Painkiller/anti-inflammatory advice, please

[Thandi]

Mika is limping rather badly today, favoring right front leg. I have a feeling she might have landed wrongly when leaping for the ball at the park, and will take her to the vet in a day or two if I don't see any improvement.

I know I've read threads about which human painkiller is OK for dogs, but can't remember! Mika is lab/boxer x and about 70 lbs. Is it OK to give ibuprofen? and if so, how much?

Thanks! she's feeling so sorry for herself! :(

[Glacier]

NO, not ibuprofen or Tylenol. Both can be very dangerous to dogs. Give her a buffered aspirin--one regular strength one. Aspirin is safe on a short term basis but can cause upset stomach. If she's still hurting in a day or two talk to your vet about getting some Metacam for her.

[tomkatzid]

This is just my thoughts, but I'd see a vet before I gave my pups anything over the counter or left over from another vet visit. It may clear up on it's own or it may be something like a ligament tare. See the vet first just to be safe is always my moto.
Katz

[Thandi]

Thanks Glacier, I have some Costco regular strength aspirin, I'll give her one and see how she does. I'll call the vet tomorrow and set an appointment. Hopefully I'll be able to cancel it!

[Thandi]

Well, this morning she was still limping, but her right eye was droopy with the third eye over it, and she had this sort of jerk to the left with her head. She was MISERABLE! So, because my vet was only in at 10:30, I took her to the ER vet. He did xrays, found nothing, doesn't think it's a stroke (that's what it looked, like), says she definitely seems sore around the neck/throat/shoulder, and there are nerves in the shoulder that link to the eye, so that might account for that. Her sleepiness could just be pain, he thought. She's on rimadyl and antibiotics, incase there's some kind of infection. I'm monitoring her and will rush her back if necessary. Hopefully it won't need a neurological consult, and especially hopefully won't need mri's etc. I did like the ER vet and he seemed to know what he was talking about. I can't stand to see her so miz. :(

I've made an appointment to see our regular vet on Thursday, for a follow-up and perhaps full bloodwork. I think her thyroid might be very low, she's become pretty lethargic these days and rather overweight, and she's only just turned 5.

[lv4dogs]

How is she today? My thoughts are with her.

[Thandi]

Thanks! when I got home from work yesterday she was running around like a new child, excited, happy, playful. I can't believe that the drugs made such a difference! I'm still very concerned about her swollen eye, it's as though behind/above the eye is swollen and pushing the eye out, so we will keep our appointment tomorrow with our regular vet. Other than that, she still favors the right leg when she gets up from resting, but once she's up, she's like a puppy again. Quite amazing!

[Bonny]

The rimadyl is taking care of the inflamation that Mika has. My old dog Bob acted like a young pup when he was on it. I hope Mika will be ok.