At Mr. Meow’s Thursday vet appointment to check his lump (which was nothing, just a reaction to his rabies shot. Phew!), I also touched based with the vet about Murphy’s hurt paw. (He’s still limping.)
Healing Takes Time
We know it’s not broken, because x-rays confirmed that. It could be something’s wrong with the tendons. But before the vet refers us to a specialist, she wants us to finish up the anti-inflammatory medication she prescribed Murph.
She’s hoping we don’t have to go the specialist route. She’s encouraged by the fact the swelling has gone down, and hopes it stays that way once he’s off the meds. She hasn’t hesitated reiterating that sometimes it just takes time for these things to heal. And that they can on their own.
However, she also warned me to watch him. Not because he might get worse, but because he might get better but still want to play up the sympathy factor.
Sympathy Limpers
“What? Come on. I know my dog is smart, but he wouldn’t think to do that.”
“You’d be surprised. I see it happen all the time. They get used to all the special attention and learn how to milk it.”
“Are you putting me on?”
“Not at all. For some reason it’s been my experience little dogs are most clever about it. But I’ve seen bigger breeds do it, too. Whenever I have patients with dogs I think should be getting better but aren’t, I tell them to try and catch their dog off guard. Monitor him when he doesn’t know you’re looking to see how he’s walking. If it’s normal, you’ll know he’s a faker.”
The Great Dane Who Faked a Limp
The other night I ran into the across the street neighbors. I hadn’t seen them since we’d gotten back from our trip, and they hadn’t seen Murph so they didn’t know the story about his paw.
After I finished telling them, the husband said, “These things can take a long time to heal. Especially because dogs learn if they act hurt they get sympathy. You never really know when they’re better or if they’re still hurting. I had a dog who did that once. A Great Dane. It was going on three months and I was really getting worried about him but the vet couldn’t find an explanation for why he was still hobbling around. Then one day I came home and he didn’t know it. I caught him walking around normal. The second he saw me he lifted his paw and tried to carry off his act, but he knew the gig was up.”
I can’t see Murph doing this. It’s killing him not to go on his bunny hunting walks. In fact, he understands “We can’t go for a walk” when we take him outside to do his dooty and won’t let him pull us up the street. He’s been trying to show us otherwise. That, oh yes, he can run on three legs, forget how tiring that gets, so let’s get going.
Nope, can’t see him faking a limp. Faking that he’s better, yes, but not the other way around. I just hope he heals soon and doesn’t need surgery.
Question to Readers
Have you ever had a dog fake a limp for sympathy?