Guys, this little gal gets a large dose of attention and fairly lives indoors with us. She sleeps in our den in a padded kennel and I play with her constantly as she has that constant attention demand puppies have. She's in my lap and at my side nearly at all times except when I'm at work. My wife and her are also the same way. It hurts me to think she was in pain this whole time.
I checked her as best I knew how on that first two days after she showed signs of injury. I'm new to dogs, but have had horses for many years and have gone thru and been around many, many injuries on them and personally treated many. Putting tens of thousands of miles on horses exposes you to many things the ordinary recreational horseman may never see. I'm no vet or dog man, but I'm not totally ignorant.
Yet, still I didn't see this problem for what it was, since she improved just like a sore joint would and didn't show at all before I went hunting, even with all the close contact I have with her.
Dig,
She gets a rinse and rubdown and checkout after every hunt, few that they've been, before my gun gets cleaned.
Jack,
This little girl means a lot to me. "Macho" doesn't fit anywhere in describing her and any part of my having her (and her sqeaky toys). "Stupid" I'm admitting to on the internet so maybe someone else doesn't make the same mistake.
Riprap,
Here her highness is sleeping on my very expensive hat just a few hours after I met her. Choc Lab to answer your question.
