Limping

[children11]

About a month ago, I noticed my dog limping. I took her to the vet who said she probably has a slight case of arthritis (she's about 9 years old). He gave me some suppliments to give her.

About a week later, I took her in to have complete x-rays and bloodwork done because a couple years ago she had a tumor on her spleen and had it removed. So every 3-4 months I take her in for x-rays and bloodwork. Her x-ray and blood work was normal

He also took an x-ray of her paw but couldn't see anything there. The bone in her one paw was thicker than her other paw. Ever since we got her, her paw always turned in (we think she's golden retriever/sheltie). The tech said it could just be she's deformed in that paw. He sent the x-ray to a radiologist who also didn't see anything wrong.

The vet gave me some anti inflammatory pills to give her. He said if she's still limping in a week, give him a call. The pills didn't help so I called him. I took her in for another x-ray to see if anything changed (he didn't charge me for this one) and he sent this one over to a bone cancer doctor but we haven't her back from him yet and I'm a nervous wreck. He said he just wants another opinion because he can't find out why she's limping. This x-ray looked pretty much the same as the first x-ray.

My dog limps more in the morning when she first gets up. She plays, hops, jumps and flies off the bed. She runs in the yard and acts normal. When she walks, she limps alittle and doesn't put her full pressure on that paw.

The tech told me to put bone cancer on the bottom of the list. She said if it was bone cancer, it would clearly show up on the x-ray. Plus, she would be in a lot of pain and wouldn't be able to put a lot of pressure on that paw.

Does anyone know if any of this is true? Is it good that both the vet and the radiologist didn't see anything on the x-rays? Would bone cancer clearly be seen on an x-ray? Would she be able to play, jump, hop and fly off the bed if she had bone cancer?

Any information will be appreciated.

Thank you

Bernice

 

[milos_mommy]

I'm not a vet, but it doesn't sound like bone cancer to me.

Especially if she's limping more when she first gets up, that sounds like arthritis.

Also, if it looked like serious to the bone cancer doctor, they would probably call you back sooner rather than later.

Did the supplements help? How long have you had the dog?

I find it strange she runs and jumps fine but won't walk on it...is it possible she has a sore or blister or something stuck in her pad or foot that if she steps on it a certain way (like walking vs. running) it might hurt her? I know a dog that limped for months, the vet ran countless tests, blood tests, x-rays, cat scans, etc. and then the groomer spread the pads to cut the hair between them and he had a huge blister between his toes. Obviously that vet was not very adequate but many vets can overlook a small splinter or something.

Good luck, I hope whatever it is is easily treatable/fixable.

 

[children11]

I'm not a vet, but it doesn't sound like bone cancer to me.

Especially if she's limping more when she first gets up, that sounds like arthritis.

Also, if it looked like serious to the bone cancer doctor, they would probably call you back sooner rather than later.

Did the supplements help? How long have you had the dog?

I find it strange she runs and jumps fine but won't walk on it...is it possible she has a sore or blister or something stuck in her pad or foot that if she steps on it a certain way (like walking vs. running) it might hurt her? I know a dog that limped for months, the vet ran countless tests, blood tests, x-rays, cat scans, etc. and then the groomer spread the pads to cut the hair between them and he had a huge blister between his toes. Obviously that vet was not very adequate but many vets can overlook a small splinter or something.

Good luck, I hope whatever it is is easily treatable/fixable.

Thank you for your reply. We got her from the animal shelter in 2004. I checked her paw but didn't find anything. My friend groomed her and cut her nails for me. One nail was so long, it was actually turning under her foot. I thought maybe that was the problem but she's still limping.

The tech said that with bone cancer, she would yelp just by touching her paw. Is that true? I'm guessing the bone cancer doctor didn't even look at it yet because the vet's office said he's very good at getting things back to him fast. They think either he's real busy or on vacation.

She limps all day but the mornings are worse and after getting up after a nap. She jumps up on the bed and jumps off the bed like it's nothing. I even bought her steps but she doesn 't use it much.


The suppliments haven't helped at all but the vet said to continue to give it to her along with the anti inflammatory.

I really hope you are right and it's only arthritis. If it is arthritis, wouldn't the anti inflammatory help? Would arthritis make her limp all day?

Thank you

Bernice

 

[milos_mommy]

Arthritis might make her limp all day. If it was bone cancer...she might not yelp with just touching it but I really don't think she'd be running or jumping around much at all.

I don't know if the anti inflammatory would help arthritis, i think that with some types of arthritis it does and with some types it doesn't. If you keep giving her the supplements and it IS arthritis, that might help.

Especially if it's when she first gets up and after naps, that really sounds like arthritis. There are tons of ways to help a dog cope with arthritis, you might want to look into getting an elevated dog bed, using a heating pad, etc. to see if it helps.

 

[drmom777]

The fact that it is the worst when she gets up and then improves with activity makes us think of arthritis, which acts jut like this. She sounds like a great dog and lucky to have someone who cares about her so much. If you have a chance, maybe you could share some pictures?

 

[MPP]

I'm no expert, but it sounds like arthritis to me.

 

[children11]

Arthritis might make her limp all day. If it was bone cancer...she might not yelp with just touching it but I really don't think she'd be running or jumping around much at all.

I don't know if the anti inflammatory would help arthritis, i think that with some types of arthritis it does and with some types it doesn't. If you keep giving her the supplements and it IS arthritis, that might help.

Especially if it's when she first gets up and after naps, that really sounds like arthritis. There are tons of ways to help a dog cope with arthritis, you might want to look into getting an elevated dog bed, using a heating pad, etc. to see if it helps.

Thank you. I'm going to look for an elevated dog bed. Any recommendation on one? She sleeps with us and we have a foam mattress. Do you think that helps alittle?

Bernice

 

[children11]

The fact that it is the worst when she gets up and then improves with activity makes us think of arthritis, which acts jut like this. She sounds like a great dog and lucky to have someone who cares about her so much. If you have a chance, maybe you could share some pictures?

Thank you. She's my baby. It improves alittle while she's active but she still limps. I really hope everyone is right and it's only arthritis.

I'm new to this board but as soon as I figure out how to post pictures, I will. LOL

Bernice

 

[children11]

I'm no expert, but it sounds like arthritis to me.

I sure hope you are right.

Bernice

 

[children11]

If you go to my album, I posted a couple pictures of my dog. I can't figure out how to post it on here.

Bernice

 

[colliewog]

Thank you. I'm going to look for an elevated dog bed. Any recommendation on one? She sleeps with us and we have a foam mattress. Do you think that helps alittle?

Bernice

The most important thing, regardless of WHAT is causing the pain (and fingers crossed it's simply arthritis) is that she has as little impact as possible on the leg, so getting off your bed is the main issue. She needs to walk down, like on a ramp, or have several levels of mattress/foam pad to jump to until she reaches floor level. It sounds like you'll have some crazy architecture going on for a little while, but you don't want her jumping down on that leg at all.

Good luck!!

 

[smkie]

i have not had a dog with bone cancer but from what I have heard it is terribly painful.

Mary an old dog that I had was affected by arthritis and I am too. It is always worse in the morning.

 

[colliewog]

My brother's dog had osteosarcoma in the front leg and he didn't show any pain at all until the tumor started to grow and actually caused his leg to break. That's when he started limping and diagnosed him, but said he had probably had it for a year and was just stoic. Keep up with the xrays every few months if you don't get a definitive diagnosis just to be sure it's not so early that they can't see it. Are they doing bloodwork too? Often there are certain values that are out of whack when cancer is present ...

 

[children11]

My brother's dog had osteosarcoma in the front leg and he didn't show any pain at all until the tumor started to grow and actually caused his leg to break. That's when he started limping and diagnosed him, but said he had probably had it for a year and was just stoic. Keep up with the xrays every few months if you don't get a definitive diagnosis just to be sure it's not so early that they can't see it. Are they doing bloodwork too? Often there are certain values that are out of whack when cancer is present ...

Yes, they did bloodwork and it was normal. The tech said bone cancer doesn't always show up in the bloodwork. She did say that bone cancer almost always shows up on x-rays. The vet and the radiologist didn't see anythng like that on the x-ray and I'm hoping the bone cancer vet doesn't see anything on the x-ray either.

Bernice

 

[MPP]

All fingers and paws crossed here. It does sound like arthritis, though.

 

[bubbatd]

I'm agreeing with all ~ kudos to you for keeping on top of thiis !

 

[children11]

All fingers and paws crossed here. It does sound like arthritis, though.

Thank you. I really hope it's only arthritis. But the medicine she's on isn't helping so if it's arthritis, wouldn't the medication help?

 

[children11]

I'm agreeing with all ~ kudos to you for keeping on top of thiis !

Thank you. She's my baby. A couple years ago, she would yelp when jumping off the bed or recliner. I was laying in bed with her one night and thought I felt a lump in her belly. I took her to the vet who checked her but didn't feel anything. He said it's probably her back. So he took x-rays. Came back into the room and said "you were right and everyone else was wrong". She had a tumor. He took her into surgery that same day. The tumor was on her spleen and she was already bleeding in her stomach. We got her in there in the nick of time. I had to wait about 2 weeks to find out this tumor was benign. Talk about a long wait. I was a nervous wreck then and I'm a nervous wreck now hoping the bone cancer vet doesn't see anything on the x-ray.

Since then, I take her in every 3 to 4 months for complete bloodwork and x-rays. The vet said every 6 months will be ok.

Bernice

 

[children11]

I just wanted to let everyone know that the vet called. He finally heard from the bone cancer vet. The only thing he saw is minor arthritis. Him and our vet recommend giving my dog a shot (adequan injection) twice a week for 4 weeks. Then once a month. I hope that helps her.

Thank you everyone.

Bernice

 

[children11]

My dog started the adequan injections. So far she had 3 shots. The vet said it can take 4 or 5 shots for it to start working. Since Sunday, she's been limping a lot more and today, I pulled on her paw and she whimmpered. It's a good thing that the vet, radiologist and the bone cancer vet only saw a minor case of arthritis but why is she still limping? And it seems to be worst.

Bernice