Dog with hurt leg - is there anything I can do?

MusSpo13

My dog, which is a golden lab, hurt her leg approx 2-3 months ago. We only noticed she was hurt when she was limping. We thought she had just sprained it a little. About 6 weeks ago she wasn't getting any better, brought her to the vet as the leg had swelled up, he gave her an injection and said to see if that improved it a bit. Went back to him 3 weeks later, the swelling went down but she still wasn't any better with the limp. He didn't give her anything then and just said it could take time to heal as she's old (13). Another 3 weeks has gone since and it worse she's getting, she doesn't put any weight on it and now she's not even eating much as she doesn't like getting up to walk to her food. Is there any more that the vet can do for her? I feel that he isn't doing enough but he says that because she's old it wouldn't be worth it. Other than the leg she's in great health and I hate seeing her so down. Does anyone know is there anything that can be done for her? Any advice is very much appreciated..

sillysmiles

Did the vet give you any indication of what was causing the pain? Is it ligament damage? Is it arthritis? I think if it was me, I'd like to know what was causing the pain before saying there is nothing that can be done. Was s/he able to manipulate the leg to see where exactly was the site of the pain?

tk123

Go to a different vet would be my advise. As a comparison my boy hurt his knee there a few weeks ago and he was to rest for 2 weeks and then come back to have it checked again or sooner if it got worse. He was fine when we went back and there was no charge

DBB

I don't think I could trust any vet who'd leave a dog in pain just because she's old.
It's completely unacceptable op. I would go to a different vet to get this resolved one way or the other. She can't be left in pain.

MusSpo13

sillysmiles wrote: »

Did the vet give you any indication of what was causing the pain? Is it ligament damage? Is it arthritis? I think if it was me, I'd like to know what was causing the pain before saying there is nothing that can be done. Was s/he able to manipulate the leg to see where exactly was the site of the pain?

He said it wasn't arthritis. At first he thought it may have been a growth of some kind but as the swelling went down he ruled that out. He thinks she got hit by something and that it's a fracture. Personally I don't think she got hit as we live in the country where the only traffic is my family and this limp came on over time, not suddenly. He moved the leg and said the damage is in her elbow? (I didn't know dogs have elbows..) I asked about an x-ray but he said to wait and see..

MusSpo13

Thank you all for your help, I really appreciate other peoples opinions on it. I think I'm going to go to another vet and see what they think, I not happy with him just dismissing it like this.

tk123

Maybe post your location OP and somebody might be able to recommend a vet they trust? I'm in Dublin so no use to you!

DBB

MusSpo13 wrote: »

He thinks she got hit by something and that it's a fracture.

Hang on... Really? Your vet proposes that your elderly dog has a fractured leg and he adopts a "wait and see" approach?
I would not only find another vet, I would never consider returning to the current vet. Is he a small animal vet or a farm vet?

He moved the leg and said the damage is in her elbow? (I didn't know dogs have elbows..).

Although the bones are different lengths and the joints in different places, all animals with skeletons essentially have the same basic anatomy
The elbow is the joint just where the front leg departs from the torso. What people call the dog's "knee" (on the front leg) is actually the wrist! The actual knee, just like ours, is on the hind leg.

Alun

He thought it "might" be a fracture and didn't do an X-ray? Seriously, what kind of a vet is this??!!

MusSpo13

tk123 wrote: »

Maybe post your location OP and somebody might be able to recommend a vet they trust? I'm in Dublin so no use to you!

Thanks anyway, I'm in Clare outside ennis..

MusSpo13

DBB wrote: »

Hang on... Really? Your vet proposes that your elderly dog has a fractured leg and he adopts a "wait and see" approach?
I would not only find another vet, I would never consider returning to the current vet. Is he a small animal vet or a farm vet?



Although the bones are different lengths and the joints in different places, all animals with skeletons essentially have the same basic anatomy
The elbow is the joint just where the front leg departs from the torso. What people call the dog's "knee" (on the front leg) is actually the wrist! The actual knee, just like ours, is on the hind leg.

Yes I thought that aswell.. He just doesn't seem bothered by it. He's a farm vet mainly. Should I go to someone that specialises in small animals?

Ah I see, thanks for the explanation!

MusSpo13

Alun wrote: »

He thought it "might" be a fracture and didn't do an X-ray? Seriously, what kind of a vet is this??!!

No xray, almost dismissed that idea of it. Keeps putting it down to her age..she's a very healthy dog otherwise so I'm not happy with that..

kathleen37

Honestly, go to someone different. That's just terrible to dismiss pain and an injury because of her age?

I hope you find someone that treats her properly soon.

Pugzilla

Go to a vet with orthopaedic training

maggiepip

Thats terrible, did he not even give you painkillers to give her? Thats incredibly bad:(

DBB

There are a couple of good small animal vets down Ennis way op.. Large animal vets generally don't have the experience and skills that small animal vets have when dealing with, well, small animals! They're not attending small animal continuing education courses nor keeping their hand in with the nuances of their care.
That said, for any vet to shrug lameness off as a broken leg without even x-raying... Beggars belief really. I think a child would know that a suspected broken bone needs to be x-rayed

DBB

I've PM'd you with a couple of small animal vets in Ennis, including an orthopaedic specialist

MusSpo13

maggiepip wrote: »

Thats terrible, did he not even give you painkillers to give her? Thats incredibly bad:(

Just gave her an injection, it didn't do any good for her.

MusSpo13

DBB wrote: »

I've PM'd you with a couple of small animal vets in Ennis, including an orthopaedic specialist

I just saw that, thank you!

ali_d

ah OP I'm sorry to read this. The poor pet. It's disgraceful to dismiss an elderly dog like that. Make sure she's getting plenty of rest and hope you get better care from another vet.

mlxx

I hope you have got a second opinion on this. As a vet myself I can tell you that the next step of an xray is a must especially in an old dog to make sure there is nothing sinister going on. I hope your poor dog is on proper pain relief now

LuckyLoki

You could try tumeric, golden paste, to relieve her arthritis after you get any possible fracture sorted. Lots of people having great successwith it. Google it! Cheap and easy to make too.