Guest knowimagination Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 So Rush has come up with a limp in one of her hind legs and it has been getting progressively worse. I don't remember her coming in limping after doing zoomies or anything so it has me a little concerned (she is 8 1/2). We went to see the vet yesterday and she couldn't be certain but she said that it seemed like a ligament tear/strain in her knee. She offered to send her home with just some pain relievers and prescribed rest, but I really wanted to get x-rays done to be able to completely rule out bone cancer. She had us schedule the x-rays for tomorrow morning and plans on sedating her but I am just wondering if that is a typical way to handle x-rays or if I should request/insist doing them without it. Thanks for any advice you can give me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 as far as i know- from what i've been told by numerous vets- the dogs do need to be sedated since the limb really needs to be manipulated and it's the least painful way for a dog in pain and they need to get the best image possible. rush will be fine- don't worry. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potomacpupsmom Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 That's what I have been told by my dog's vet when I needed to get Breeze x-rayed for a limp. Because it was her hip in question, the vet needed to manipulate the joint to get the best picture. Quote Humans Kathy and Jim with our girls, Ivy (Carolina Spoon) and Cherry (Fly Cherry Pie) Missing our beautiful angel Breeze (Dighton Breeze) and angel Beka (BM Beko) - you are forever in our hearts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macoduck Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Mikey did not need sedation for his chest and abdomen films. He was very unhappy with them holding him down. Sedation for your girl should be very brief. Quote Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto Angels: Rita the podenco maneta, Lila, the podenco, Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella), Charlie the iggy, Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Some dogs are cooperative and don't need to be sedated. Some won't lie still or even lie down and do need to be sedated. Personally, if I have to have a Grey sedated for xrays again I'm going to ask that they be completely knocked out. We had two Greys sedated since the first of the year and neither one of them did well on the drugs at all. It took one about 10 hours to come out of it and other about 13 hours and they were both a distressed panting mess until the drugs wore off. One of the drugs they gave them was butorphanol. The other was acepromazine. I've since heard people say they've had dogs have bad reactions to either one or both of those drugs. I won't let them use either of them again. Quote ...............Chase (FTH Smooth Talker), Morgan (Cata), Reggie (Gable Caney), Rufus (Reward RJ). Fosters check in, but they don't check out. Forever loved -- Cosmo (System Br Mynoel), March 11, 2002 - October 8, 2009.Miss Cosmo was a lady. And a lady always knows when to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Houston1219 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 When Houston had his hips xrayed he was not sedated. He did fine being held still, the vet had an extra tech give him lots of loving while he did what he needed to do and his attention was on the girls swooning over him instead of the vet taking the xrays. Houston normally has no issue with space or being held, though. If your girl is the kind of dog you can lay on top of/move around and just goes with the flow, maybe she will be fine without? Just my personal experience, I know little compared to other posters! This reminds me of when I had to have a tooth extracted. The oral surgeon did NOT want to do it with me awake. I was NOT about to let them put me under. The solution? She agreed to turn up the laughing gas and cranked up the music in the room so I wouldn't hear what was happening. It went just fine, and I went straight to work! Best of luck to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 We've never sedated. I'd encourage you and your vet to see if you can get the views you need without sedating. 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...
45MPHK9 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Bee Wiseman had her X-rays without sedation when she started limping. Thinking good thoughts for Rush. Quote Tricia with Kyle, our senior mutt dog Always missing Murray Maldives, Bee Wiseman, River, Hopper, Kaia, and Holly Oaks Holly“You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.“ -Bob Dylan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest D_MansMommy Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 TC has had several x-rays for broken toes &/or fractures. he has never been sedated. he did fine. hope Rush is ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I think it depends on the dog both the dog and the x-ray. I've had very calm dogs x-rayed without sedation and hyper ones that needed it. Some shots require more manipulation than others and that might factor in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest knowimagination Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Thanks for all the replies so far. Rush is very easy to deal with once she is already laying down she will literally just sit there and let you do anything to her, but if she isn't already laying down trying to get her too is a bit of a chore and then puts her on edge so I can see how it might be necessary. Is there a preferred drug for greyhounds when it comes to sedatives? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dancer Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 (edited) No sedation required here...all three times The big BUT....my dog loves the vet. I swear he has health issues so he can visit the vet 😩 Edited March 13, 2015 by Dancer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I've not ever had a dog sedated for xrays, but as said, it depends. Lilly does not do well with sedation, but she needed to be quiet for something last year (I've even forgotten what it was!). My vet gave her propofol for a very short term sedation and she was up and around without any issues in a short amount of time. I would stay away from acepromazine and butorphanol if your dog is sensitive. Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houndtime Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Fuzzy had some problems with his back and needed x-rays. I was waiting out in the reception area and heard him screaming out there. They came out and said he was having too much pain and they need to turn him to x-ray the other side and couldn't turn him. So, they gave him a light sedation. He came out of it right away, but, was exhausted afterwards. Quote Irene Ullmann w/Flying Odin and Mama Mia in Lower Delaware Angels Brandy, John E, American Idol, Paul, Fuzzy and Shine Handcrafted Greyhound and Custom Clocks http://www.houndtime.com Zoom Doggies-Racing Coats for Racing Greyhounds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AimeeBee Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 George was not sedated when he had his back and hips x-rayed recently. However, like Dancer, my dog loves the vet (loves everyone really) and is pretty tolerant of being held/moved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I would not do any sedation unless I absolutely knew for sure multiple angles of hip x-rays or something equally difficult was required. For a first look for bone cancer, a couple of easy views should be fine and should not require sedation. One tip - often specialists (orthopedists) have a LOT more experience and have no trouble at all getting x-rays without sedation. I've been able to compare one versus the other with the same dog and the difference in stress levels (this was with my former spook who was quite afraid at the vet) was obvious. Once we had diagnosed her osteo, there was never a question that all of our follow-up x-rays would be done by the specialist. I hope that's not what you're facing. Please see if you can get hte x-rays without the sedation. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I wouldn't sed for that. Sure there are some shots that may be very difficult to get or a painful dog that it wouldn't be fair to try to position without seds. I'm sure your vet is recommending seds as she/he is not sure what images they will need to take. A gh with a painful knee I would first shoot a lateral pic-that doesn't need sedation-you may have your answer with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FloridaGirl Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 In the vet clinic, you can run the gamut of broken bone dogs who give no response when moved, and minor soft tissue injury dogs who act like you're coming at them with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire. It really just depends on the dog. I've only seen sedations after first attempts failed, however. We always like to do as little sedating as possible. Sometimes it's necessary, though. I agree with Neylasmom and tbhounds - get the rads you can before sedation, maybe something is there that a lateral would catch before moving onto doggy yoga. Either way, good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 None of the dogs we've had over the years have ever been sedated. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest normaandburrell Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I think it depends in part on the skill of the vet. For films of a paw, I have had two vets sedate. My vet, in the same office, did not sedate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 It depends on the vet, but I find it worrisome that your vet didn't even suggest x-rays given that you brought in a Greyhound with a limp of unexplained origin. For the hips, the dog has to be sedated or they can't get all the right angles. For the lower leg? Shouldn't need it, but some vets just insist. Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryJane Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 My dogs have gotten x-rays without being sedated. Reconsider a different vet if you cannot get the x-rays without sedation. Also, bring one of your muzzles as it will be less stressful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTRAWLD Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I'm going through this right now. One vet years ago (at the same location) said they won't do x-rays without sedation......I called to ask the other day since I want them for Kasey and the vet called me back and said "I don't know who told you we don't, the majority of our x-rays are done without sedation". So go figure, my same vet even gave me two differing trains of thought over the years. It's of course easier for them to manipulate the dog into position for xrays when they are sedated, and I'm sure not all x-rays can be taken if they aren't sedated, but I've certainly heard both ideas of have to be sedated and don't have to be sedated. Quote Proudly owned by:10 year old "Ryder" CR Redman Gotcha May 201012.5 year old Angel "Kasey" Goodbye Kasey Gotcha July 2005-Aug 1, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neighsayer Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Depends on the vet, the fog, and the location of the injury. Good luck! A clean X-ray does not always completely rule out bone cancer. Hope it does in your case! I wasn't that lucky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest knowimagination Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Thanks again everyone I dropped her off this morning and they are going to attempt to get a good one without but they also explained their reasoning for potentially needing to. Part of it is to look at the hip in that leg as well so I'm feeling a little more comfortable with it now and hoping for good results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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