by Scottie Westfall

Created on: November 27, 2008

Keziah was a cross between a boxer and a golden retriever. Solid black and short-haired, she didn't resemble her golden retriever mother at all, but for eleven years she was a loving companion who longed for long walks in the woods and sleeping by the crackling fire on those cold winter nights. For all those years, she reveled in the pursuit of squirrels and rabbits. She flushed wild turkeys and grouse with abandon. Although her heavily muscled frame prevented her from being a good water dog, she did like to sit in the water up to her chest during the muggy days of summer, letting water cool her chest as she panted. She was a good dog, a little bit stubborn, but a good dog nonetheless.

In the coolness of November during her eleventh year, she began to limp slightly. We thought nothing of it. She had run hard in the undergrowth her entire life, and scrapes, sprains, and scratches were de rigeur for dogs running over rocky grown covered with dense undergrowth. She had broken her leg as a puppy when she ran her leg into a woodchuck hole, and she was continuously getting bruised and cut. We figured that her injury would heal.

She remained with a slight limp until the day after Christmas. Then her limp worsened. She began to bob her head as she walked. She was in obvious pain. It was time to take her to the vet. The local vet had seen our dogs on occasion, but she was in such pain that we decided to take her there. His examination revealed that she had a bad sprain, and prescribed a routine pain killer for her. She was on that painkiller for ten days.

Ten days passed. Her pain got worse. Her limping worsened. It was time for a second opinion.

The second vet had seen our dogs more often, but his office was some distance from the house. He examined her. He diagnosed a severe arthritis, and he put her on a special arthritis diet, which reeked of fish oil. She didn't like her food at first, turning her nose up at the very smell of such a dish. We mixed it with hot water, but she still refused. She eventually learned to eat it, although it certainly wasn't her favorite. The food had high levels of omega 3 fatty acids. These acids can alleviate arthritis pain.

She was on the sea food for a month, but her condition worsened. He shoulder began to expand, and she didn't like getting up from her dog bed. She would only lie on one side. It was obvious that the food was not helping her pain, so we took her to the vet again. This time we were really concerned. She was a cross between

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>