I need dog advice..

Hildy

[Hildy]

I'm hoping for some advice. I have a 12 year old dog. She's a maltese poodle mix, 17 pounds. About two months ago she had some sort of injury to her left hind leg. She couldn't walk on it. We took her to the vet and the X-ray showed nothing. I was sent home with an anti-inflammatory and instruction to keep her off of it. We did the best we could. Well, two months later she can walk on it but she still limps and it shakes. I don't quite know what to do. I'd say it was arthritis, but since there was some kind of injury that set it off, I don't think we can chalk it up to just arthritis.

Is there anything we can give her to help? I feel so helpless. She's the first dog I ever had, so I don't have any experience with older dogs. Any advice?

Thank you so much.

[Redcitizen]

Aww, I hope your dog gets better.

[MomwithHope]

I have a 6 year old maltese myself. I would start using glucosamine/condroitin and also look into physical therapy for the dog. Both could be an immense help. Good luck!

[kabar]

Have you checked the bottom of the paw to see if something is embedded in the pad or in between the pads?

[Hildy]

Thank you!

[ReneeLynn]

Have you looked into it being either a nerve or muscle disorder?

[UniqueViews]

Sorry about your dog.

I am not a dog expert, but...

I would take her to other vets and get second and third opinions. Maybe she injured a tendon? That wouldn’t show up on an x-ray, and it’s very slow to heal. Best to get more expert opinions.

Hope you find a vet who will diagnose the injury properly and will have a constructive suggestion.

Good luck.

[Mamzelle]

I've had my older (12 yr old) Springer on some meds--one was some kind of lactose (? something to do with milk) product that is said to help digestion, which can sometimes cause rear pain and limping. Didn't help his pain much (sounds like your older dog may have some arthritis like my dog and ME)...I'm going to get his liver checked before starting him on daily pain meds (not narcs, something like Advil) to make him more comfortable in his declining years. He came from a litter of eight, and he's the only one left alive. I just want him to feel as good as possible.

[Hildy]

We did all that when it first happened, and the vet double checked it. BTW, that whole vet visit cost over $400, which is why I’m trying not to go back unless I absolutely have to.

[OldDeckHand]

It literally could be dozens of different things. But, it sounds like the vet pretty quickly identified it as an acute injury. He's a little old to just be getting RA now, so that would make sense. Plus, arthritis probably would have been visible on the x-ray, and if the vet suspected something, there's a blood test that can be done.

Presuming your vet is competent, I wouldn't be too concerned. 12 isn't young, but it's not necessarily elderly either (for a small dog). I'd give it another month, and if it doesn't get better, you might want to seek a second opinion.

[Hildy]

That’s what I think it is. What would you do for something like that?

[savedbygrace]

Which anti-inflammatory med?

[dila813]

Make sure you check her foot very carefully. If you have to shave it.

Vets often overlook simple problems like something is jammed under her skin or she got bit by something.

Without seeing the dog it is hard to say. My dog was limping and the vet found nothing.

I looked very close at her foot and in the pad of her foot she had a piece of glass or something in it between the pads. You wouldn’t see it unless you spread the pads of her feet all the way, it wasn’t on the bottom.

I thought she had a broken leg at the time she was limping so bad. The give away was everytime that foot touched the ground she would do a three leg hop like touching it to the ground was very painful.

My friend had a similar problem, but his dog got bit by something. He found the bite, cleaned it throughly and after a month it got better.

If only dogs could talk.

[Hardraade]

If you haven’t already, have her liver checked. Simple bloodwork.

[Hildy]

Thank you.

[Mamzelle]

Understand that—these things can add up. My dog may well have some thyroid problems (he’s way too heavy for the little he eats)...and I’m not going to do the blood $$$crene for anything but liver problems. Long term ANSAIDS can really hurt doggies’ livers.

[ReneeLynn]

Pup would have to be tested. Demand that the vet look into it since your dog is still having trouble.

[Errant]

Talk with your vet about giving her an anti-imflamatory daily. Also, keep her from jumping down from heights. Old dogs are like old folks, it takes us both some time to heal from those kinds of injuries. Finally, you might supplement/replace her diet with with a special blend that contains additional vitamins, minerals and enzymes that help with aging.

One other thing, lots of extra lovin' couldn't hurt ;).

Best wishes,