Okay, for those of you paying attention, Rufus hurt himself again yesterday morning. This is what happened:

Okay, for those of you paying attention, Rufus hurt himself again yesterday morning. This is what happened:

There are squirrels in the back yard. How do I know this? For two reasons, actually. The first, I saw them, the second I put out "squirrel feed" to draw them in so he has something to chase.

That being said, yesterday morning I let Rufus out the front door so he could sneak around the house and hopefully a chance to cut the squirrels off from the safety of the trees. I've done this more than a hundred times. It's nothing. He crouches and slinks around the side of the house then runs full speed when he eyes a squirrel he thinks he can get. it's not always the nearest one.

Well, yesterday morning he did exactly that: he low-crawled around the house stopping to observe the back yard when he reached the rear of the house. I followed slowly and less slinkily (is that a word?) and rounded the house in time to see him bolt for something. He runs, passing 3 trees and chases a squirrel into the furthest tree away. Nothing that hasn't happened dozens of times.

Only this time, when he came out from under the tree he was limping. He wouldn't put if rear foot on the ground.

My first thought was that he stepped on something, a thorn, a burr, a something. However after checking there was nothing there. He still wouldn't put his foot down though.

Hmm... I check his leg, feeling up and down from his toe-nails to his hip and nothing seems to be out of place, broken or bleeding. He doesn't respond as though he's in pain -- he doesn't try and move my hand, nip at my feeling his leg or pull his leg away.

Okay...

I massage his hip but nothing feels weird there, either.I bend his joints in and out and nothing. So, naturally, I'm thinking he twisted something or just over-stretched his joint while turning to chase the squirrel around the tree.You know, a typical sport injury for the athletic.

So I put him inside and make him take it easy for the rest of the day. He walks fine, he just doesn't put any weight on his leg.

Last night we walk to the end of the street and back and he still seems fine, just sore. Although now he doesn't like it when I bend his leg in and out. He still doesn't fight me, he whines. Is it just stiff and sore? Did the adrenaline and endorphins wear off?

So, last night before going to bed I give him half an aspirin and let him sleep overnight.

This morning he seems better and we walk around the block. he walks on it, but when he picks op his pace his leg can't handle it so he limps until he slows down. He stands on it (although with wobble) to hike his good leg and pee, he defecates while standing on it.and finishes the walk just fine, albeit slowly.

Regardless, I call the vet here to see if I can get him in for a once-over. The vet office is over-booked for the day. Well, isn't that nice?