When you're hoping it's Lyme disease

Sweet Serena has had a tough winter. At the first big snowfall she had something wrong with her right front shoulder and was pretty lame for several weeks. That finally healed up, from either the antibiotics or just the long term process of healing. We had another weather event, I don't remember which one, and then Serena turned up lame again, this time favoring her right rear leg. I've had her on Rimadyl and have tried to keep her quiet, but it hasn't improved.

Today we went to the vet again, had more x-rays that didn't really show much of anything, and a possible diagnosis of a ligament tear that would need surgery. Another possibility given her recurring joint problems is Lyme disease. She's been positive but asymptomatic for a long time. It's possible that the disease is rearing its ugly head. I started her on doxycycline this evening and the good news is that if this is the cause we should see improvement in several days. If not, we may go back to the other antibiotic she had been on for the shoulder issue and wait it out, or see about surgery. Given the options, I'm pulling for Lyme disease. 

We got back home in time for a brief pasture run with the other seven dogs before it was time for dinner. I didn't let Serena out to run, but she's getting canned food mixed with her dry for the foreseeable future because doxy is a nasty tasting pill. Also, she's lost weight, which is also concerning.

Maya

Both Zippy (shepherd) and Allie (Dane) are hyper-focused on Finley (the lab).

They sort of compete to see who can roll him the most.

Zippy does have enough sense to respect her elders.

Della isn't happy that Serena can't come out to play. Della and Maya did scare up a rabbit yesterday though and had a good time chasing it out of the pasture. Fortunately the rabbit knew where it could slip under the fence to escape.