Last week I had one of those heart-stopping moments. Arch has very bad hips - when he was two he was scored at 34 36. He is now 9 years old. Every now and then he limps but he's not on pain killers just glucosamine and I still have injections and tablets to fall back on.
My husband was walking him whilst I was at work with Ella-Bella - he turned his head away and the next thing Arch was screeching in pain.
He got him to the car and kept him quiet at home. I got in took one look at him and took him to the vet. My husband claimed that Arch wasn't too bad until I came home and then he was looking for sympathy so sat there with his leg up!
I took him to the vet who insisted on x-raying him. I couldn't work out why as when he examined the leg there was movement.
The vet didn't tell me until aftewards but he thought Arch had bone cancer. Luckily that was not the case - however there are boney spurs and a faint crack in his elbow joint caused by arthritus.
After Arch was x-rayed and got home there was an amazing improvement and he was most put out at being rested!! Does anyone elses GSD act like "wounded soldier" when they're there but make an amazing recovery when they're not around!
He's made an amazing recovery - but he does look to me for sympathy. I'm so glad I've got him to 9 as if I had listened to the vet when he was 2 he really didn't think Arch would last more than two years with his hips.
I love my boy dearly - but he's a very expensive pet!!
