Bluebell Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 (edited) Sorry if this is a long post but I would love ANY ideas on what is happening with my 11 year old Chihuahua, Busta.... 7 weeks ago Busta had sudden onset lameness in his right foreleg after rest though the lameness only lasted a minute or two at the most. Originally the vet thought it was just a sprain. A week later he was still lame after rest despite pain relief. After a thorough check over Busta did not so much as yelp when the vet poked and prodded the leg. 2 weeks later and Busta was still lame despite another 2 weeks of pain relief. Yet another check and still he did not give any sign as to where the pain is. As the vet has no idea what is going on they recommended a course of Pentosan in case it is arthritis. The lameness continued in this manner for 3 weeks when it became significantly worse. Busta is now lame constantly, sometimes refusing to use the leg, has trouble getting out of bed and occasionally falls over. The vets are now wondering if it is nerve damage or a neurological issue. Last Pentosan injection will be this week but as they don't appear to be helping so the vet wants to trial an expensive drug for neurological pain. I don't really like the sound of it but feel we have no choice. No X-rays have been done as the vets cannot get a pain response so they don't know where to start and it will cost quite a bit. I am very worried that the lameness is getting a lot worse and we are no closer to understanding what is happening and I feel like I am being cruel every time I see Busta struggling to get up :-( I would be very grateful for any ideas, similar experiences, thoughts on whether this sounds like arthritis etc... I should add we have had two different vets look at him and will be seeing a third for the next injection. Edited April 1, 2013 by Bluebell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Front end or back end?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebell Posted April 1, 2013 Author Share Posted April 1, 2013 Sorry Ness, I was just sitting here and realised I didn't put that it was his front leg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyz Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 I'd suggest referral to a specialist. Poor thing has been sore too long without showing any improvement. Mabye if you tell us where you are someone can suggest a specialist in your area! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebell Posted April 1, 2013 Author Share Posted April 1, 2013 I am in Canberra. Sorry for my ignorance but what sort of specialist do you think I should ask for? I don't even know if we are looking at an orthopaedic, neurological or muscular problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 (edited) Are you able to get access to a good chiro vet or physio? Front end lameness can be a bugger of a problem to work through. I wouldn't necessarily rush straight to a specialist. It may be soft tissue type damage which won't show on an x-ray. Is the dog lame all of the time? Worse when it gets up? Does it appear to warm of the lameness at all? Edited April 1, 2013 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyz Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Dr Sandra Hasset at Animal Medical Centre is the vet chiro in Canberra :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebell Posted April 1, 2013 Author Share Posted April 1, 2013 Thanks Ness. I am not sure but will ask. I do know there is a vet here who does acupuncture and have been thinking of contacting him to see what is involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 (edited) That would be my starting point Bluebell. My agility friends have taken dogs to Sandra and I know one of them asked for some information regarding Kenz's case when we were battling to get to the bottom of her issues. If they trust her with the care of their dogs then I would be trying her first . Edited April 1, 2013 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebell Posted April 1, 2013 Author Share Posted April 1, 2013 Thanks Xyz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayla1 Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 One of my dogs has front leg lameness due to a disc problem in his neck. A chiro vet should be able to identify any neck/spinal problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 I would recommend Sandra too. She has been away, not sure if she is back on deck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CavsRcute Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 My girl gets front end lameness from really bad trigger points which in turn are caused by her hip dysplasia. She has acupuncture and trigger point therapy. The trigger points can be very difficult to find by an untrained person. I can find my girls' by pressing on the spot and the skin quivers. I found that anti inflammatories, cartrophen, metacam etc were of no use, as it was muscular and not joint pain. Good luck! It can be frustrating trying to find an answer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Bluebell do you think he could have a chiro type issue placing pressure on a nerve somewhere? Dr Sandra Hasset at Phillip (Woden) is a very good vet chiropractor and may be able to assist? http://www.animalmedicalcentre.com.au/team/dr-sandra-hassett-b-v-sc-m-b-a-m-i-v-c-a/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 All good suggestions but also keep an eye out for any possible neuro symptoms. Weird reactions to light or sound that have never happened before, trouble with depth perception when jumping and changes in temperament can be an indication. They can be hard to detect and don't always add up to anything obvious. I had a dog with brain damage from scar tissue formed by bacterial meningitis that was not detected. He was lame for 6 months before he finally launched a sudden attack on me and all the other little strange things he had been doing started to add up. I realised he was in fact in severe pain so he was pts and the autopsy showed the brain damage and also showed that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the lame leg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moosepup Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 I wouldn't rule out an injury just yet, our Zoe busted her cruciate ligament many years ago and didn't so much as whimper when the vet manipulated the leg, it was only discovered with x-ray. Some dogs are crazy stoic like that! I'd at least get the x-ray to rule out injury before spending money on other options. Hope you find the cause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyz Posted April 9, 2013 Share Posted April 9, 2013 Any updates on this little guy?? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebell Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 Thanks for thinking of us Xyz. Things have not improved despite completing the course of pentosan, another course of norocarp and now he is on Cerenia for nerve pain. We were at the vet again yesterday and he reacted when his shoulder was examined. At least we know where to start looking now. He is booked for X-rays on Tuesday and I am petrified as two vets have suggested we might be looking at bone cancer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheridan Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 I've come late into this thread but have they considered an auto-immune diease? A previous dog of mine had difficulty moving and it turned out to be an auto-immune problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyz Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Poor lad... Hope you get some answers from the X-rays..: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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