Then she suddenly recoiled.
The paw remained suspended above the floor.
Maisie cried out and collapsed back onto the bedding.
Sometimes the distance between her paw and the floor was only an inch or two.
Still, she could not finish.
It looked as though the expectation of what might happen had become enough to stop her.
That Did Not Mean the Pain Was “Just in Her Head”
This distinction was essential.
Maisie's anticipatory reaction did not prove that her physical pain was gone.
She had a significant orthopedic injury.
Pain could still be present.
Certain movements might pull on healing tissues or change pressure through the pelvis even before the paw touched the floor.
Muscle contraction itself can hurt.
Shifting weight can hurt.
Repositioning the pelvis can hurt.
A dog does not need to place a foot on the ground for a movement to produce physical discomfort.
Before anyone labeled Maisie's response behavioral, her medical status needed continued evaluation.
Pain and Fear Can Begin Reinforcing Each Other
A painful event teaches quickly.
If a movement repeatedly predicts discomfort, an animal may begin reacting earlier in the sequence.
The bed edge appears.
The body shifts.
The hind leg lowers.
Pain is expected.
Eventually, the warning signs themselves may become frightening.
For Maisie, the entire process of standing could have become associated with something she desperately wanted to avoid.
That creates a difficult rehabilitation problem.
The body needs safe movement to recover.
The dog is increasingly afraid to attempt it.
Her Bed Had Become the One Place Where She Didn't Have to Test the Leg
On the mattress, Maisie could remain supported.
Her body was low.
She did not need to balance upright.
She did not need to place full weight through her hindquarters.
The bed became predictable.
The floor represented uncertainty.
Staff could see the change when Maisie approached the edge.
Her body stiffened.
Her eyes tracked downward.
Her hind leg drew closer to her abdomen.
Sometimes she retreated before attempting to stand at all.
She Wasn't Being Difficult
Maisie was not refusing rehabilitation out of stubbornness.
She was not manipulating anyone.
Her behavior made sense in the context of what she had experienced.
She had been injured.