Sad Limping Dog

[mogster]

Hi All,

About 18 months ago i noticed our dog limping with his front left leg. In the area around the front of his "armpit" (?) he was extremely tender and the leg quite swollen. He struggled to sit or lie down. That night he was sick several times and even lost control of his bladder when resting. I feared he had either been bitten by a snake or fallen down the stairs and broken a bone and the pain was causing him to vomit. I took him to a vet, who was a bit scared to examine Jumbo (a good natured rottie) but gave anti inflammatories and pain killers. Although his discomfort was eased he was still walking like his shoulder was dislocated (sideways kind of gait). I took him to another (more senior) vet who said there was nothing broken and gave him a shot of vitamins. I have since returned several times to the vet who just says "let him rest" and gives him some more vitamins.

I took him to a third vet about 3 months ago but he just looked frightened to death to examine the dog, and again just gave him a shot of vitamins.

Now since this has happened our dog has gone from a 50 pound rottweiller who looked indestructable, to a sorry-looking 35 pound. He mopes about the house and always looks sad. When I have tried to take him walking or swimming he gets tired quickly, and when he gets back his limp looks very painful.

He looks like he needs some protein to build him up, and some decent exercise, but I'd love to get his leg fixed properly first, so he doesnt come home in pain every time.

Can anyone advise? We are in Phuket.

[BambinA]

u need

1 xray - check fracture (but seem it happend 18 mts agao, if its fracture..now it'd be mal-formation in the process of healing ..make calcification around it ..and make a prob with joint

2biopsy -check bone tumor

Edited December 19, 2005 by BambinA

[bina]

u didnt give age etc:

first: bring muzzle when having dog examined that may help the 'frightened' doctors, if u dont have a muzzle, use and old pantyhose twice around muzzle, once tied behind ears, it works great

2; decide how much money u want to spend and what u plan to do if it is cancer

3. then do biopsy..

check internet vet sites:

my dog, 8 yr boxer's spondylitis (Welded spinal bones) just kicked in and in three days has degenerated to almost parapalegic .... but buddhist partner is refusing to 'put him down' as is one of my kids... he is happy and alert apart from his body not responding...

sad sad..... getting prednisone... will see what happens '

had one tumor removed; now noticed lump on front fetlock area... but due to his bad health will not operate... just spoil him and decide when to put him down or let him die naturally..

losing weight and limp is usually a cancer sign.... or degenerative arthritis type disease dont remember if there is any for rotties (GSD boxers etc are prone)

[mogster]

Thanks for you helpful suggestions Bambina and Bina. He is 5 years old but always acts like a puppy up until recently. Also, we always muzzle him before going to the vets, but some vets are still scared of the reputation, i guess.

I shall look into getting a biopsy. Sorry to hear about your boxer. Its a hard decision.

Any Phuket rottweiller specialists recommended?

[bina]

http://www.vetinfo.com/

http://vetgate.ac.uk/browse/cabi/detail/b7...76fec8e1bb.html

had some others dont know where:

try googling for rotties + health problems or something ... the forums are usually pretty good

at the moment carrying him up and down the stairs to go out; playing with him (throwing toys to his mouth letting him catch them etc), and waiting it out: the buddhist side won out at the moment (youngest daughter who knows nothing about buddhism but quoted exactly what my partner had said to me in thai: let the dog choose when to die, not us...)... he doesnt seem to suffer any pain, so...

vet should do blood work; and syringe out from lump area if there is fluid , xrays , maybe ultra sound etc... here in israel it cost a bundle so at some point finances take over any medical decisions in my animals

once u have diagnosed something u can make additional decisions (theres even chemo for dogs, i wouldnt do it but to each their own), etc... there is a rottie owner in the forum somewhere (i think breeder? ) try searching in the forum with the word rottweiler or doberman...

good luck, thanx for thinking of me....