Hi again, well my 12 yr old staffy dog "chester"was at the vets again this morning. Last night after a short walk he began to slow and then walk sideways and sat down. At home he started groaning and his weak rear left leg stiffened out . My wife comforted him for an hour or so and he calmed down. He went to the vets this morning and was prescribed 2 weeks worth of prednicare 5mg and was given an injection to give subtle pain relief . Its 4:05 pm now and he's awake but sometimes gives a breathy groan.the vet thinks he may have a damaged ligament in his leg. Chester also dips at the back when in a daze and is sometimes caught stading in awkward places where he finds it difficult to get out . As before I'm worried sick . His kidney swelling is still there which will remain there apparently as kidneys don't repair greatly. What is going on , he has aged quickly in the last approx 6 weeks .

It sounds like what your vet thinks, he's damaged his leg and may have torn a cruciate. Were x-rays taken?
Kidney swelling? How did they determine that?

More on the issues with the kidney: https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/what-wrong-dog-501256.html

It sounds like what your vet thinks, he's damaged his leg and may have torn a cruciate. Were x-rays taken?
Kidney swelling? How did they determine that?

Hi , the kidney swelling showed up on a scan , chester walks more awkwardly now. When he stands for 1 min his rear left legs splays out as well as his right shoulder at the front. He still eats and drinks well , he occasionally moans but maybe the prednicare 5mg is suppressing that ? I'm not giving up , I'm giving joint aid for dogs in his meal, as well as cod liver oil, glucossasmine and devils claw . Keeping my fingers crossed that we can turn things round and make him more mobile and strong etc!! Would accupuncture help ?

I would go back and get confirmation on what is going on with his leg. If it is something like a cruciate tear, they can be surgically corrected.
If not, there are other things that can help as well, including therapeutic laser, and a newer one is Stem-cell therapy. To find a vet in your area that offers stem cell therapy go here: Contact Vet-Stem | Veterinarian Stem Cells | Horse tendon | (http://vet-stem.com/locatevet/) it also has a lot of info on the idea itself.

Hi all , just an update on chester . Sadly my wife found him dead at 6:00am on 14/09/10 . He had passed away in his bed in the early hours. Bless him he was still warm. On Sunday he had followed my step sons staffy ***** "ruby" around with our collie ***** "meg " and was mobile having been unable to walk on Saturday night. I thought it was a miracle , but on Monday night after being to the vets he could not use his back legs again , was panting and his breathing sounded moist and rattly . So we lay him on his bed , stroked him and went to bed as we had work the next day. We both shead buckets of tears as I've had him 12 great years . Our collie meg is now bewildered . I took chester to a pet crematoreum in county durham where they took care of him . I am now having to choose a casket for him . This is like a bad dream .

I am so sorry for your loss. I know it doesn't mean much right now, but it sounds like he was well loved and will be lovingly remembered.

I'm very sorry for your loss, they way you speak of him, sounds like he was indeed very much loved. My condolences to you and your family.