RyanUOP06 Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 This is a long post - please bear with me. Mara has been in pain since early Thursday morning, and the vet "has no clue" what is causing it. Background - Wednesday night Mara and Matty had a very heavy play session in the back yard. Mara did a lot of hard running, but nothing out of the ordinary for her. Beginning in the early hours of Thursday morning, she would intermittently scream in pain. We assumed it was Matty, since it's usual for her to get stiff and sore after running and she's a bit of a baby. After I got up Thursday, Mara jumped off the chair and let out a scream. But there was no limping, and no indication of anything being hurt, besides maybe a muscle tweak. She walked just fine that morning. But through out the day, she seemed to be experiencing more pain as indicated by her screaming. However, there was no associated limp, and I had no idea what was hurting her. Thursday evening she ran over to me and was pretty excited about something, then just started with the gsod over and over and she ran 3-legged back to her bed, holding her back left leg up. She didn't get up to eat Thursday night, and we had to feed her in bed. Friday she seemed better and didn't show any signs of pain all day. She got up to eat, and seemed ok until a little later on when she tried to stretch. She let out a scream as she stretched her back legs out, but still showed no limping when she walked. Sat and Sun, more of the same. She walks around the back and uses the bathroom, no limp or favoring the leg. Then, suddenly, with no warning, will scream and hold her leg up. X-rays and radiologist ruled out osteo, breaks and dysplasia. The vet examined her pretty thoroughly, and ruled out LS as well, because of no pain while manipulating the tail, no neurological deficit, and sudden onset. The vet narrowed the problem to her hip. Blood work is back Wed. The vet thinks soft tissue injury, but Rimadyl and Tramadol don't really seem to effecting the injury either way. She is very depressed and afraid to get up. Any ideas on what this could be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ProudGreyMom Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Jake is almost 10 and he also has hip problems - some days much worse than others. This recent topic might help: http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php?showtopic=201250 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey14me Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 is there any way it could actually be her back that is hurting and not her actual leg? Quote Michelle...forever missing her girls, Holly 5/22/99-9/13/10 and Bailey 8/1/93-7/11/05 Religion is the smile on a dog...Edie Brickell Wag more, bark less :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greybookends Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 :hope :hope :hope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 First, the longshot but you gotta do it: Check her foot on the bad side. Take a flashlight and a magnifying glass and pretend you lost your contact lens in her foot. Check top, bottom, in between the pads, in between the toes. Check the nailbeds. Wiggle each toe. Wiggle each toenail. Press each pad gently. Squeeze each toe gently from the sides. Nothing there? *Might* consider discontinuing the Rimadyl -- Burpdog would know how long you have to do it, IIRC 3-4 days? -- and trying prednisone instead. You can give it with Tramadol. Some strains seem to respond to it better than to NSAIDs. Hugs and luck for your baby. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbotaina Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Batmom gives great advice for possible foot injuries. When Turbo had an iliopsoas strain, NSAIDs didn't help at all. You should probably try to get in with an orthopod for a more thorough examination. Vets who don't see orthopedic issues likely won't know where to look for some of those weird injuries. If it's an iliopsoas strain, you might be able to locate it yourself by palpating up the inside of the dog's thigh. The tendon inserts at the knee, runs up the femur, through the pelvis and attaches at the L3/4 vertabra. Also, you can look for a torn pectaneous (I think that's the name). If the injury is acute, you will see actual bruising. It's a very easy tendon to find - it's the really tight one you can see when a dog is roaching - right next to the femoral artery. If there's no bruising, she still may have pulled it, so palpate and see what you get. Finally, see if it might be a strained sacrotuberous ligament - this one is easy to check. While the dog is standing, move behind her and grasp around her thigh with your thumb pressing against that little indent near the tail (that's where the sacrotuberous ligament runs). Give her a firm squeeze, pressing down on the indent. Quote Meredith with Heyokha (HUS Me Teddy) and Crow (Mike Milbury). Missing Turbo (Sendahl Boss), Pancho, JoJo, and "Fat Stacks" Juana, the psycho kitty. Canku wakan kin manipi."Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MnMDogs Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Thanks, everyone. Regarding it being her back, there is that possibility that it is a disc issue, and I guess that will be the next step for us if she doesn't show improvement. We did look very closely at the left back foot - with a corn dog, that's generally the first place I look. We were very hopeful when we found something in there between her pads, but it was apparently just gum. I think I am going to stop the Rimadyl. We've given it to her for 4 days (once at night with food), and she really doesn't seem to be improving. When the vet calls with her blood work results tomorrow, I'll also ask about prednisone. Thanks again for your responses. It's a little heart breaking to see the little spitfire so sad and afraid to get up. I have a hard time believe it's soft tissue since she has shown virtually no improvement in over 5 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbotaina Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Well, FWIW, tendons take a LONG time to heal, so don't give up on soft tissue yet If it is a disc issue, pred will probably help. Good luck! :goodluck :hope Quote Meredith with Heyokha (HUS Me Teddy) and Crow (Mike Milbury). Missing Turbo (Sendahl Boss), Pancho, JoJo, and "Fat Stacks" Juana, the psycho kitty. Canku wakan kin manipi."Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LolasMom Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Have you considered having a good chiropractor look at her? Sometimes they can spot something often in the back or even neck that an x-ray can't. I had an old girl who would drag her back legs and become incontinent when her neck was out! An adjustment might help do the trick. Feel better soon, sweetheart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MnMDogs Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Have you considered having a good chiropractor look at her? Sometimes they can spot something often in the back or even neck that an x-ray can't. I had an old girl who would drag her back legs and become incontinent when her neck was out! An adjustment might help do the trick. Feel better soon, sweetheart. I have thought about it - but I'm not sure if Ryan would be on board with that. It's something to think about though. My sister's grey (if I remember correctly) has some disc issues in her neck, but her symptoms seem pretty different from Mar's. I really just wish they could talk to let us know exactly what they're feeling! Well, FWIW, tendons take a LONG time to heal, so don't give up on soft tissue yet If it is a disc issue, pred will probably help. Good luck! :goodluck :hope Thanks, Meredith. I could have sworn I edited my post after you posted. What I *thought* I replied was that this is a fairly large clinic, so hopefully they have an orthopod on staff. The vet we saw, seemed to do the tests that you recommend, but I can't be certain. She certainly did give her a very good going over to pinpoint the area of pain/discomfort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbotaina Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Have you considered having a good chiropractor look at her? Sometimes they can spot something often in the back or even neck that an x-ray can't. I had an old girl who would drag her back legs and become incontinent when her neck was out! An adjustment might help do the trick. Feel better soon, sweetheart. I have thought about it - but I'm not sure if Ryan would be on board with that. It's something to think about though. My sister's grey (if I remember correctly) has some disc issues in her neck, but her symptoms seem pretty different from Mar's. I really just wish they could talk to let us know exactly what they're feeling! Yeah, Zoe goes lame on her right front and starts licking a particular spot where I think she loses sensation, but they also found a bone spur, so she's doing better with therapaws now (at least she was the last time I saw Zoe and your sister). She's always quite frisky after she's been adjusted Quote Meredith with Heyokha (HUS Me Teddy) and Crow (Mike Milbury). Missing Turbo (Sendahl Boss), Pancho, JoJo, and "Fat Stacks" Juana, the psycho kitty. Canku wakan kin manipi."Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MnMDogs Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Have you considered having a good chiropractor look at her? Sometimes they can spot something often in the back or even neck that an x-ray can't. I had an old girl who would drag her back legs and become incontinent when her neck was out! An adjustment might help do the trick. Feel better soon, sweetheart. I have thought about it - but I'm not sure if Ryan would be on board with that. It's something to think about though. My sister's grey (if I remember correctly) has some disc issues in her neck, but her symptoms seem pretty different from Mar's. I really just wish they could talk to let us know exactly what they're feeling! Yeah, Zoe goes lame on her right front and starts licking a particular spot where I think she loses sensation, but they also found a bone spur, so she's doing better with therapaws now (at least she was the last time I saw Zoe and your sister). She's always quite frisky after she's been adjusted I think the latest is the last vet said no bone spur... but he has no idea what it is. Well, Mara is breaking my heart. I just made her go out and since she seems to tweak her leg/hip coming back in the house, she was afraid to come back in. She wouldn't let me near her to help, and she just seemed so scared. What I don't get, is that there is absolutely no limp. When she feels the pain, she just lifts her leg up and won't put it down for a bit. When she does, she walks normally (tail between her legs, however). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbotaina Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I think the latest is the last vet said no bone spur... but he has no idea what it is. Well, Mara is breaking my heart. I just made her go out and since she seems to tweak her leg/hip coming back in the house, she was afraid to come back in. She wouldn't let me near her to help, and she just seemed so scared. What I don't get, is that there is absolutely no limp. When she feels the pain, she just lifts her leg up and won't put it down for a bit. When she does, she walks normally (tail between her legs, however). Wow, no bone spur? How frustrating for your sister and Zoe! Probably time for her to make the trip up to Dr. Radcliffe. Poor Mara! Hope you can get to the bottom of it quickly. Quote Meredith with Heyokha (HUS Me Teddy) and Crow (Mike Milbury). Missing Turbo (Sendahl Boss), Pancho, JoJo, and "Fat Stacks" Juana, the psycho kitty. Canku wakan kin manipi."Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MnMDogs Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 So do we. She didn't even show any reaction when she heard the velcro of Morky's TheraPaws. Sigh... that sounds always turned her into a raving lunatic knowing she was about to get a walk. She barely lifted her head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlackandBrindle Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Poor baby girl. I hope you get it figured out soon. Many prayers and good thoughts coming from Tucson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.