I just read this - and thought I replied - but apparently my mind was elsewhere.
lots of prayers on the way Phred and fur crew.
Having a dog with hip dysplasia I can empathasize with you. They sure know how to hide their pain from us.
If it is a pain management issue over the longterm I strongly reccomend the Dog Gone Pain that Keegan takes. www.doggonepain.com Pricewise I think its probably about the same as Rimadyl but not near as hard on their liver. Keegan never responded well to the Rimadyl as she did the DGP.
kisses to the patient.