Sir Limps-a-Lot

Last weekend, we had the dogs to the vet for their annual visit. Three hundred dollars later, the dogs were up-to-date on their vaccines. Cooper is continuing to present symptoms of what I think is Larygeal Paralysis (LarPar). Our friend, Deb, just graduated from MSU Vet school, and suggested this as a potential diagnosis. After some research, I believe that Deb is correct, and he is having problems with his larynx. The vet, Dr. Alice, suggested that LarPar can be related to thyroid disorders, and ordered some bloodwork to help rule this out. Cooper has also been licking his right front leg, near the ankle. He had a bump, which the Doc examined. She did a needle aspiration and determined it is another lypoma. He has lots. She felt that he might have allergies, and that is why he is licking. She sent him home with an antihistamine to see if that would work. No luck, he has continued to lick the right leg. He also started to favor that leg. We wondered if he hurt it somehow. It seemed inflamed.

Throughout the week, he was limping more and more. Although, not enough to prevent him from enjoying a short walk with David this morning. After David ran, he took the dogs for a short cool-down walk around the block. We checked his pad, and until this morning, didn't see much. This morning, I really poked around to see if something was causing irritation, and found a solid, red lumpy area between his primary pad, and the outside pads. So, back to the vet today. They were able to get us in at 12:30. Dr. Alice attempted to examine, but the normally stoic Cooper, didn't want her touching his paw. He growled and pushed with all his legs to get her away. She indicated that the only way she could examine it and determine what was going on was under anesthesia. We left him at the vet this afternoon, and she removed a mass that was not just a cyst. We are having it sent out to the histopathology lab. We should have results back by the end of the week, and then will know what we are dealing with. Right now, we have a tired doggy, who is still groggy from the anesthetic. He is sleeping, and has his foot elevated. We have the Elizabethan collar ready to go...we know that when he is feeling better, he will be trying to eat his bandage.