One worry after another.....

[Boonech]

On Saturday when Annie went for her re-check and to have her drain tube removed, everything looked good.

This morning when my husband petted her side she yelped and he noticed a soft lump that has come up on her side!

I've called the vet and have an appt for this afternoon after work, but I'm really worried about what that might be.... an infection, a hernia?

I have her x-rays from the attack - Guess I should take them with me this afternoon when I go.

Wish us luck that it's not something too serious. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/kfrown.gif

[WOTANSMUTTI]

Boonech!

Sorry that you found that lump! It may be a hernia. If she's yelping it must be sore!

Sending more <FONT COLOR="Yellow">DACHSIE HEALING RAYZZZZZZZZ</FONT c>for Annie.

Sonja and Wo

[Wienergal]

Boonech, hoping for the best! Is the lump anywhere near the wound(s)? If so, it's probably an infection. Very common after a bite and nothing to worry about. Since it came up so quickly, I'm sure it's nothing too serious.

Good luck this afternoon, and let us know what the vet says.

[wireweiners]

My guess is there was a puncture wound on her side that did not get noticed and now has abcessed. The vet can drain it and continue with antibiotics.

[Con&Finn'smom]

OH NO!! I hope everything is ok. Sending rays your way.

[Dachshundrsq]

If it is where the drain tubes was, sometimes they heal quicker on the outside than they do on the inside http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/kfrown.gif (this is what the drain was for, to keep the wound from closing on the outside and leaving an infection pocket on the inside) Perhpas her drain was removed a little too soon. Attack Wounds can be quite Nasty with infection. Although a hernia isn't out of the question, I would think it would have been found earlier unless the wall just had a weakness from the injuries and it just decided to let go. Sending LOTS OF DASHSIE RAYZZZZ TO YOUR ANNIE!http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/ksmile.gif

[Boonech]

Update:

Annie's lump was a hernia or a small tear in her abdominal wall. The good news is that the "matter" pushing through the wall is fatty tissue and not intestines. So... my vet has opted not to do surgery at this time, but for me to watch the lump and if it grows or starts to create pain, then we may explore.

Otherwise Annie is feeling fine and playing with Gretchen like normal.

P.S. During all this, she did go into heat for the first time - poor little girl, she's been through alot in the last month. When her heat cycle is done - she'll be spayed!

[dutchman]

I'm glad to hear the good news. Now for the tough part convincing her you have to be with her whenever she is outside while she is in heat. I don't think you want any of those what ever it is that lives down the block/dachsie babies. I know one news group I read an owner just knew her girl was too old to get pregnant and besides she was never out side for more than a couple of minutes. Of course you know what posting followed not too long after that one.

Good luck,

Tom and Frank

[Penny's Aunt]

I always had to laugh when people gave excuses why they didn't need to spay their dog:

"We have a 6-ft fence -- that will keep out any male dog." (A 12" beagle can get over a 6-ft fence of any kind.)

"She's too old." (Apparently these people have never heard of human menopausal babies.)

"She's never outside by herself." (Yeah, sure, except that one time about 2 months before the puppies were born.)

"There aren't any unneutered dogs near us." (The odor of a bitch in heat can travel 2 miles, I have heard.)

"We want our kids to see the miracle of birth." (Are they as concerned about the miracle of death? Noooo...)

[Penny's Aunt]

p.s. If Annie's hernia is large enough to cause problems later in life, did the vet suggest he repair it when she is spayed?

But if it is quite small, there may be no danger. Fat can ooze through quite small openings. When I had a cat mauled by a dog, she had an abdominal tear that let the intestines through, forming a lump about the size of a golf ball or slightly larger. It was fairly firm & lumpy, where fat is soft & mushy. Her muscles were so badly torn that the vet practically had to knit her back together. He was sure it wouldn't hold, but it did! She is now an old-lady cat.

[2DogsLong]

Boonech,

I have been away and was quite surprised and upset to hear that Annie was hurt by the black dog. I tend to give dogs the benefit of the doubt that they will not attack unprovoked and are usually just trying to play. They have such a sophisticated way to determine status that even though I've read a number of books on thier body language and what it means, I still can't figure out exactly what my dogs are communicating to the other dogs in the park. I'll be keeping a closer eye on them now (if that is possible).

I'm glad that she is ok and am sorry to hear about this new complication. Poor girl. Frankie and Oscar send their love and compassion. I think that Annie has used up all of her bad luck and HAS to have a healthy and uneventful life for at least a good few years.

I hope that YOU are ok too. It's hard to watch your baby suffer. I've been through a broken foot and a chocolate eating incident this year and I think it took more out of me than it did the dogs. Remember to take care of yourself as well as little Annie.

Sue