Would you be upset??

[Minnie2401]

It’s starting to look likely that the rescue dog we adopted 4 months ago & were assured had been given a clean bill of health has possibly been hit by a car in the past.

Our vet suspects it & I am devastated. Perhaps I was naive but I could adopt a dog with potential injuries from a car without knowing.

it’s worrying In lots of ways & I just feel really sad about it too

Does the dog have lasting damage from the car is that why you are upset as there will be ongoing vet bills?

I would be upset but feel happy the dog was now with me and was going to get the best life filled with care and love from now on.

I have a rescue cat (&dog we had from a pup) and my heart breaks when she dashes off at the slightest movement. It’s awful thinking what they’ve been through before isn’t it?

More that we love her & she’s only 2.5 but yes …. It’s looking like we need multiple -rays & then …. well I just don’t know ….. I’m trying not to get ahead of myself worrying ….. but I guess I know how this could go ….

We have insurance but only with a £7k limit & she’s had other issues so we have used some & some things the insurance refused to pay.

also if huge surgery is suggested …. I just feel I should have known about something this enormous really ….

Yes that’s true & that’s what we are doing but she came from a huge reputable rescue so I’m just shocked that we are in this situation really …

That is terrible. I really hope your dog gets the right care and that the financial costs are minimal. Have you gone back to the rescue and checked with them what their version is of a clean bill of health?

Generally speaking, a "clean bill of health" just means that the dog has had a once-over by a vet and isn't showing signs of anything obvious like pain or infection.

What symptoms is she showing and what does she need x-rays for? Is she limping or in pain?

The rescue should have known and should have told you, but, given the way our local rescue operate, I'm not surprised they didn't.
I'm sorry for you that you've been put in this situation.

The rescue night not have known about it if she came in as a stray with no history, or if she was handed in by someone who didn't disclose it. It's a shame their vet didn't pick up on it, but if it's a historic injury and she was presenting as fit and healthy, they probably wouldn't have done x-rays, given the limited budgets under which most rescues run.

Yes that’s probably true enough ….. it’s just she’s got this massive scar on her right hip. I asked them about it & they said it was nothing to worry about. Their vet had checked the dog & they had no concerns. She’s a young dog - with loads of energy.
There’s lots of signs of pain - holding that same leg at a funny angle, not bearing weight on it. She still lives in another room from us & it’s not really fear.

We already had to treat her for parasites plus an old infected toe wound (so at that point I was hoping it would resolve the issues I could see which that vet said it would - we’ve been for a second opinion & changed vets now) …. so the clean bill of health not accurate anyway …

It can be difficult to spot signs of pain in rescue as the dogs are often really shut down and don't show their true behaviour.

However from your update they generally sound pretty shocking - I would be getting in touch with them and asking for an explanation personally, especially if you're now going to be landed with a massive vets bill due to it being a pre-existing issue.

Thank you - I literally feel sick with sadness & worry. I waited 2 years after loosing my previous dogs & feeling like I was in the vets endlessly to now being back in the same place.

I have tried to speak with the rescue but they are pretty unpleasant but I’m writing to the trustees. The lady I spoke to - her only response was to suggest I return her to the awful kennels she was in.

Is this a uk rescue?

Lots of ones that trade in dogs from aboard have very little info on dogs and its common that they give wrong info even on things like wrong sex

Other than that there's one in Wales notorious for incorrect info

You are right - and of course initially I thought it’s just fear in general - but fear & pain in animals are very closely linked. So there’s so much to this - but I can’t stop her bombing about the garden (she’s a sighthound) and was told to hire enclosed fields as they need to run. So now today - she’s limping and not putting weight on it after bombing around the garden & slipping in mud. So I will have to just take her but I am worried about the insurance as they refused the other 2 claims as their in-house vet (who did doesn’t with our vet) said they had to be pre-existing. I just feel so worried & sad for our lovely dog too & my son who is 5 who loves her. They have this lovely bond …. but maybe it won’t be be as bad as I am thinking .,…

I'm no expert, but not weight bearing after skidding in the mud sounds to me like she could have damaged her cruciate ligament.

Is your vet saying this injury is somehow related to the car accident or is it an issue that she has a pre-existing injury on the currently injured leg?

Surely if she had the scar when you first saw her you knew there was a previous injury though?

If a previous trauma was a dealbreaker for you I'm confused why your go ahead with the adoption in this case.

Sorry, but I'd suspect the insurance won't cover this. Hope I'm wrong.

It's also very bad form of the rescue / vet to not have mentioned this to you when adopting.
Maybe they could help with any future vet bills associated with the injury- not unheard of.

I was told it was nothing. I’m not a vet & when I mentioned it to the first 2 vet I was told it was likely a bite that got infected & exploded. & healed up.

I wouldn’t have adopted a dog if I had known it had been hit by a car - not at this point in my life. Not being harsh but I wouldn’t have.

Fair enough if the vet gave you that explanation, how could you have known.

I'd definitely be contacting the vet/rescue to get their take on this and see if they can offer to do anything.

Im no expert either & wondered cruciate but our vet said he didn’t think so. Suggested x-rays of hips, pelvis, spine.

Its given way before when she’s taking a corner running but nothing like today. It’s v more the leg gives out - and that makes her slip.

I think due to the scar - he thinks it more likely hips / pelvis …. plus when she lies down in a certain way her hips are all wonky …

x-rays getting done tomorrow now so we will find out I guess … fingers crossed

Ah, bless her - hopefully the x-rays give you some answers.

I wonder if it's a bit of arthritis/dysplasia if it's more in her hips than her actual legs? Or maybe even a luxating patella? I walk a dog whose knee goes in/out of joint quite easily and it kind of "goes" on her and then she limps and it pops back in a while later.

Thank you - and for being lovely 😊 I’ve wondered about her kneecap. I guess with the big scar it’s indicating her hips & our vet did say one hip was higher than the other. But we will see - but whatever it is sadly it’s going to be pre-existing so I can’t see the insurance paying 😑

So even if you adopt & to the best of your knowledge the dog is fine …… if something like this flags up & it’s clearly pre/existing can they not pay out? All so worrying …..

Aw, no problem! It's so hard when you don't know their history or why they're feeling the way they do.

X-rays should be a good starting point and it could well "just" be a badly healed joint and some arthritis which should be fairly manageable with a combination of things like hydrotherapy, painkillers and supplements. There are also injections (I think Librela?) which can be given for arthritis. My cat was recommended the feline version but thankfully he seems to be okay on daily Metacam for now.

Good luck and keep us updated! Hopefully it's nothing too traumatic or expensive.

If you're anywhere near to the area then I would suggest Alistair at the breeders vets at Leadenhall Farm Holbeach Marsh PE12 8HB. He is a brilliant vet and will give you the absolute honest opinion for outlook, potential surgeries, in so far as anyone could.
Don't be put off that the vet is called a breeders vet, he sees lay people too.