Shadow is a 3 year old chocolate Labrador who came to see us at the end of December.  He had very unusual leg stiffness and difficulty in opening his mouth. His ears were drawn back and he looked like he had undergone a face lift! He was admitted for x-rays, blood tests and was given antibiotics, pain relief and intravenous fluid therapy.        

Although not classic symptoms, we thought it possible that Shadow might have tetanus and referred him to Langford University for further investigation.  They confirmed that although unusual to only affect part of the body, it was tetanus.

The likely cause were one of two injuries that Shadow had incurred a few weeks previously; a broken dew claw and a scratch on his face.

Shadow is looking more like himself in the picture below, but his dewclaw injury is still causing him some problems.

This is what Shadow normally looks like. What a handsome boy!

January 2008 - Tia-Betsy

February 2008 - Spike

March 2008 - Miss Daisy

April 2008 -  Daisy

May 2008 - Rosie

June 2008 -  Lala

August 2008 - Roly

September 2008 - Fred

November 2008 - Magic

For the Pet Heroes of 2007 click here