Ask Me Help Desk - Rascal is limping again!

Alty when they Xrayed Owen they told me before he is 2 years old it is hard to see displesia. Their bones are softer (if I remember right) and that is why most X-rays are done after they are 2. Maybe one of the experts can explain it properly but that is what I was told. My vet put Owen under anesthesia and took X-rays and was able to see something on the X-ray and she said added to that his symptoms the diagnosis was the Elbow Displesia.
I wish you were closer I would take you to our vet. She is so good to the animals and discusses all tests, costs and if it is necessary or that you can think on it based on the costs.
For us to walk in the door it is 79 bucks plus change. Then the tests, medications, needles etc are on top of it.

I have to ask at this point. I know in the U.S. they have and oofer pet health insurance. Do they not have that in Canada too?

Example:

https://www.petfirst.com/pet-insuran...utm_medium=cpc

Mogrann... the reason you wait until the dog is 2 is so that all the joint spaces are closed. Just like human babies, puppies have lots of space in-between their joints.

Califdadof3, of course a CBC will show white blood cells and too many is due to inflammation... but the thing is.. is the dog is limping and has been for awhile. Its not like he is limping badly today and never did before which is why I don't understand why this vet won't prescribe pain meds. If the dog is truly in pain, pain meds would help make a diagnosis that there is something brewing inside that leg.

X-rays would show a lot of what's going on and unfortunately I have seen x-rays that are not diagnostic in dogs with severe hip dysplasia.

Pet insurance would be a good option, except you still need the money up front to treat the pet. I'm not sure if Canada accepts this, but care credit would work great with pet insurance. Maybe that's an option for you Alty?

We do have pet insurance available. It's more costly than it's worth. It only really pays for emergency visits. This visit would not have fallen under that category.

"My daughter used to want to be a doctor, but I talked her out of it. She loves animals, and frankly, if she wants to be rich in Canada, become a vet, or a dentist. Sigh."

Oh lord no. Sorry to go away from the subject, but trust me. Vets are far from rich. At least in Canada. Those who make decent money are the exception, not the rule. Recent grads make less than Registered Nurses.
(it's a sore spot unfortunately haha, as being a Vet Tech I make even less and get to listen to people complain because they think I make $30+ an hour doing what I do.. )

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky098

Pet insurance would be a good option, except you still need the money up front to treat the pet. I'm not sure if Canada accepts this, but care credit would work great with pet insurance. Maybe thats an option for you Alty?

And also except it is a known issue now and insurance companies will not cover it.

I unfortunately think that it is time to try and find a place for a second opinion. It's been going on for a while - barring it is not getting worse, maybe start saving up for a different clinic/specialist?

Was your pup sedated for x-rays? Often times you can't really properly palpate a joint when a dog is awake, especially if painful. When they are sedated/anesthetized, you can often feel abnormalities in the way they move or feel.
Does he act painful when he limps? Did you see if anything caused the initial limp?
As mentioned before, things like ligament issues are pretty darned hard to diagnose on x-rays - it is not meant for this. Honestly the best thing would be an MRI to look at muscles and tendons/ligaments.
The only other thing I can figure would be panosteitis. It's usually in the front leg, and happens in young dogs. It comes and goes, and recurs often. Eventually it just disappears usually. You CAN diagnose it with an x-ray, but sometimes it can be difficult and it is always nice to have a few eyes see it.

Also, I sent you a PM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sariss

I unfortunately think that it is time to try and find a place for a second opinion. It's been going on for a while - barring it is not getting worse, maybe start saving up for a different clinic/specialist?

Was your pup sedated for xrays? Often times you can't really properly palpate a joint when a dog is awake, especially if painful. When they are sedated/anesthetized, you can often feel abnormalities in the way they move or feel.
Does he act painful when he limps? Did you see if anything caused the initial limp?
As mentioned before, things like ligament issues are pretty darned hard to diagnose on xrays - it is not meant for this. Honestly the best thing would be an MRI to look at muscles and tendons/ligaments.
The only other thing I can figure would be panosteitis. It's usually in the front leg, and happens in young dogs. It comes and goes, and recurs often. Eventually it just disappears usually. You CAN diagnose it with an x-ray, but sometimes it can be difficult and it is always nice to have a few eyes see it.

Also, I sent you a PM.

Thank you for answering Sariss.

No, he wasn't sedated for the x-rays, I couldn't afford the extra cost. But the vet said he cooperated very well during the x-rays.

Shazzy mentioned panosteitis to me on Facebook. After reading the literature on it, that sounds like what's going on. He doesn't seem to be in pain. I can touch his foot, leg, and shoulder, and he doesn't yelp or mind.

He only limps when he walks, and not all the time. Even when he's having a bad day, when he's limping, he still runs around like the 9 month old puppy he is, and it doesn't seem to bother him at all. That's what's so confusing. He doesn't seem to be in pain, but then, if he wasn't, why the limp?

I answered the PM. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alty

No, he wasn't sedated for the xrays, I couldn't afford the extra cost. But the vet said he cooperated very well during the xrays.

The sedation is more for the idea that they won't tense up at all. Even in an animal that is calm and collected, you have a hard time feeling things like laxity in a joint unless they are sedated. (This is usually more relevant for things like cruciate injuries, which obviously wouldn't happen in a front leg).

I agree on the pano. Honestly I would call your vet up and request pain medication. An anti-inflammatory like Metacam, Rimadyl or Deramaxx would probably do well - our equine vet's labrador had pano and he did well on an NSAID.