This afternoon Trouble wouldn't move from the hallway.  She whined and trembled, and would not attempt to get up.  I assumed she was sore so I gave her 50mg of Tramadol about 2PM.  Still no relief by 3 so I gave her another.  At her dinnertime, she wouldn't get up to eat, so I took her bowl to her.  She ate every bite.  At 5 she still hadn't made any attempt to move and I panicked.  I called Dr F, one of the techs spoke to me and put me on hold.  She came back a minute later and told me she was waiting to speak to Dr F, he was in with a patient.  She said normally she would tell me to come on in, but he had two bone surgeries he wanted to start as soon after 5 as he could.  Another couple of minutes later Dr F came on the line.  He talked through the symptoms and what I had given her, then asked how soon I could get there.  Thirty minutes later he was waiting for us. He worked with her and talked to me until  after 6.  He found nothing physically wrong.  He thinks it is a combination of age, arthritis, and weight.  We are going to continue treating her with the Tramadol for a few days and if we don't get results, will try Rimadyl again.

I put Trouble in the car while he was looking up the max dosage for the tramadol.  I went back in to pay and they told me it was no charge.

The man is an angel.  He delayed his surgeries to see us, spent 45 minutes, and did it all at no charge.  This isn't a one man show, it is one of the larger clinics in town. We, (and Trouble) are blessed to have him to care for her on this journey.

If anyone finds themselve in Southeast Texas and needs care, please look up Beaumont West Animal Care - Dr John Falgout, tell him Trouble sent you!