When it Rains, it …

If you are my friend on Facebook, you’ve probably already heard about my very eventful night last night.  I spent almost five hours at the emergency vet clinic.  My poor little Buddha (officially the best dog ever) had an accident.

He is an exuberant little 4 1/2 month old.  When I went to the car to get some stuff out of it, he bolted out the door.  Now for almost two weeks we have been practicing sitting at a door that opens to the outside but not exiting until I give him permission.  But I guess he saw something he just couldn’t resist because out he ran!  And when he runs, there is no stopping him. So he ran around the house.

Now the door to the basement of the house has a doggy door set into it.  Normally I keep it sealed up to prevent intrusion, but I had it open because I had been teaching Buddha to go in and out of it.  Unfortunately, he never would do it unless I was on the other side of the door… until last night.  Buddha decided he would reenter the house via the doggy door in the basement. That is where he tripped/slipped/fell and busted his leg. Ouch!

Well I waited for about an hour to see if it was just a bump, but he was whimpering even when he wasn’t putting any pressure on his leg.  So off to the emergency clinic we go.  Two X-rays later, I was informed he either sprained it or he has an avulsion fracture.  An avulsion fraction occurs where the bone is damaged where it attaches to the tendon or ligament.  The diagnosis is inconclusive because the potential damage might just be puppy growth.

Now I have to wait.  If he isn’t significantly better by Monday, he may require orthopedic surgery.  Of course, I leave for Vancouver and Alaska on Sunday, so I hope he is showing some improvement by tomorrow.  Poor Buddha!