on the PUP list

Wikipedia defines "PUP" as follows:

"Players can be labeled Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) in the National Football League if they suffer from football-related injuries during the preseason. PUP players may participate in team meetings, and take advantage of the training and medical facilities, but cannot practice with the team.

There are two separate PUP lists: a preseason PUP list and a regular-season PUP list."

And so it was, that the Monday following his much-heralded (at least in our house) return to racing at the WV Hot Dog Fesitval, we noticed swelling in the webspace between two of dogbert's right rear toes.  After a few days of failed conservative therapy, including antibiotic ointment and warm soaks in Epsom salts, we brought little Speedy DOX-zalez to the vet for further evaluation.  The swollen area was lanced, for fear that there was an abscess developing in the webspace.  The good news:  no abscess.  The bad news:  10-day course of steroids and antibiotics, and at least temporary use of the "cone of shame".  

The vet must have given Ramsay some good pain meds, because he didn't initially seem to mind the cone...

...but I had barely gotten out of the car at the house when he became painfully aware of the limits the dreaded cone placed on his level of functioning.

Needless to say, the cone did not stay on very long.  We have been very watchful to ensure that Ramsay didn't re-injure is foot, and he has done very well.  His foot is now nearly completely healed, and it has in NO way affected dogbert's drive to RUN.  We'll keep him on the PUP list for at least a few more days - [Don't tell him, but that'll mean a temporary hiatus from his "littlest lifeguarding" duties].