Jed Has Developed A Limp

[JedsMom]

On Sunday I noticed that Jed was favoring his front right leg. I messed with it a little and tried to see if I could figure out where he's hurting. I messed with his toes - nothing. I moved his ankle - nothing. Moved his leg forward and back - nothing. I tried to move him into a more comfortable position when lying down - GSOD. That's my boy. His limp got worse as the day progressed. He was also restless, so I gave him baby asprin and promised him a vet visit on Monday.

 

Of course, my vet was booked solid on Monday, but they worked me in at the end of the day (one of the many reasons why I love my vet!). When I got home early from work to pick up Jed and Ripple, Jed was stressed. The A/C had gone out, so the house was warmer than usual and I think he spent a good portion of his day pacing. By the time we got in to see the vet, he'd worked himself up into a 1st class stress-out and now he's got an ehrlichia flare-up.

 

As my vet reminded me, limping in an almost 10-year old greyhound is never a good thing. He put Jed on Doxy for the ehrlichia and gave him an oral dose of prednisone as a jump start, and then gave him a prednisone shot that he said will last 2 weeks. He then told me we had a couple of options... we could see if the pred helps him out or - "I want an x-ray" I said, which made him continue with, or we could take an x-ray.

 

So, one x-ray later, he called me in to look at it. He said it looked ok, that there was one little place that might look like something, but then again, might not. He let me come back and look at it and showed me the 'ify' place, and I saw what he meant, it might be something, or it might not.

 

We decided to give Jed 48 hours to see if the pred helps with his limp. If it's not better, he's going to forward Jed's x-ray onto an oncology specialist in town. So that's where we are - waiting, which has never been my strong point. Any input/suggestions/prayers accepted.

 

Edited May 8, 2008 by JedsMom

[patricia]

Sending my prayers that this is a NOTHING!

[Xan]

My input ... A chant!

*Jed is fine, but wants the AC fixed pronto! Jed is fine, but wants the AC fixed pronto! Jed is fine, but wants the AC fixed pronto! *

[iluvgreys]

Sounds like you're doing everything possible. Waiting is hell. Sending prayers.

[Fudge]

Hoping it is NOTHING too from Hope, Zoe & Sharon

[Guest jurishound]

Hoping for the best possible outcome for Jed!

[Guest HeatherDemps]

The waiting sucks. I would ask your vet to forward the x-ray on to the specialist even if the limp improves. You can also have him email it to Dr. Coutu at Ohio State University- he has a lot of experience with greys and cancer and he is very responsive.

 

I want to preface this part by saying it could be other things than osteo (just in our case, it was osteo).

 

My grey first limped right after Thanksgiving. I immediately though "osteo!!!" and we were off to the emergency vet since it was a Sunday. No x-rays and they put him on Rimadyl. Called my vet on Monday because we were leaving Thursday for vacation. I was told to take him off the Rimadyl after another day or so and if the limp returned they do the x-rays. Limp went away and didn't come back. Until almost exactly one month later, right before Christmas. X-rays were done then and we knew what it was.... It took awhile, but I finally forgave myself for not *insisting* on the x-rays the first go around.

 

Am I paranoid now when it comes to my dogs' health? Heck yes. I hope that Jed's limp turns out to be something ver minor and I will say a prayer for sure!

[Guest vahoundlover]

Sending prayers, it's nothing!

[Guest RICHandJUDE]

Our first greyhound developed a bad limp when she was about 9 or 10 years old. I wasn't worried about Osteo because I never heard about it before (didn't know about Greytalk back then) It didn't get better so X-rays were taken. It turned out to be a disc problem.

 

With rest and medication she lived another 5 years. We will pray for the best.

[Guest ss556]

sending prayers.

[JedsMom]

Well, we've waited to see if Jed's limp went away and, unfortunately, it hasn't. It hasn't gotten worse, but it hasn't gotten better, either. I spoke with my vet today and he is forwarding Jed's x-ray to an oncologist here in town. I picked up a prescription for tramadol after work. Hopefully that will cut down on his pain.

[macoduck]

Sending gentle hugs to Jed.......