Does sympathy prolong an injury?

[Lookie]

Harley seems to have a sore leg. She was limping for a bit, and we gave her sympathy, massaged the leg, (everyone made a fuss over her), and after a few days it was fine. We omitted her walks for that week, just so that if it WAS a muscle or tendon, it would have time to repair itself.

She's been fine this last week, and just started limping again this morning. My question is, do you think they remember the fuss over them, and try to get more sympathy by repeating the behavior, or are they beyond that kind of thinking?

I'll take her to the vet if it goes any longer, but was just wondering if she's duping us!

[flyballmom]

No, she wouldn't remember the fuss that was made from last week to this. Limit her activity, add back the massage for a few days and see what happens. If the limping continues check in with your vet.

[2rotties2luv]

My experience has been that if a rottie is limping, then something hurts. If they want attention, they will ask for it directly.

[Rott'nKids]

When Carl has torn a pad or some other paw injury, he gets the extra attention of cleaning/bandging the wound. He will lift his hurt paw and give me the "I'm hurt" look and I can't help but give him some extra scritching. The next day, he will give me that sad look but raise the wrong paw. Brat.

[Squeaky2004]

Originally Posted by Rott'nKids

When Carl has torn a pad or some other paw injury, he gets the extra attention of cleaning/bandging the wound. He will lift his hurt paw and give me the "I'm hurt" look and I can't help but give him some extra scritching. The next day, he will give me that sad look but raise the wrong paw. Brat.

LOL Squeak does the im hurt paw lift too hehe. But she has never come back looking for more sympathy the next day. That is TOO cute and WAY too funny!

[Anne]

I would be taking the dog to the vet. Limping for more than a week tells me something is wrong and the sooner it is attended to the better.

[Soulworx]

Bit of medical background that you probably already know...
Ligaments and tendons take a very long time to heal because they are very fibrous. Ligaments (within/around joints at the hip, knee and hock) and tendons (connecting leg muscles to their associate bones)... if torn need surgery to heal. Tendons and muscles can be pulled, which is very sore and need rest to recover (tendons taking longer than muscle).

If ur dog is limping take it to the vet... no harm done with a quick checkup, and if anything is wrong it can be sorted easily.
Rottweilers have a very high pain threshold so if theyre feeling it its probably something that needs attention.

As to whether or not your dog is faking it... u know ur dog better than us... is he that devious? But i wouldnt risk it... like i said a trip to the vet does no harm, and if he says nothings wrong, then thats your mind at rest and no harm done

[ACERSMOM]

I would take your dog to the vet just to be sure of what is going on with that leg.
That being said I had a boy who cut his leg on a barbed wire fence once, and we had it wrapped and gave him a lots of attention and "poor Otts" because of it. When the leg had healed and we had taken the wrap off, he dug the bandage out of the trash and carried it around in his mouth limping.

[Lookie]

Yea, Harley is NOT stupid, that's why I asked! She is an attention hound, and being the suck she is, getting extra attention with the leg, I thought she was working us.

The vet noticed a small slice under one of her pads. I've been using polysporin, and just keeping the area clean. She's all good now.

[Soulworx]

great!!! nice to hear it was nothing more serious!

[SABELLESMOM]

In some cases, YES! My S-I-L has a 2 Bichons. The male had a congenitally deformed (bowed) front leg. There came a time when she opted to have this sugricaly corrected.

During follow-up visits, he would hear sympathetic voices, as they re-examined his leg time and time again. He got so he would walk just fine at home...running up and down stairs, etc. But once he knew he was at the vet for a check up...LIMPING!

He'd learned even to raise the leg for the Dr to examine. One day, she finally said, "Oh PUT that leg down! You're FINE!" And he was.

Now...I must say, knowing my dogs. Neither Sable nor Digbee (Cocker) would act this way, especially Sable! In fact, Digbee, as we speak, has torn cruciates (knee) and will be seeing the surgeon today. He yipped like crazy the day he did it, but not a peep out of him since! He hobbles around limping, but as if there was nothing wrong.