Hind foot knuckling under - HELP - Page 2

Good News!

By yesterday morning we had not witnessed anymore proprioreceptor deficit (thank you Sunsilver for providing the correct term)  However Echo still wobbled some the first few steps after getting up from a down position.  She doesn't avoid the slick floors but definately has trouble keeping those hind paws under her even this morning.  I don't think she would have so much trouble if she would just slow down but she goes at everything super hard and in doing so will slide and scramble.  We gave her aspirin every 8 hours with the last dose being last night. 

Luckily we were able to get her in to see the Vet first thing this morning.  The Vet looked our girl over very thoroughly and did X-rays of her spine and hips (no sedation necessary!).  She said the aspirin was a great idea since we couldn't get in but feels a better choice, Rimadyl (anti-inflammatory med) and keeping her quiet will do the trick now.  There is no sign of a spinal injury and even at this early age her hips looked great!  The Vet feels Echo may have pinched a nerve while playing and it is no longer an issue, just needs to heal up.  I pressed for a better explanation and the Vet said most likely she twisted her back and pulled a muscle (much like I myself have done to my own back) so she is still a little sore which makes it hard to keep her feet under her if she slips on the slick floor. 

The Vet checked her for range of motion and noticed some minor discomfort and also palpitated her all along the spine and said she could see the pup registering mild discomfort but she could find no swelling and no adverse reaction really to all the 'man handling'.  Even though Echo has been very sedate at home (for a 6mo old!!!) she was her usual wild child self at the Vets.  She loves those people.  The Vet did say to watch how she felt on the Rimadyl and if she fails to self-limit to stop giving it to her.  We are to check back in with the Vet in a few days to let her know how Echo is doing.  The change from Saturday to this morning is remarkable but I still needed to be convinced she is ok.  The X-rays may not show everything that could be going on but they make me feel better!  Oh! And she weighs 57.8 pounds and is lean.

Thanks again for all your help, sharing your knowledge etc.  It really helped me get through this. 
Signed,
 Worried Mom
Deb
 

 Hi Deb,

Thank you for taking the time to post an update. So often people come here, ask for help and then never post again. Glad that the vet thinks it is only a pinched nerve/muscle pull and that she seems to be doing better. Rimadyl is an excellent drug, despite what many people will tell you who don't understand that all drugs, including aspirin, have risk. A short term administration, assuming it does not make her feel too good, is a reasonable option. Keep her quiet, follow the vets' directions and hopefully in a few weeks this will be forgotten. I would be careful to try to limit her activity that involved twisting and jumping to make sure it does heal and does not become a chronic injury.

Good luck.

Hi Hodie,

Thanks once again for your additional advice.  Echo has been very quiet since we got home.  She's even crated herself so she may be regretting romping around at the Vet's office.  Most definately we will limit her activity.  She always brings me a ball so she can chase after it and gets very insistent when I ignore her.  To give her something low key to do I took an old comforter bed cover and "buried" several balls and toys in it.  She loves rooting around and finding them and she is content for now with this new game.  No jumping or twisting involved.  We broke her of that kind of activity at meal time a long time ago so we don't have that to worry about.  We're taking her out on leash for potty breaks or she would be romping madly about the yard.  She is not allowed on the furniture nor the stairs so I think her recovery time should be fairly quick.  If I can just keep her from getting bored I'll have it made.

Enjoy your day,
Deb

Thanks for updating!

Be sure to completely discontinue use of the Aspirin prior to starting the Rimadyl.  The two should not be every be given together. 

At the clinic where I worked, we recently, in the past couple of years, stopped recommending the use of Aspirin in dogs, even the coated ones.  

 

Kathy

Hi Kathy,

Thanks for the advice.  Our Vet made sure we are aware not to combine them and even gave us more Rimadyl than we should need for this treatment just in case something else comes up so we won't need to use aspirin.  Do you have any idea what the shelf life would be?  I didn't think to ask about that.  I'll try to find that out.  Don't want to use anything past its shelf life.  I know some drugs become unstable and can even change over a period of time.  That could be unfortunate.

 Thanks again!

Deb

There should be an expiration on your prescription vial.  It usually has a decent shelf life, from what I remember....

I've got a bottle of another anti inflammatory (Deramaxx) in the medicine cabinet here, that I've had for a long time at least a year, maybe even two, that's still good until this September.  

I'd check the label....we always tried to kept the dates current on the RX labels with the expirations....

 

 For what it is worth, with enteric coated aspirin some dogs cannot digest the coating so get little or no benefit from the aspirin. And of course, a good vet would tell you not to continue with ASA now that the dog is on the Rimadyl. I have taken many pharmacy courses, and most drugs are very stable for years past their expiration date. It is always good to note the date however. In the case of a drug that must be refrigerated for example, and rare other drugs, I would not use them if past their date. On the other hand, I use many other drugs both myself and for the dogs even if they are past the expiration date. In business of selling drugs, the companies must be very, very conservative.

Sounds like you have everything under control. Hope your pup is back to normal sooner than later.

Great news... and what a joy you are!!  So often people ask for advice, and the minute it's given they seem to focus on all the reasons they CAN'T do what is suggested... LOL.  As Hodie says being cautious for a couple weeks now may prevent a perminate weakness.  Even Bull Riders need to rest up now and then.  ^5 and best wishes to you an your kiddo
Jill

Hello again Kathy,

Durned if you weren't right!  I checked the medicine bottle and it does have an expiration date of May 01, 2010 so I guess we are good for awhile.  Thanks for bringing that to my attention.  Any Rx I ever get for me is either take until gone or renewed every 30 days so it never occurred to me to look for an expiration date. 

Hello again Hodie,

We don't keep coated aspirin in the house as I usually chew them and don't like the coating.  (Yes, I'm strange that way but it helps with sore throats).  I agree the pharmaceutical companies need to be conservative as to when their drugs expire...funny thing, I myself would be more apt to ignore the date knowing this but when it comes to my girl, well I'm a worry wart...not that anyone would ever notice!

Hello Jill,

Hopefully we won't need to go the accupuncture way but if we do one of the Vets at our clinic does offer the service and I have no problem with it.  If Echo seems to take too long on her recovery I have no doubt I will be seeking her out for some needlework.  Thanks for the kind words.

Thanks to all for the kind words and encouragement and well wishes to all.

Deb

 Man, I could not chew an aspirin unless I had nothing to eat. LOL!!!