Leg issues

[FabulouslyFierce]

I'll try to make a long story short. Basically, it seems there is always something wrong with my dog Henry. We've taken that poor dog to the vet so many times in the past two years including a couple middle of the night trips to the emergency vet.

Most recently, a couple weeks ago we were in the vets office getting the dog's vaccines and while we were in the waiting room Henry jumped off my husband's lap, landed weird and started crying and limping on his back left leg. The vet took him back and looked at it and didn't see anything majorly wrong, so they gave him an anti-inflammatory shot and sent us on our way.

He was limping for a couple hours but then he started to walk on it again and seemed ok. Over the next couple weeks though, he would occasionally do something weird, start crying, not walk on it for a few minutes...but he always seemed to work it out.

Last night at dinner time he got super excited (as always when he knows food is coming) and slipped on the kitchen floor. He started screaming, limped into his crate and refused to come out and eat We called the vet and got him in there this morning.

The vet poked and pulled at his leg, checked his knee joint, felt his hips and couldn't find anything. They did x-rays...nothing. Basically they just told us to go home with no answers.

It's breaking my heart, he still won't walk on his back leg, he can't jump up on anything and I'm just so frustrated I could cry. I asked the vet if it could be muscle or tendon damage and he just wouldn't give me a straight answer.

Any thoughts on what it could be?

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I was thinking that maybe a joint keeps popping out or something but I would think that a vet would be able to detect this. Do you keep seeing the same vet or have you seen many different vets? If you're seeing the same vet then I'd take him to another one for a second opinion.

I know you said that you live in Northern CA so I'm going to recommend Adobe Animal Hospital to you.This is where I take my cats and all of their vets are wonderful. Here's there website:http://www.adobe-animal.com/index.htm. They will be moving towards the end of summer to a new location because they've outgrown the building that they're in. My doctor is Dr. Rachel Boltz and she specializes in cats. On her page of info about her she says: Though I am a feline specialist, I also have an interest in orthopedics in both feline and canine patients. I have spent a great deal of time developing skill in invasive and non-invasive fracture repair, TPLO, extra capsular cruciate repair, and patellar surgery. As well, I am both interested and skilled in advanced diagnostic imaging modalities such as ultrasound, echocardiography, endoscopy and rhinoscopy. Maybe she could at least help you diagnose Henry's problem. She works Sun.-Wed. and does surgeries on Mondays. She is very popular so she's usually booked well in advance though. Good luck.

[Karen]

Cinder and Smoke's Smokey has a luxating patella - maybe it is something like that? It'll pop in and out of place, it's a pretty common problem. You might do a search for that here on Pet Talk, and see if it matches what you are experiencing.

[MonicanHonda]

I would definitely see another vet... I mean, that's basically your final answer unless you want a dog who is in pain for the rest of it's life, right? I hope you find out what is wrong... if he keeps hurting it, something must be wrong and I'm sorry your vet won't find out what's wrong. Prayers for your pup!

[FabulouslyFierce]

Thanks everyone. I go to the same pet hospital, but the vet we saw yesterday was new, I really like the other doctors we have seen and I guess we'll take him back and ask to not see the same doctor again.

He said it may be luxating patella, but he messed around with Henry's knee joint a lot and said if that were an issue he would be able to pop it in and out with his hands and that Henry's joint felt very stable.

Henry woke up crying again in the middle of the night So we'll probably take him back in. My poor little baby boy.

[pomtzu]

Luxating patella is what came to mind here. Both of my pups have them, and Myndi's is the worst. She can't jump up on the bed or furniture, or go up stairs anymore, and I have to make her settle down if she gets a little too rambunctious, or it will go out on her again. She absolutely screams when it does, so I try to keep her out of situations that would tend to pop it out of the joint. Both of them have managed quite well tho, and they both get glucosamin/chrondritan (sp??) daily, and Myndi a baby aspirin if she appears to be somewhat uncomfortable.

Hoping you find out soon, what is ailing Henry. Sending good vibes and positive thoughts!