our way down the pavement she showed no interest in all the places where other dogs piss which was unheard of.
I decided to cut short on my itinerary and went to the coffee shop instead as Penny loves the place.
On the way back to the car she was even slower and we had to stop a few times as she just halted and wouldn’t budge without some gentle persuasion.
The problem persisted when we got home. She was slow and stiff legged as if walking was painful. Also she just lay on her couch and showed little interest in life. I was really worried at this stage but the vet was closed for the day so I had to wait until the following morning.
That night I put her out into the garden for her nigh time pee. She stood on the terrace for a while and suddenly saw one of her imaginary intruders. She has these fits most nights where she goes off on a random track barking at something she thinks she has seen. So she saw her imaginary foe and shot off like a Hellfire missile into the dark. Shortly after I saw her streak along the far hedge at flank speed. She eventually came back, happy as Larry and ready for bed.
The following morning she was fine. Not a bother on her. She was all wags and did her little dance in anticipation of her morning biscuit. Everything was back to normal. I went down to the village again to deal with all the things I has skipped the day before. She trotted happily and made friends with all her usual smelling places. and greeted everyone she met. she has been perfectly normal ever since.
Weird?
Has she invented a form of 24 hour Arthritis?
Might be completely harmless, like made a wrong move and strained something which a good rest put right again.
Or she might have had a bout of spondylitis? If it happens again, I'd let the vet make an x-ray.
How old is she?
We
Damn but that's weird. I typed out a full reply and clicked the button but the fucking thing erased nearly everything. Luckily I have a yoke that keeps track of what I write:
Spondylitis develops in bouts – when there's a bout, there's pain, otherwise not. Yes, it is degenerative – but can take a long time to develop.
But maybe she just sprained a muscle – if she's around 10 or even more, she'll not be as nimble as she used to be (don't we all just know). Don't worry too much – only if it happens again, I'd let the vet have a look.
My (late) dog once ran away from a minder (a very rare occasion – he spent his eleven years with me 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year with only two times for once one day and once two days, when I couldn't take him with me). Luckily, as he was registered, he was by means of some very friendly person (whom I never found out about) picked up within half an hour. The moment I was in my car to speed back home to search I was called that he was picked up and well. Within another half hour we were reunited – big joy and lots of relief on all sides 😉 He seemed perfectly okay. But a few hours later, he suddenly showed signs of pain – wouldn't jump on the sofa, moved gingerly, obviously something in his back. That was late at night, but next morning he still seemed in pain. Got some painkillers from the vet's, and within a day all was right with the world again. Never had anything with his back again. Though later, when for other reasons, I had an x-ray made, his back showed first signs of spondylitis. Maybe it had been that, maybe not – maybe he had, when he had run away, some kind of a little accident (he was on a major road when he was picked up! – probably on his way to our favourite walk to look for me – as if I'd ever be there without him, stupid dog!). He died of something completely different years later and never showed any signs of the spondylitis. He jumped in Agility over 60 cm until he was 11 and became 14.5 before his kidneys gave out (10 months ago). I miss him more than I can put into words.
I reckon cat hexed her.
You could well be right. I wouldn't put anything past that little arsehole.