Sparky's Saga/Update #74

[pomtzu]

OK - so here's the latest.

I had to run in town this a.m., and noticed a light on in the vet's office, so thought I'd stop in and make an appointment for Monday. When I told her what was going on, she said to bring him right in - today! Came back home to pick him up - and of course he wasn't limping again after being hardly able to walk all day yesterday and this morning!
The first thing I jokingly asked her was if they are capable of playing head games - and she gave me an emphatic "Oh yes!!!"
So we went in, and the first thing she suspected was Lyme's (typical symptoms) - vaccines are only 80% effective. She drew blood for a test and it came up negative. She doesn't feel it's arthritis since it came on so sudden, so it's probably looking like a sprain or jamming type injury. It might feel better for a while and then he somehow aggravates it by jumping up and down off the bed, or going up and down steps. She did say too, that she saw a hint of a limp, but it was nothing compared to what it has been.
So - I have to lift him up and down off the bed, and carry him up and down the steps for a couple of weeks - a baby aspirin 4 times a day - and if he hasn't drastically improved in that time, then she will do an x-ray to check for arthritis.
So at least that has relieved my mind somewhat. If it's just a sprain, then that's great - if it's arthritis, at least he can take meds for it and it isn't life threatening. He and I will just hobble along together.

Sparky and I both thank you all for the prayers and positive vibes.

[Daisy and Delilah]

OMG Ellie!! What luck you got into the vet today!! Amazing. I've got to tell you, when Delilah hurt herself back several months ago, she was acting just like Sparky is. She is normally a very peppy dog for her age(she's 10 now). When she jurt herself after her bath the other day, she was right back to acting out of it, lethargic, uninterested in anything, etc.

I can't give her aspirin because it doesn't agree with her. She got sick with it. They gave me Duramaxx(I think that's it). Another time she got Rimadyl(I think). Both of those made her act completely different. Once she got over the pain, I think she was back to normal. This could be why Sparky is "coming and going" with the limping. Sometimes the aspirin may be kicking in and other times, not so much. This all sounds so familiar. I think Sparky is going to be ok from the sounds of it. I sure hope so.

Sorry I'm not sure about the medicine names. If I wasn't so lazy I would go look. If you want to know, PM me and I'll find out for you.

Feel better Sparky!!! I think I know how you feel, sweetheart!!!

[pomtzu]

Well - things aren't looking rosy and I'm still trying to figure out what the heck is going on. He was originally limping and favoring his left leg up until he went to the vet on Saturday. When we got home and I got him out of the car and set him down to walk, he was favoring the right leg. AARRGGGHHHH!!!! What's with this pup??? Ever since Saturday he has been hobbling around like an old man. Aspirin doesn't seem to be helping. Sometimes he's a little perkier and mobile than others - like yesterday he was really bad, yet today he seems a little better and is moving around more. But it's still the right leg. I don't want to call the vet just yet since she said to give it 2 weeks, but this whole thing is just so darned strange - good days/bad days - left leg/right leg... Maybe I'll call her on Friday if there's no change. Do you think I should, or just give it the full 2 weeks? I'm open to suggestions.

[Pinot's Mom]

Ellie, call the vet. It'll make you feel better about Sparky's treatment - just to make sure. Let us know.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Ellie, sorry I am just checking this. Wow!! What is going on? It sure sounds like my arthritis. I hope you find out soon what's going on for sure. It's hard to call. If you think the vet can shed some light, call and see what can be done. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

[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.....