Last night when we left for the basketball game, apparently someone didn't shut the door tightly. One of my roommates got home to the door wide open and my dog (american staffordshire) with blood on her. Needless to say, it scared the hell out of my roommate but quickly realized that everything was fine in the house (we also have an ankle biting chihuahaha at the house who likes to pry doors open if they are not shut good).

Anyways, my dog (Finley, about 50lbs) is acting extremely tired. She's not really acting herself (I did ring the door bell and she jumped up like always though) when I try to give her treats. This may be because whenever she is sick, she knows we give her shit-tasting medicine. She has a couple of wounds on her front right paw and her back right paw. She also has a rash looking spot below on her chest like she fell.

I am leaving for Clemson Friday for the football game and plan on taking her to the vet then for the weekend. I was advised to keep the wounds clear with peroxide/water a couple of times a day.

Any ideas of what may happened or what I should do? Do what the vet said and keep the wounds on her paws cleaned out and bring her in Friday or go ahead and take her to the vet? I think she was running and tripped/fell on pavement or something. Someone else suggested she may have been hit by a car at a slow speed, but I think there would be more visible injuries or she would act like she was in more pain that she appears to be in.

thanks for any help/ideas

11/8/2006 1:14:25 PM

i bet bigman raped your dog

11/8/2006 1:46:40 PM

thanks chitchat

11/8/2006 1:49:53 PM

Hey jmpack, I work at the Vet school. You need to take her to a vet for at least a checkup. If you can't find where the blood came from that's a problem. You can bring them here but I'm not sure costwise if it's more expensive or not.

I can find out for you. Toss me an IM if you need to know. Regardless if she's not acting herself she may be hurt. Animals do not show pain unless it's really bad.

11/8/2006 2:31:22 PM

Just got back from the vet. They are keeping her to do x-rays. I noticed when she was sleeping, she was shaking real bad when she took breaths. That worried me so I took her over to the animal hospital. Doctor thinks its probably just deep muscle bruises from getting clipped by a car (again, her only pain seems to be coming from her right rear end and her front and back right paws).

i'll keep yall updated if anyone's interested. thanks for the help by the way XCchick and Raige.

11/8/2006 4:05:48 PM

^I'm glad you took her. My honest thought is hit by a car. The rash she had on her chest is exactly what happens when they're hit and roll/get dragged. The breathing is a big concern because it could mean internal problems you can't see, I'd be very concerned about broken ribs.

11/8/2006 4:15:51 PM

yeah that's what i was thinking. she seemed to be uncomfortable when sitting down and getting up. once she was down, she wanted to stay down.... ya know what i mean?

i should hear something back soon about the x rays

11/8/2006 4:19:20 PM

just talked to the vet.

x-rays turned out good. no heart/lung problems and no broken bones/internal bleeding.

however, they did say she almost guaranteed got hit by a car. but luckily she is such a strong dog, she was able to bounce away from it quick. she probably has deep muscle bruises that are causing the pain/irritation but nothing was broken which is a good sign. she's coming home tonight but has to go back on friday since i'll be in clemson all weekend.

thanks again yall but finley seems to be ok. just in a shitload of pain.

11/8/2006 4:43:16 PM

wow did he break out, get hit by a car, then come back home with those injuries? Thats a very intelligent dog you have there.

11/9/2006 8:18:31 AM

Most dogs crawl to a safe location when injured, so do most animals. It's not suprising that she came back.

I would seriously consider some form of training. The basics to make them "fear" or "respect" cars. You can find all sorts of groups around. Or read up online how to train the dog yourself. You want to make her not want to go into the street, not be afraid of it.

11/9/2006 9:45:44 AM

^I dunno, after getting nailed by a car, I imagine she has a pretty good instinct to not want to go into the street now.

11/9/2006 10:14:39 AM

i'm glad to hear its nothing life threatening.
poor dog

my cat got hit by a car and dragged himself back to my house. his back legs and pelvis were broken. so was his jaw.
$1000 in vet bills and they put him back together.
he was a damn good cat
(until someone in my neighborhood put out poison last year )

11/9/2006 10:38:26 AM