My Lab-mix has had knee issues for years. If she played too hard/much she would limp for the remainder of the day but be fine the following day. Over the past year we have noticed those times getting more frequent. She is 8 1/2 years old. We took her to the Vet 2 weeks ago because she had been limping for a few days. They ended up sedating her for xrays and to see if the knee was stabilized or not. Ended up that there was a tad bit of play in the knee but nothing that that particular surgery would fix. The options were basically to have a different knee surgery by an Ortho specialist or treat w/ Rimadyl and see how that helped. We started giving her Glucosomine and Fish Oil daily a little over a month ago as well. We opted to treat because of several reasons...1) My girl HATES HATES HATES the Vet and is terrified while there. She doesn't like all of the other dogs and tons of people around her. She gets scared. 2) The surgery and recovery are both extremely painful. Now, she is holding up that leg and hardly puts any weight on it. She is on 75mg of Rimadyl 2x per day and we have also been giving her Tramadol for pain. Anyone know of anything else to try? Suggestions?? She goes back to the Vet tomorrow. It breaks my heart. She lays on her bed and I lay in front of her and toss the ball so she can catch it. She loves ball - always has and still does. She still wallows on us, loving and kissing, etc. She's a very happy puppy! She's my baby girl.
Oh PG, so sorry about your baby girl, wish i had some advice but the only leg problems i have had to deal with in my babies is arthritis and i gave glucosomine & baby aspirin for that. Good luck and let me know how it goes. BTW, we need to get together this week, let me know when convenient for you. i am free after work every day except Tues and Thurs and here at the office every day till 5 except those days too.
I had one that was acting the same way but mine turned out to have a sand spur in her paw, good luck with her
Awww PG!!! :grouphug: I know we hate when our furbabies dont feel good. Send a PM to Zookeeper or send her a friend request through my FB acct maybe she has some suggestions for you, also Sara Lash is a "friend" on FB.
Our 10 year old dog had a torn ACL, and the surgery was going to be super expensive and the rehab was extensive (12 weeks). We opted not to do it. I found a website and bought some homeopathic shark cartilage. The vet was not in favor of it, said it would amount to her having expensive pee. That being said it made a huge difference for her. She lived out the last 3 years of her life virtually normally. The site is www.longlifepetsupplements.com. The vet that runs the site is very helpful. It may be at least worth a look. Poor baby.
Vickie also knows a canine acupuncturist who makes house calls. She uses her for one of her fur kids.
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I have done some research and asked the doc about cortisone injections...he is talking to a few colleagues who are ortho specialists. We also found out that we had switched to the generic of rimadyl and that made her start limping worse! Needless to say we switched back. Her bloodwork came back great so that's good. I also inquired about using a tens unit and he said that it may help with the pain. I am also going to talk with Dr. Beam about acupuncture...my girl had it once before for a neck injury and I truly think it helped.
I'm guessing she has a torn ACL or luxating patella? Rimadyl and Tramadol are pain relievers. Glucosamine can help a bit constructing cartilage. But basically a way to look at the situation is this: Say you totally just broke your arm in two (i hope not!) and the Dr says you're going to need some plates put in for it to heal properly. but you opt not to do it and just get the pain meds. Yeah, you don't feel quite as bad, but you're not fixing the actual problem. That's what it's like when you don't get this surgery. I'm not trying to make you feel bad or say you're making the wrong decision (your reasons are definitely valid), but I'm just trying to put it in perspective. So yeah, since she hasn't had the surgery, she will have times when she doesn't feel as good even with the meds, esp if she has done something to exacerbate it.
I def understand. Hubby is awaiting double knee replacement...bad situation. It's not a money issue for my girl although I would have to figure something out there but I'd do what I had to do. Heck, I spent 12K on my lil' man on cancer treatments in a 6 month time period. Yeah, still paying on that one but it's all good. He had a totally different personality though...LOVED the Vet...those were his "peeps"...my girl is the polar opposite. I hate being a mommy sometimes because I just don't know WHAT to do. I am trying to make the best decisions for HER not ME. Ugh....We just got finished playing a game of modified catch with her squeaky ball. I make her lay on her bed and I toss it so she can catch it...she then squeaks it, smiles for a bit, and kinda tosses it back! I love that baby!
Well....baby girl will be having knee surgery on December 19th. I am already a basketcase! She will have to stay overnight...she's never been a way from me before! I will probably end up staying the night in my car in the parking lot. So far, I am very impressed with the facility and the ortho specialist's staff. They all seem so caring and I esp. like the fact that they never referred to my girl as a "dog"...they asked things like, "Does your baby like...." This is DH and my Christmas and anniversary present! She is so worth it. Say a prayer for her...uneventful surgery and fast healing. :grouphug:
