I am taking Jake to the vet this afternoon. He has as you all know had issues with his back leg...he would limp every so often and would whine in pain...the vet didn't see anything wrong with his leg and gave us pain killers to give him when he needed them. Well fast forward...for about 2 weeks, he has been acting weird...we thought it was because LuLu belle was in heat and that had somehow made him agitated a bit. The last 2 nights he has been crying out when he tries to move at night. It isn't when he is just walking or lying but when he goes to lay down or get up. It isn't the usual back leg hurting and I can't tell where the pain is coming from. To make this long email to the point, I am so worried about bone cancer. Jake is now 4...he is awfully large, tall and 145 pounds. He is panting heavily and I laid with him around midnight to calm him. What should I ask the vet? And what tests should be run?
Crying...
- Thread starter lmfoltyn
- Start date
victoria1140
Active member
Panting is probably a sign of pain.
Xrays to rule out disc problems plus they should be able to see any abnormalities.blood tests for liver, kidneys and possibly platelets.
I cant help on bone cancer tests but fingers crossed its just a trapped nerve
Xrays to rule out disc problems plus they should be able to see any abnormalities.blood tests for liver, kidneys and possibly platelets.
I cant help on bone cancer tests but fingers crossed its just a trapped nerve
victoria1140
Active member
Get them to check for trapped nerves and spondylitis.could still be a back issue.fingers crossed for you
Bailey Boy
New member
Towards the end Bailey would cry in pain from arthritis in his back when getting up and down pain meds stopped working for our boy.
I would defiantly ask for xrays and bloodwork as suggested, I hope you find out what is going on and able to help Jake feel better soon.
I would defiantly ask for xrays and bloodwork as suggested, I hope you find out what is going on and able to help Jake feel better soon.
Just back...blood work won't be in until tomorrow but they did the xrays and it shows spondylitis. I would welcome all advice...he starts on Deramaxx tonight. My poor boy...the vet didn't say what the prognosis is...so how long before we have to consider other things...don't want to say it out loud...he has several vertebrae that are affected.
victoria1140
Active member
Massage is good plus obviously keeping him thin.
It isnt a death sentence its just something that has to be managed like all illness' s.
Thank heavens its not the c word.also coconut oil and a joint support may help.
It isnt a death sentence its just something that has to be managed like all illness' s.
Thank heavens its not the c word.also coconut oil and a joint support may help.
mrs big dogs
New member
Have you thought about a Chiropractor, mine go to one every few months and it has helped alot, also I use Phycox Granules, just started them on it a month ago and has helped also, good luck we all hate to see our babies in pain
Leonard and his bud Snuffles
Active member
Snuffles has been on a low dose of Deramaxx for well over a year. He gets a 75 mg tablet where his therapeutic dose is about 67 mg (1 mg per Kg). No problems have been detected and he has had several blood test since.
I bet the Vet started Jake on 100mg, but maybe if he show improvement, he can be cut back to 75mg. The therapeutic dosage for Deramaxx is 1 to 2 mg per Kg of dog. Short term for like a week, you can go up to 4mg per Kg. Sometimes I think you need the extra to get the inflammation in check, then a lower dose holds it.
I think my friend's dog has had Spondylosis for a while, and I think she has done well on Rimidyl.
DAWNMERIE
Active member
Miss Myra has lower lumbar spondylosis 
Where is Jake's ?
Myra has been on Rimadyl for about a year (which I hate--yes the expense of it but more so I know it's doing internal damage) I've actually been messing around with different holistic things lately and what I will say is, I seemed to have some success with Golden Paste. I put Vin & the dogs on it but ran out and noticed a difference. Just made a new batch this past weekend and hoping for the same results.
Where is Jake's ?Myra has been on Rimadyl for about a year (which I hate--yes the expense of it but more so I know it's doing internal damage) I've actually been messing around with different holistic things lately and what I will say is, I seemed to have some success with Golden Paste. I put Vin & the dogs on it but ran out and noticed a difference. Just made a new batch this past weekend and hoping for the same results.
Leonard and his bud Snuffles
Active member
I always found Foster and Smith has about as cheap as any reputable online company. It is prescription, so you still need that from your Vet. Some vets here charge to write a scrip. I am very blessed, our Vet will generally honor mail order prices.
Miss Myra has lower lumbar spondylosis
Myra has been on Rimadyl for about a year (which I hate--yes the expense of it but more so I know it's doing internal damage) I've actually been messing around with different holistic things lately and what I will say is, I seemed to have some success with Golden Paste. I put Vin & the dogs on it but ran out and noticed a difference. Just made a new batch this past weekend and hoping for the same results.
Jake's is in the middle of his back...poor doggies...I just hate the thought of this being for the rest of his life and on medication like this for the rest of his life. I am just praying he lives a long life...
Lori
New member
Chance has spondylosis. He took Metacam and Tramadol. The Metacam we used at the time was in liquid form so on bad days I could give him his full dose and on other days we could use less. I also gave SAM-e and milk thistle to help cleanse his liver. We went for acupuncture also, which seemed to help him too. The vet also did aqua-puncture as she called it. At each point where she would have put a needle, she injected a solution of Adequan and vitamin B-12. She did this after we had done a series of the regular needles.