help....stiffness of joints after getting spayed - is this normal?

[Jannie]

I am a registered veterinary technician, and I can whole-heartedly assure you that this has absolutely nothing to do with her being spayed, especially considering these symptoms came up weeks after her surgery. Spaying/neutering your pets is one of the best things you can do for them to keep them healthy!!!!

We have seen patients before with tick bourne disease that the owners claimed to have never seen a tick on them, either. I'm not saying this is what is is, just stating it could be a possibility. In fact, we had one come in today non ambulatory. Sounds like your little girl can walk, it just seems painful.

Forgive me if I've overlooked where you've said this, but have you brought her back in for an appointment specifically for her achiness??

Also, as Karen stated above, corn, wheat, and soy are the top 3 food allergens (beef is also a big one). Switching to a lamb and rice formula may be helpful for allergies. But I encourage you to not ignore the paw licking as it can cause sores and skin infections between her toes! Since she is 2 years old (and especially since she's spayed now) I do also encourage you to switch her to an adult formula as puppy food is high in fat and can cause weight gain.

Keep us updated, and no matter what never think you're a bad pet parent for getting her spayed!!!!

EDIT: I forgot to add - saw you mentioned you keep flea and tick meds on her. Depending on what brand/type of prevention you're using, most topicals do require the tick to bite the host before the product kills the tick. Then they typically die and fall off.

advantix is the brand of flea med.....i am changing the dog food today and she is still taking the medicine. She just doesn't walk unless she needs to lol...kinda scared on changing her food as I don't want to mess her stomach up in addition to her other problems...

[Jessika]

To avoid tummy upset when switching foods, you need to slowly transition her from old to new over the course of a few weeks. We tell clients week 1: 3/4 old, 1/4 new. Week 2: 1/2 old, 1/2 new. Week 3: 1/4 old, 3/4 new. Week 4: all new!

Personally, I've switched my dogs over "cold turkey" before with little to no problems (sometimes you run out of food or emergencies happen!!!). It depends on the dog... it isn't HARMFUL to them if you don't transition them slowly, but you will avoid diarrhea (unless their system is VERY sensitive). Since you're giving her "people food" with no problems, I would assume she doesn't have such a sensitive tummy.

[Jannie]

To avoid tummy upset when switching foods, you need to slowly transition her from old to new over the course of a few weeks. We tell clients week 1: 3/4 old, 1/4 new. Week 2: 1/2 old, 1/2 new. Week 3: 1/4 old, 3/4 new. Week 4: all new!

Personally, I've switched my dogs over "cold turkey" before with little to no problems (sometimes you run out of food or emergencies happen!!!). It depends on the dog... it isn't HARMFUL to them if you don't transition them slowly, but you will avoid diarrhea (unless their system is VERY sensitive). Since you're giving her "people food" with no problems, I would assume she doesn't have such a sensitive tummy.

well i got some lamb and rice dog food tonight we shall see if that helps....if she will just stop the feet licking i will feel like we r making progress lol.....she actually tried playing tonight b4 she went back to her bed....also trying to keep her meds on a consistent every 12 hours apart she has about 3 days left of meds and if she isn't better by then i will be taking her back to the vet....

[Jessika]

You don't have to be perfect with giving the meds every 12 hours. We tell clients "if you feed them twice a day, give them meds with breakfast and dinner". Sometimes that is 12 hours apart, but some times it isn't. And that's ok.

What meds is she currently on? I wouldn't let the paw licking go TOO long because they can get problems secondary from licking or scratching so much, like skin (staph) infections, yeast infections between their toes, or hot spots... then they lick cause they're irritated... and they're irritated cause they lick... its a vicious cycle.

[Jannie]

You don't have to be perfect with giving the meds every 12 hours. We tell clients "if you feed them twice a day, give them meds with breakfast and dinner". Sometimes that is 12 hours apart, but some times it isn't. And that's ok.

What meds is she currently on? I wouldn't let the paw licking go TOO long because they can get problems secondary from licking or scratching so much, like skin (staph) infections, yeast infections between their toes, or hot spots... then they lick cause they're irritated... and they're irritated cause they lick... its a vicious cycle.

Annie is on Ketoconazole....but she has stopped the paw licking and biting herself since she got the last steriod shot and started this medication 2 times daily and medicated bath 3 times a week..... She is doing MUCH better hopefully her hair grows back quickly cause she looks like a mutt lol but she is eating, playing back like her old self...

[Jessika]

Annie is on Ketoconazole....but she has stopped the paw licking and biting herself since she got the last steriod shot and started this medication 2 times daily and medicated bath 3 times a week..... She is doing MUCH better hopefully her hair grows back quickly cause she looks like a mutt lol but she is eating, playing back like her old self...

Ketoconazole is typically only given once a day and is an antifungal for stuff like yeast infections... Glad to see she has stopped the paw licking (which can very commonly be from a yeast infection between her toes). Sorry to hear though that the clinic may have used unsterile equipment that is causing your problems!! That would greatly concern me

[Jannie]

Ketoconazole is typically only given once a day and is an antifungal for stuff like yeast infections... Glad to see she has stopped the paw licking (which can very commonly be from a yeast infection between her toes). Sorry to hear though that the clinic may have used unsterile equipment that is causing your problems!! That would greatly concern me

talked to the vet and HE says it wasn't his clinic that caused it...that Annie must have had a low immune system and it had to be my fault that maybe some germs she may have got in the wound when she came home...All I know is when I took Annie she never had ANY issues she was a perfectly healthy happy puppy and afterwards she started having all these problems....needless to say THEY will never get another dime of mine. And I won't be recommending their facility to any of the local people around here.

[Jannie]

well i got some lamb and rice dog food tonight we shall see if that helps....if she will just stop the feet licking i will feel like we r making progress lol.....she actually tried playing tonight b4 she went back to her bed....also trying to keep her meds on a consistent every 12 hours apart she has about 3 days left of meds and if she isn't better by then i will be taking her back to the vet....

Well...I did wind up having to take Annie back to the vet and they checked her again because she was looking worse they say fungal/ bacterial infection more than likely from dirty utensils used when she got spayed. I know the 1st visit they said it looked like steph infection....I just know this has been going on since about 1 to 2 weeks after her surgery back in September. She is doing MUCH better (still on medication 2 times daily and medicated bath 3 times a week) hopefully her hair grows back quickly cause she looks like a mutt lol but she is eating, playing back like her old self...