CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: pinkcarys on September 02, 2014, 11:18:34 PM
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Hi all,
Griffin, who is now 7 years old, started to limp on his rear left leg. We gave him Mataram as he has previously been diagnosed with a luxatimg patella that bothers him from time to time. When the vet examined him he didn't wince when he 'should' have done if it was his knee so she x-rayed him expecting to find something bone or joint related but nothing. She xrayed his spine and there was no indication of anything.
We then saw the specialist who manipulated it and griffin just looked sad but didn't react at any particular point. Specialist is puzzled and after a lecture about Rottweilers and their hips (seriously, I have nooooo idea why he went on about that) he sent us away with more metacam and tramadol. He seems uncomfortable rather than in pain and will readjust his leg. He sits with it tucked in under himself so he's almost sat on his hip rather than his bum, and whilst he will put weight on it he is definitely limping.
The only thing the vets have been able to see is muscle wastage in that leg. We hadn't even noticed but in the last two weeks it has really shrank. It looks like a twig :-( I'm at my wit send and don't know what to do for the best. He's still happy to chase birds round the garden and run at the front door when he hears a car. We aren't walking him on the vet's advice but he doesn't seem inhibited around the house.
I'm starting to wonder if it's neurological rather than muscle or bone as the painkillers don't seem to be helping and despite the limping he seem uncomfortable and uncoordinated rather than in pain. Earlier he was chewing at it furiously,a most like it was numb. Either way we will give him painkillers as directed by the vet but it's making me wonder.
Can anyone shed any light, or even just suggest avenues to explore? We see the vet on Friday and apart from asking him to stick to Cockers and even better, my actual dog, I don't see that he's going to be able to help.
Thanks,
Carys
Ps. Please forgive spelling errors and typos. It's gone 11pm and I'm typing on my iPad which is never a good combination!
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Hi I hope Griffin ( love his name) is soon better and able to run around as per usual very soon. I know you've already seen a specialist but do go back if there's no improvement. Is there another more senior vet in the practise who you could request to see instead?
I'm not an expert at all soI couldn't offer an opinion as to what's going on. It just feels like it needs to be explained so Griffin can get well as soon as poss. I sending you both hugs because it's hard when they aren't well.
:bigarmhug:
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Thanks so much :luv: it helps to have someone understand. I meant to say we are back on Friday. The guy we are seeing is the practice owner and he's the orthopaedic specialist in the area. I didn't like him much. He kept us in there for an hour whilst he drew diagrams if a rotties' hips and told us about tumours and when I asked did he think griff had a tumour was told off for jumping to the worst possible outcome.
I'll see him on Friday and if I don't like him I'll ask to be referred elsewhere. I'm terrified that it's something like a dog version of MS or something that'll progress and stay bad. I live with chronic pain and can't bear the thought that griff might have too :'(
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Hang on in there. The worrying is really tough but try to take each stage of investigation as it comes. It could very well be good news on Friday. It sounds like , even if his bed side manner isn't the best, you've got a top chap on the case. What's really important is that he listens to your concerns re Griffin and addresses them. Of course your mind shoots ahead with the what ifs. That's just because you love your dog and don't want to miss anything. There could be loads of other things going on. When our last dog was ill one thing that was suggested was a possible MRI scan to see if it was something in his back or even something neurological. There are many more things in the vets arsenal to help rule out things and work out what's going on. unfortunately tests take time even if it's just to eliminate things. Once the vet works out what is causing this he can work with you to help Griffin recover.
Good luck for Friday. Can you take someone with you ? It's often good to have a second person listening to just take in the details. Please let us know how things go :D
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Harry has hip dysplasia & had muscle wastage, we built it up by walking VERY slowly so that he actually used the full range of movement rather than fast short steps. We only started with just 5 mins & gradually built the time up as advised by the physio
Hope the specialist can help.
Harry recently started sitting how you describe & also sitting with one leg out more so not a "tidy" sit. He had a massage last week & she thought he had a groin strain as her dog sat like it when he had done the same.
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Thanks all. I hate seeing him suffer :'(
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A clinic like the one we have in Cardiff is really good for this sort of thing (http://www.smartvetwales.co.uk/) as the approach isn't necessarily surgical and does have really good results - people travel to see her as well
Wilf has had this sort of thing and it turned out he had a back problem after he was thrown in the air by a much larger dog that had no brakes and then Wilf twisted as he fell so he ended up limping and the result was muscle wastage as well etc.
Acupuncture and water treadmill really help and from what I've learnt over the years there are some places that offer this without the right sort of qualifications to manage it properly + it goes on my insurance as vet treatment - general vets aren't as au fait as they should be when referring and don't ask enough questions fo some places but my vet knew this vet had been writing a lot of good stuff in the Vet record and a locum vet at my practice ended up using her clinic when his border terrier injured himself and was in a bad way
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Thanks all. D day tomorrow. Feeling very anxious about it. His skinny little leg just looks so uncomfortable. Will update if we get any answers xxx
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I'd ask for a CT scan or MRI. I have had two dogs where x-rays showed nothing, but MRI showed up pretty serious problems.
I am currently in the same position as you. My saluki is periodically lame on his front right for not apparent reason (he suddenly yelps when he runs or stops). Vet couldn't find anything major, physio therapist found a problem with elbow and shoulder joints, but nothing specific. So our next step is x-rays and CT/MRI. I need to know what's going on and just giving pain relief for something that you don't know what it is isn't good enough in my opinion.
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Just wondered how things went today. Hoping you had good news :D