A Terrible Week Explained

It hasn't been the best week for me or the dogs.  It all took a turn on Tuesday evening when I got home and Annie, who up to this point could do no wrong and even if she did, it would be 'okay,' uncharacteristically started a fight.  I'm not sure exactly how it started.  I only know I'd just gotten home and the dogs were all around greeting me, I saw Annie turn on Sheba and it became a free-for-all.  I was able to break up the fight, but not before one of my hands was bitten several times, causing it to become sore and swollen. (Making it difficult to type)

I checked Annie very carefully to make sure she'd not been hurt in the fight because she instantly become a real grouch.  I found myself scolding her that evening when she snapped at Todd and the other dogs more than once.  Her soft and gentle eyes even looked different.  Needless to say, I was very concerned about this sudden change.

On Wednesday morning Annie wasn't putting weight on her back leg.  By the evening it was even more than apparent Annie wasn't feeling well when she refused her second meal of the day.  I gave Annie a really good once over paying particular attention to her back leg and I looked closely at her foot.  It was then that I realized that one of her toes was really red, swollen and sore--It all made sense now!  I think that this is why Todd has been so obsessed with her feet, this foot in particular, and why there was such a sudden change in her disposition--On Tuesday her foot was probably feeling tender and it must have gotten stepped on, starting the fight.  Annie's continuing to snap at the other dogs, I think explains why her behavior continued.

At the vet this morning we took an x-ray and her toe isn't broken and there is no visible tumor.  We're hoping that the infection has not spread into the bone and a medicated foot soak along with antibiotics and pain medication will do the trick and bring back the lovely Annie that we are all quite fond of!!