ElvisTheNewf
Active member
No fractures, damage, or surgery? That's good news! I hope they can figure things out and get him on a good medication regimen so he's not in pain. I've been thinking about him!
Please send good thoughts our way (little long)
- Thread starter takemebacktotulsa
- Start date
R Taft
Active member
Just caught up with this, sounds like it might be better news for you.....Take care, give him a big :hugs: from usI spoke to the doctor earlier today but am waiting on the official report from the radiologist. I should get that when I pick my sweet boy up in just a little bit. The really good news is that nothing was fractured and there is little if ANY damage. He said both sides had "something" going on, the left more than the right (he's been limping on left side) but that it might "just be how Newfoundlands are built". Nothing requiring surgery, but probably something managed with antiinflammatories or pain meds when needed. I'm still a little confused and need more info but I hope to get clarification soon. I'm incredibly relieved but also really want to know what is causing the pain. I need to fix things
Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences and your good thoughts with us. I am forever grateful for the support.
Ronnie
takemebacktotulsa
New member
We are still waiting for the official word. The vet was in surgery when I picked Willis up last night. I do have the scans, but they mean nothing to my uneducated eye. I am going to give them a few hours (apparently they had a very busy day yesterday ) and then I will hound them for info
janices
New member
What you might want to do is talk to ortho about hyaluronan injections to ease the flare up right now. The injections of hyaluronan are done right into joint to put lubrication into joint to ease out the inflammation which usually stops the limping. Usually done in a series of 2 to 3 initially to ease that out. Sometimes have to repeat in about 6 mos or so and sometimes not.I spoke to the doctor earlier today but am waiting on the official report from the radiologist. I should get that when I pick my sweet boy up in just a little bit. The really good news is that nothing was fractured and there is little if ANY damage. He said both sides had "something" going on, the left more than the right (he's been limping on left side) but that it might "just be how Newfoundlands are built". Nothing requiring surgery, but probably something managed with antiinflammatories or pain meds when needed. I'm still a little confused and need more info but I hope to get clarification soon. I'm incredibly relieved but also really want to know what is causing the pain. I need to fix things
Thank you to everyone for sharing your experiences and your good thoughts with us. I am forever grateful for the support.
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janices
New member
Ginny, I don't recommend forgoing CT scan anymore. Rather not put newf through an unnecessary arthroscopy surgery and if there is something there I'd rather they get it all and not take chance of it getting missed on arthroscopy. Reason being it's now coming from multiple experiences have had where something got missed in arthroscopy and had to go CT to find what was missed and go back in, plus finding no reason to do any surgery in the results. I know it's considerable expense having the CT done on top if surgery needed but I can't forgo not justifying it anymore.
Ginny
New member
Good point about missing something and having to go back in, Janice. One problem with CT scans though is that approximately 10% of the time, the defect can't be seen (90% is a pretty good bet however). If other subtle changes suggestive of a problem are seen, such as an increase in bone density, and the dog is symptomatic, they'll usually end up scoping. An ortho surgeon I spoke to who specializes in arthroscopy, said she'd only ever scoped and found normal elbows one time. That dog ended up with a tumor somewhere near the elbow that wasn't detectable until months later... A pretty unusual case.
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takemebacktotulsa
New member
Janice, thank you for recommending the hyaluronan. We will definitely consider it, especially if our plan for resting him doesn't alleviate the pain.
The official word is his elbows and shoulders are fine and the weird area on the coronoid is perfectly fine for a Newf. No risk of fractures, no problems in soft tissue, joint or bone could be seen. Still doesn't explain the pain and lameness, so we'll rest him for a few weeks then consider injections if the pain/limp resurfaces.
I'm sure I would have been a basket case without the support of my breeder and this forum. Thank you all
The official word is his elbows and shoulders are fine and the weird area on the coronoid is perfectly fine for a Newf. No risk of fractures, no problems in soft tissue, joint or bone could be seen. Still doesn't explain the pain and lameness, so we'll rest him for a few weeks then consider injections if the pain/limp resurfaces.
I'm sure I would have been a basket case without the support of my breeder and this forum. Thank you all
Ginny
New member
Great news! Phew. What the heck is causing the limp??? Are they assuming soft tissue injury?Janice, thank you for recommending the hyaluronan. We will definitely consider it, especially if our plan for resting him doesn't alleviate the pain.
The official word is his elbows and shoulders are fine and the weird area on the coronoid is perfectly fine for a Newf. No risk of fractures, no problems in soft tissue, joint or bone could be seen. Still doesn't explain the pain and lameness, so we'll rest him for a few weeks then consider injections if the pain/limp resurfaces.
I'm sure I would have been a basket case without the support of my breeder and this forum. Thank you all
DAWNMERIE
Active member
Agreed great news!! With Zeke the specialist saw the soft tissue injury on the x-ray (normal vet could not) so I'd think they'd be able to see it on CT scan, right? Strange to me??? I do hate when there really are no apparent reasons and no answers!! Did they check the wrist area?
P.S. With Zeke and his soft tissue injury it ended up being a good 2 months of restrictions (we did our normal walks after a month), always on leash and no mucking about.
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takemebacktotulsa
New member
No soft tissue injury could be seen, but that's what they've deduced he must have. So while we don't have the definitive answer we thought we might get with the CT, we're still happy to try to heal him through rest. I know it will be a challenge for all of us, but we'll do anything we can to get him back to 100%.
hemingway
New member
Is he on a joint supplement? Sounds too simple, but you may want to put him on one and see how he does on that. Dasuquin with msm worked WONDERS for us. I can't say enough good things about the stuff....and I highly recommend it for anyone with a Newf, particularly a newf with some soreness, possibly coming from a joint. Just a thought! Feel better soon, Willis!!!Janice, thank you for recommending the hyaluronan. We will definitely consider it, especially if our plan for resting him doesn't alleviate the pain.
The official word is his elbows and shoulders are fine and the weird area on the coronoid is perfectly fine for a Newf. No risk of fractures, no problems in soft tissue, joint or bone could be seen. Still doesn't explain the pain and lameness, so we'll rest him for a few weeks then consider injections if the pain/limp resurfaces.
I'm sure I would have been a basket case without the support of my breeder and this forum. Thank you all
takemebacktotulsa
New member
Simple is always good
He was on plain old glucosamine and salmon oil, but when I read your earlier post, I ordered the Dasuquin w/ MSM and he's been taking it for a couple of days now. We started full-time crate rest today and I'm picking up some anti inflammatories from the vet tonight. He's a bit confused as to why he's lost his roaming rights, but I know he'll be happier once he's healed.