Millie's limping

I know I don't post here much anymore (some of you don't even know me!), but we could use some positive thoughts right now. Millie's been limping on and off for about 9 months. Our regular vet gave us Rimadyl and said it was probably arthritis. Millie's young though, so we've taken her to another, more progressive vet. They've taken x-rays and those came back fine. No fractures and no arthritis.

It's so odd because he'll occasionally just suddenly start limping on one of her front legs. No apparent injury and not from jumping off the couch or anything. It just happens and it can be either of her front legs. Sometimes it's severe and sometimes it's not. Sometimes it lasts a day or so and sometimes it's over in an hour. It's not the joints or her foot, as she'll let me move and bend those. It seems to be in the back of her foreleg in the large muscles. Our new vet wants to bring her back in for some blood work, but she suspects kidney failure. :( Millie's been leaking urine at night and drinking a lot of water, so we're pretty worried about her.

Anyway, if y'all can spare some positive vibes for my little girl, I'd really appreciate it.

Oh dear! I remember you and your pups! I hope it's nothing serious, and I certainly hope it's not kidney failure. *positive thoughts heading your way*

(P.S. I hope you don't mind sharing some recent pics of Millie. It's been a long time :) )

Poor Millie! I hope everything will be ok. Hopefully it's not kidney failure. Good thoughts coming your way!

How are Chester and Cinny doing?

I'm so sorry to hear this, Micki. :( I hope Millie will be ok!

feel better soon Millie!

So sorry to hear that Millie is feeling so poorly. I hope it's not Kidney failure.

Good to hear from you, Micki, but I wish it was under happier circumstance.

Willie

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Originally Posted by micki76

I know I don't post here much anymore (some of you don't even know me!), but we could use some positive thoughts right now. Millie's been limping on and off for about 9 months. Our regular vet gave us Rimadyl and said it was probably arthritis. Millie's young though, so we've taken her to another, more progressive vet. They've taken x-rays and those came back fine. No fractures and no arthritis.

It's so odd because he'll occasionally just suddenly start limping on one of her front legs. No apparent injury and not from jumping off the couch or anything. It just happens and it can be either of her front legs. Sometimes it's severe and sometimes it's not. Sometimes it lasts a day or so and sometimes it's over in an hour. It's not the joints or her foot, as she'll let me move and bend those. It seems to be in the back of her foreleg in the large muscles. Our new vet wants to bring her back in for some blood work, but she suspects kidney failure. :( Millie's been leaking urine at night and drinking a lot of water, so we're pretty worried about her.

Anyway, if y'all can spare some positive vibes for my little girl, I'd really appreciate it.

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Ask for a safer NSAID than Rimadyl. Although its more notorious for causing liver failure, Rimadyl can also cause Kidney failure. Presumably the dog is not on Prednisone as that medication can cause increased thirst and wee-wee accidents. In fact you might want to withdraw the Rimadyl given the possibility of kidney problems.

The kidney problems are very likely not related to the original lameness problem. Instead since Xrays did not find any problems, you need a referral to a specialist who has MRI equipment. An MRI would be able to pick up such things as a torn cruciate ligament. Such injuries can start in one leg, and as the dog shifts its weight to compensate, the second leg (knee) starts to develop a rupture. It's progressive and can come and go.

Your top priority is to have the kidney function checked. Again if on Rimadyl, withdraw the medication in case it's causing any kidney problems. If the kidney function is addressed and found to be normal, then you can follow up on the lameness, asking for a referral. GL.

Prayers for Millie. I sure hope this new Vet can help find a curable
cause for the limping.

Prayers and positive thoughts on the way for your dear Millie.

I was going to say "stop the Rimadyl," but I see someone already did.

Prayers for Millie on the way, from here in RI.

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Originally Posted by dragondawg

Ask for a safer NSAID than Rimadyl. Although its more notorious for causing liver failure, Rimadyl can also cause Kidney failure. Presumably the dog is not on Prednisone as that medication can cause increased thirst and wee-wee accidents. In fact you might want to withdraw the Rimadyl given the possibility of kidney problems.

The kidney problems are very likely not related to the original lameness problem. Instead since Xrays did not find any problems, you need a referral to a specialist who has MRI equipment. An MRI would be able to pick up such things as a torn cruciate ligament. Such injuries can start in one leg, and as the dog shifts its weight to compensate, the second leg (knee) starts to develop a rupture. It's progressive and can come and go.

Your top priority is to have the kidney function checked. Again if on Rimadyl, withdraw the medication in case it's causing any kidney problems. If the kidney function is addressed and found to be normal, then you can follow up on the lameness, asking for a referral. GL.

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I agree with two additions.

Drinking lots of water can also be diabetes. The blood work should show if that or the kidneys is the problem.

Regarding the limping - Not only could this be an ACL injury but I've heard of similar things happening with a leg out of joint. I can't think of the proper wording for it but there is a ligament that is supposed to rest inside a dished out area in the joint, and sometimes that can pop out of place causing limping and pain. If the animal can work it back in the limping would go away. Wished I knew the technical wording for it but that's the best I can do. I don't believe stuff like that shows on x-rays but only by feeling and manipulating the leg joint.

I agree that first priority should be to address the water hogging as that can be far more serious than the limping.

Keep us posted.

Millie, I am sending positive vibes your way :)

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Originally Posted by Catlady711

I agree with two additions.

Drinking lots of water can also be diabetes. The blood work should show if that or the kidneys is the problem.

Regarding the limping - Not only could this be an ACL injury but I've heard of similar things happening with a leg out of joint. I can't think of the proper wording for it but there is a ligament that is supposed to rest inside a dished out area in the joint, and sometimes that can pop out of place causing limping and pain. If the animal can work it back in the limping would go away. Wished I knew the technical wording for it but that's the best I can do. I don't believe stuff like that shows on x-rays but only by feeling and manipulating the leg joint.

I agree that first priority should be to address the water hogging as that can be far more serious than the limping.

Keep us posted.

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Luxating patella? Lucky has mild luxating patellas in his rear, and that's what I thought of too when I first read the original post. However, since she suggested that the kidney troubles and the limp were related, I wasn't sure if I should mention it.

Thanks everyone. We were back at the vet today getting another look and drawing blood. They wanted to see how her xrays were before we did the bloodwork and the urinalysis. I thought about luxating patella, but everything seems perfectly fine except for the limping and the tenderness on the backside of her foreleg. Vet examined it and didn't think that was the cause.

I don't know if the possible renal failure is linked to the limping at all, but we should have an answer on the bloodwork possibly tomorrow, if not, then next year. :p

We have a GREAT new vet who's very thorough and really wants to examine all possibilities. I'm sure her kidneys are fine and I'm being a worrier, but I can't help it.

Cinny went to live with my sister and her kids after we had to put my late father's dog, Bob, to sleep. They have since adopted a Chinese Crested and a tiny little Golden mix. We now have Chester, Millie, and Tucker, who looks like Chester's twin. He was found at an abandoned house and was finally caught. Took him just a short time to warm up to us, and he is all about hubby, lol.

Chester's allergies are doing wonderful and he got a 5 out of 5 at the vet today. Yay for him, cause what a struggle that was.

I'll keep y'all updated and I'll see if I can scrounge up some pics to post tomorrow.

Again, THANK YOU!!

Hi Micki! Sorry ot hear Millie is having some issues. Sure hope the vets can help figure out what is causing her to limp.

Glad to everyone else is doing well. Congratulations on the new addition...definately looking forward to new pictures!

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Originally Posted by Giselle

Luxating patella?

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Yes that's the term! I can never remember that term for the life of me. I know what it is, I can show someone on one of our leg joint models but I can never remember what it's called.

Thank you, now I'm not going nuts anymore trying to think of what it was. :)

Glad to hear Chester is doing good! :D Hoping for good news about Millie, prayers continuing.

Photos you say, yes please! :D

how's Millie doing?

Prayers coming for Millie. Bless her heart. Let us know what the vet says.

Missed hearing about Chester. He was going through a lot of his allergy problems at the same time as my Max. Max is doing well and it's nice to hear Chester is too.

It took as while to get all the results in, but we finally did. Thank GOODNESS her labs came back 'off' but no renal failure! Many thanks to all of you for your good thoughts and prayers. We're going to continue to watch her levels and re-check in a few weeks. Dr really has no reason for her intermittent limping. :(

Robin, glad Max is doing well too. It's hard so hard to get allergies under control.

Hi Micki76--

I have never posted before but I wanted to register so I could tell you to maybe ask your new vet about Valley Fever. I'm not sure what part of the country you live in but it is quite common here in AZ and one of my dogs limped badly for months before he was diagnosed. Fortunately it had not spread to his central nervous system or brain and he took meds for a year and is fully recovered. I don't see another post from you updating Millie's results yet but we wish you both good luck!