Request for input.. Doggo health issues

Hey all. So, I'm hating the current status with Holly.

Since around Thanksgiving, she's been limping and favoring her left front leg.

Took her to the vet, they prescribed some meds, and a joint supplement.

Well, it's been almost 2 weeks and I'm not seeing any progress.

She will actually drag her leg sometimes when outside, not using it.

She's 13+ yrs old, a black lab/chow/terrier mix.

The vet says she has some arthritis issues, and I know labs can be vulnerable to displacia.

At her age, is it reasonable to put her through a possible amputation of that leg?

I'm worried it will only become a problem for her right front next.

I don't want to lose her, but I also can't sit and watch her suffer.

Thanks
Chaz

 

Amputating the leg is a move to make you feel better, not her. My opinion.

 

I'm pretty sure that actual dysplasia makes itself known in younger dogs, so it is likely it is "just" Arthritis. You could also consult a dog chiropractor, if the limp started fairly suddenly, she may have thrown the elbow out just a little and needs help putting it back in place.

Amputation seems to be an over-reaction to arthritis. They may be able to to arthroscopic surgery to help her out if it comes to that. Also, I know there is human therapy where they inject rooster comb into knees to replace the missing tissue from arthritis. There are also steroid injections. I wonder if either is an option (the rooster comb therapy lasts 6-12 months and does wonders according to my ex-BIL)

2 weeks is nothing, as a time frame to see improvements from meds. A bit of patience is needed.

And, I will leave you with a last thought. I rescued a dog that had a deformed leg (she was 8-12 months old when I got her). Whether it was from a break that was never set, or it grew that way, I don't know. We chose not to have an x-ray done because in the long run, it didn't matter - we wouldn't have it re-broken, and if grown that way, the "fix" was way worse than the circumstance. She always limped pretty good and usually dragged the foot a little - at times she dragged it badly. After a while we came to realize that when she wanted attention, she would drag that leg badly. We actually trained that behavior because we would fuss with her when we thought she was really hurting. Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt that there were times she hurt worse than others, but she knew how to take advantage. She lived for 14 years.

In the pictures, you can see how her right, front leg was twisted

 

I'm sorry Holly is hurting. Sure hope you can get the right treatment for her.

 

X2

 

Chaz hell you break an ankle it’s 6-8 weeks.
Do not amputate, help her on off couch and give her more love time

she 14 of course she has arthritis

 

My sister has an older dog with arthritis too. She mixes in turmeric powder with the wet food, and swears by it. They do make dog treats that have turmeric in them as well. I myself have arthritis and it helps me.

 

Thanks for the input folks.

As to amputation, that was suggested by a co-worker who had a dog lose a leg after hit by a car. I know animals adapt pretty readily, but it seems a bit extreme to me.

Plus, that puts all weight on the other side, compounding future problems.

I'll try adding tumeric as well as her meds, and some joint supplement.

I'm not aware of any animal chiro around this area, but will ask around.

 

Aw man, sorry to read this Chaz. Something similar happened to my bosses dog a while back. He brought it into work and poor thing was dragging back leg. He gave it meds recommended by his vet and it did get better. IMO, give it a little more time.

 

get some cbd for her.

 

Our old gal Penny a “Puggle”, cross between Pug and Beagle, Yes we didn’t know what she was either was a “road find” many years ago.. She started having some issues with mobility in her back legs/hindquarters. Vet put her on Gabepentin and one other drug I can’t recall ATM. They also did laser light treatments to the areas and she does remarkably well for 14 years old.. Might ask your vet about this.

PS This was obviously when she was much younger. Now a gray muzzled old lady

 

Make sure she gets help up and down stairs. Labs are front wheel drive and all of their weight shifts there especially when going down stairs. My lab is 8 and I lift him out of the car so he keeps the weight off the front. I also suggest looking into dog leg braces. Compression can do wonders in people as long as it is sized properly. Ask your vet about it.

 

I forgot to add the lifting into and out of vehicles too!

 

My father was a Veterinarian , one thing he did to rehab lame dogs was water therapy. the dog was placed in a stock tank of very warm water, deep enough to require swimming. it was a non-weight bearing exercise that wasn't a cure but helped with mobility. after the swim they would be put in a cage under a hair dryer . the owners would pick the dogs up and off they'd go.

 

I am reminded of the Sheepdog, Levi that I once knew. Levi had a penchant of chasing the big tractor while it was mowing the lawn. Then one day his name got changed to Tripod. He managed to get a rear leg under the mower deck. Honestly... didn't slow him down a bit. Levi & Rhonda were a pair of dogs owned by a friend's family growing up. This is not an endorsement, just some anecdotal recollection of the one 3 legged dog that I have known well.

 

When our lab had arthritis in her hind legs we had laser treatment done on occasion. It made a good difference. Some vets don’t recommend it, but we found it was effective. Price wasn’t outrageous either. It gave us a couple more years with her.

 

Did they take x-rays, what med did they put her on, did they discuss Adequan injections, Cumin, Turmeric, egg shell membrane, gabapentin or Librela?

Chiropractors are usually (not always) worth the cost. Dogs are not people, chiropractors are not trained on dog anatomy so strongly recommend against UNLESS they have completed advanced training and are certified in veterinary chiropractor.

CBD is mostly marketing and claims are unregulated so use at your own risk!

Class 4 laser does have some benefits.

Amputation is not wrong IF it is for the right reason.