Puppy yelping in pain

[elaine.e]

Sounds like positive news and hopefully the specialist will confirm your vet's diagnosis that there's nothing serious going on.

From what you're saying it sounds like Saffi's pain is intermittent. I can remember doing something to some of the muscles in my neck which gave me a bit of discomfort all the time and horrible spasms every so often. I was given anti inflammatories for a week or so and they definitely helped. Hopefully the Rimadyl and keeping her quiet (good luck with that) will do the same for Saffi

[MaggieR]

Really pleased she's home and is ok in herself. Fingers crossed the specialist will agree with your vet.

Re the rimadyl, when I questioned having Mags on Metacam when she was limping the vet said that the anti-inflammatory would help prevent further damage to the joint (she had joint problems that needed surgery) caused by the inflammation that was there... so it wasn't just a pain relief thing for her.  Might be worth at least keeping her on it till the specialist confirms there's nothing joint related going on 

[Pip895]

She is still really dopey - she condescended to eat the special food the vets gave her only after I added some real chicken to it.   I agree anti inflamatries can do many good things - she will be on them for a good few days anyway and we will see how she goes after that.  Its so difficult to know if their feeling discoumfort.  My main concern is how she will cope without exercise! Lots of training sessions comming up I think! 

Her front paw is bandaged where they put the IV in - do you know when I can remove the bandage? - I forgot to ask at the vets.



Saffi after her visit to the vets.

[Pip895]

We had 6 months with virtually no incidents but when she was playing with a young springer the other week we had an episode and several more minor ones since then.

I was thinking it might be a disk problem after reading about the symptoms on another thread on here.  As I am hoping to start agility with her soon, I have decided to have another go at getting a diagnosis.

Does disk damage show up on x-rays ? Saffi had lots of x-rays when she first had the problem but nothing showed up.  I am taking her to the vets later this morning with the idea of getting a referral to someone specialising in orthopedics etc with an MRI - perhaps even the place down in Godalming.

[LouiseAS]

I hope it's nothign serious. Give her agentle squidge from me xx

[MaggieR]

We had 6 months with virtually no incidents but when she was playing with a young springer the other week we had an episode and several more minor ones since then.

I was thinking it might be a disk problem after reading about the symptoms on another thread on here.  As I am hoping to start agility with her soon, I have decided to have another go at getting a diagnosis.

Does disk damage show up on x-rays ? Saffi had lots of x-rays when she first had the problem but nothing showed up.  I am taking her to the vets later this morning with the idea of getting a referral to someone specialising in orthopedics etc with an MRI - perhaps even the place down in Godalming.

No idea whether X-rays would show up disk damage, it may well do, but depend on the type of damage there is I guess.  Maggie went to the place over in Godalming for her elbow dysplasia and they are excellent, tho as expected very expensive.  One thing to mention - I don't know what your insurance covers, but mine doesn't cover any procedures for diagnosing something if they find nothing. So when I had her x-rayed for HD and it came back clean, that wasn't covered.  ( I was so relieved I didn't care tbh) but if you're looking at the cost of an MRI its worth bearing in mind to just check your insurance. 
Lisa
x

[Mel]

I'm so sorry to hear she is suffering again. I hope the investigation shows something that is treatable

[elaine.e]

I think that only a MRI scan will reveal disk damage. With William we skipped the x-ray stage altogether and I think that was because my vet thought William might have disk damage and the scan would give the definitive answer.

Like Lisa has said, it's probably best to check if your insurance will cover it. My insurer would still have paid up even if the scan showed nothing because my vet had made the referral to the specialist. It was me who asked for the referral but the letter from my vet didn't say it was at my request, simply that he (vet) wanted to refer William. I sometimes wonder if my insurer might have queried it if they knew I was the one pushing for the referral.

[Hurtwood Dogs]

I can't offer any practical advice but really hope it's something simple. Loads of positive thoughts and winging over to Saffy from here    x

[Pip895]

Well - just back from the vets - we have been referred to Fitzpatrick's in Godalming - apparently the x-rays were sent there last time. 

I was given the choice of a referral or trying a course of anti inflammatorys.  I couldn't see the point of putting her on anti inflammatorys long term - I don't think she is in much pain generally - just a lot of pain when it happens iyswim.  Having said that she is a little subdued now - the exam was clearly painful for her - she wet herself on the vets table.

Anyway - I should hear from them in the next few days and we will see how it goes from there. 

[MaggieR]

  Those exams can really hurt them, and hate to say it but expect more of the same at Fitzpatricks... But they are excellent and I'm so pleased I took Maggie there.  Hopefully they'll be able to pinpoint the source of Saffi's problems and get them sorted out 

Sending gentle squidges for your girl 

Lisa & Maggie
x

[Pip895]

Thanks for your best wishes everyone - really appreciate it

Saffi was fine out on her walk this afternoon - dashing about at 100mph, bounding over ditches and logs and through bushes as usual, so the discomfort obviously didn't last.  
She is definitely a little more cautious of other dogs though and not very interested in play, appart from the occasional game of chase.

[Pip895]

Well Saffis appointment  at Fitzpatricks is tomorrow morning - I'm not quite sure what to expect - we have to starve her from 8pm tonight - so I guess theres some likelyhood of her needing an anesthetic.

Feeling a bit worried - she is absolutely fine in herself - keep wondering if I'm doing the right thing.

[elaine.e]

Good luck tomorrow, I'll be thinking of you and Saffi

If Fitzpatrick's is anything like the specialist orthopaedic vet I went to with William they will be very good at discussing things with you and explaining things and the nursing and support staff will be very helpful as well. If you're like me and your mind goes blank when you're faced with anything medical it might be worth you noting down any questions tonight and taking the notebook tomorrow so you can write the answers down too.

[Mel]

Best of luck tomorrow. I think you'll find Fitzpatrick's is the Bionic Vet place, unless I'm mistaken. If so, Saffi is in excellent hands. Be thinking of you tomorrow