This is an update to the previous question that I had asked. Our Vet called and had posted Bubbles' X-rays to a website for other vets to look at. They said the Rad's showed no abnormalities and one tiny area where there is arthritis near the tip of her tail. Other than that it all looked great. Since my last question she has started dragging her left hind leg a little bit which prompted the X-rays which were taken on 3/11/08. And when we woke up this morning to give her a morning pain pill we noticed that she is starting to drag her other hind leg as well. Just not as bad as the left side. She has now stopped taking the Deramaxx and is now taking Tramadol 50mg every 8 hours and Cimetidine 200mg every 12 hours to protect her tummy from the Tramadol. Our Vet has now referred us to a neurologist that wants to do an MRI as well as draw out some spinal fluid and test that as well. Which brings me to another question. Would I be out of line to ask the neurologist for Credentials and ask him how many times he's withdrawn fluid from a spine? I don't want to insult him however I don't want my baby to be paralyzed from an accidental misplacement of the needle either. Could all this be caused by a pinched nerve maybe in her neck? If anymore symptoms arise I will update this question again. Thank You for responding to my question earlier Allison. It's much appreciated!
Kristy
My Bubbles (pit-hound mix) is 7 years old. Recently she saw our family vet and was given Deramaxx 75mg chewable tab, to be broken in half and given every 24 hours. Since she has taken this her condition has worsened. Our vet told us that she probably has mild arthritis and this should help. Now when she walks she take very tiny "baby steps" on her front legs. She also has been very withdrawn from doing anything at all and would rather lay on our bed all day and all night. she only comes out for water, food and bathroom. We havent been giving her the pills everyday. only when we see that her pain is elevated. We didn't want to have to use pain pills later in life for her and have them not be effective anymore due to using them too early. Is there anything that you can think of that could be causing her pain? She does not hurt to the touch that we can tell. I can bend and move her joints and she does not pull away at all. I'm worried that this could be something other than arthritis. Any Ideas?
Thank you,
Kristy
