Sparky's Saga/Update #74

[Asiel]

Just noticed more bad news for Sparky. If he was a younger dog I would suspect pano although I've never seen it in small dogs. But he isn't a growing pup so this is strange. I would probably have called the vet as soon as I noticed the change in the leg, but then I scare pretty easy when it comes to my dogs. Weird that arthritis would be coming on so suddenly and now in both legs....really has me wondering pomtzu. Your vet might decide to do x-rays when the time is up if he hasn't improved. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it disappears as fast as it came on.
Sorry about all the trouble and worry you're going through.

[pomtzu]

Well it's a little better news, so for now I'll hold off calling the vet back and give it the full 2 weeks that she said. I just hope it's not one step forward and two steps back tho. Of course if he gets worse again, then I'll take him in.

Yesterday he was really feeling his oats. He came running (in a hobbling sort of way) to the door to greet me when I came home from shopping. Then last night the little stinker jumped up on the bed before I had a chance to pick him up - and that's a no-no to be jumping. He also jumped up the steps before I could get to him - another no-no. He's still limping, but is moving around a lot better and not just laying around in one spot and not wanting to move, like he was. He's about the same today as he was yesterday.

So as long as he doesn't backslide again, I'm relieved somewhat, and hope that he will continue to make progress. I imagine that the vet will still take x-rays when he goes back, since it seems to affecting both legs. I just can't imagine what it could be, other than arthritis. Doesn't really sound like a sprain now that both legs are affected.

But then - what do I know

[Daisy and Delilah]

How is Sparky doing, Ellie? I hope the little guy is back to normal.

[pomtzu]

How is Sparky doing, Ellie? I hope the little guy is back to normal.

Terry - normal he is not.

It's like he flips a switch - one minute he is limping and the next he is just fine. He's much more active than he was, but that limp is still there a lot - first in one leg and then in the other. And it appears at times he's favoring that back leg too, that has the bad knee. I'm trying to keep him from jumping on and off the bed, and the back steps too, but sometimes he beats me too it and it doesn't seem to bother him.

So yesterday we cut grass, and when he went outside this morning, had grass all on his feet since the grass was wet from dew, and I took a towel to clean them off before he came back in the house. When I picked up his front foot (the original problem one), he gave out a yelp, so something in that leg is still hurting him. I've had him on the baby aspirin which has helped some I guess, but now I'm back to square one. I have to call the vet a little later and get an appointment, since I just don't know what else to do at this point.

I'll keep you posted.....

[Asiel]

Been keeping my eye on this thread to see if we would finally know how Sparky was. Since there was nothing I assumed all was well, so sorry the little fluff ball is still limping Pomtzu.
So odd the way it jumps from leg to leg and seems to be spreading to all four. Hope the vet can figure out what it is. It sure came on suddenly if it is arthritis.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Thanks for the update, Ellie. Sorry it isn't so good.

This sounds exactly like Delilah when she had the sprain(sorry for being a broken record on this). Even with the meds, it was touch and go at times. I had to monitor her all the time.

I know how hard it is to keep them from jumping up and down. Best wishes to you for finding out what's going on asap!!

[pomtzu]

He's been running around, just happy as a clam, for the past couple of days and only a very slight limp.

But - He's going to the vet on Monday at 2:30 - no if's, and's, or but's!! We're going to get to the root of this problem yet.

He desperately needs to go to the groomer, but I don't want to stress him out before I find out what's going on. So today I got out the scissors and played groomer. He doesn't look too bad - actually a lot better than he did - and he probably feels better too. But a groomer I am not!

I'll update after his doctor visit. I'm hoping for a simple fix.

[Asiel]

Glad he'll finally be seeing the vet, I'm getting so curious about the limping off and on. Hope it's just a passing thing.

So, you're into grooming now, maybe try to give yourself a haircut to see how that turns out since you were so successful with Sparky....dare you..lol.

[pomtzu]

So, you're into grooming now, maybe try to give yourself a haircut to see how that turns out since you were so successful with Sparky....dare you..lol.

Yup - I need a haircut, but it will wait..........

Call me chicken!

[Medusa]

Yup - I need a haircut, but it will wait..........

Call me chicken!:eek:

Bok bok!

[pomtzu]

Okay ladies - I'll git ya' both when you least expect it.........

[Asiel]

cluck cluck

[pomtzu]

Well - Sparky-Doodle had his doctor appointment this afternoon.......

When I described to Dr Annie what's been going on the past 3 weeks since he was last in, her comment was: "This is not a textbook case!" Just what I needed to hear!

Of course he hasn't been limping hardly at all for the past few days, and he just had to show her there's no problem, and why am I here?? - by jumping up on the bench in the reception area!

I told her of the back and forth of feeling good with almost no limp, to limping badly and not wanting to move, loss of appetite occasionally, the limp moving from leg to leg to leg, one day acting like his bouncy, blitzy self, and then going to being a lethargic lump...

She said that this is all classic symptoms of Lyme's. Yes - he tested negative, but there is a 2% chance of a false negative result. If it was a disc problem in his spine, it wouldn't be affecting both front and back legs and moving to different locations, and it's not likely arthritis in his legs since it came on so suddenly.

So - she took him off the baby aspirin unless I feel he absolutely needs it, and put him on Amoxicillin twice a day for 10 days, and if he continues to improve as he is doing now and at the end of the 10 days, she will continue him on it for the full 30 day treatment and assume it was a false negative test. If he gets worse, then the x-rays start and my bank account depletes in time for Christmas shopping. But I'll do what needs to be done for my little Lovebug!

Today she didn't even charge me for an office visit - just for the antibiotics. She's a peach!

So if I could ask for some good vibes to be sent Sparky's way - we will both be so grateful. Thanks friends! You're all peachy too!

[Moesha]

I sure hope that this helps Sparky and that he gets back to feeling like himself all the time!

[Medusa]

Sounds like you have a pretty cool vet, too, El. Sure hope that you get to the bottom of this soon. I'm glad that Sparky is feeling better, though, and I hope that this treatment works.