Lame Lab...Please Help! - Page 1

Good Evening,

I'm having some serious health issues with my 7-year-old black lab.  I've already spent close to a $1000 on vet bills, and the money well has run dry. 

At the begining of September, he started limping sporadically... and seemed "depressed".  That was when I took him into the vet. Keep in mind, I've had him since he was 3 months old, and he's only been to the vet for his vaccinations...he's always been very healthy.

The vet then told me that without an X-Ray, (which would require an additional cost of sedation), there's no way of telling what is causing the limp.  I could not afford the X-Ray (still can't).  Following this initial exam, he caught "Kennel Cough" from the puppy we adopted from the SPCA...another $600 to cure both of them...and then, with my vet out of town, I took him to another for a possible sling, as he won't stay off his leg...but instead, that vet gave him Rymadle (another $300 vet bill).  The Rymadle caused a severe ulcer, that had him vomiting blood for 3 days...had to take him to an emergency care clinic... another $500...and he has just recovered from that...only today I found a huge (a little larger than a golf ball, but egg shaped) gel-like sack-lump under the skin of the elbow he's NOT limping from! Argh!

I looked online, and it seems to follow the characteristics of a hydrol (or something of that name)... which is in itself problematic, as my home has no carpet (due to the dog...it's all tiled)...and although he has a soft "bed", he refuses to sleep on it...but prefers the hard floor.

I'm at my wit's end.  Completely out of money... he refuses to take his joint supplements (after the ulcer, he doesn't trust me to give him medication anymore...smart pooch this one...) and he refuses to "take it easy"...he's got the energy of "Marley"...as in, despite his age, he still acts like he's 7 months old.  I could "crate" him...but I don't see how it would do any good, as when I'm sedative, so is he... but when I would take him out of his crate...he would get just as active...so I really don't see the advantage of crating him, only his broken heart from not understanding it.

I'm wondering if any one else has dealt with this issue...including not being able to afford the "proper" treatment...and could offer any insight and advice on home remedies and what I should expect from this point on.  Please be kind... he is my "buddy"...and I love him dearly, but when there's no money, there's just no money.

Try Google

Chaz that was rude

I dont know what the answer for your guy is but i would for sure crate rest him. If he is still running around like a puppy he will aggravate it more. When dogs get pano etc they are sent to there crates for bed rest. Put something soft in there to lie on.
What doesnt sound good is the new owiee he has on the other leg. That really screams something else is going on here.
At the end of the day the only way to go is somehow get him to the vet. That is the only way you are going to find out what is trully going on. And as we are all dog lovers we are not vets:)

Good luck with your guy!!


 

i just have to ask.....if you cant afford $60 for x ray, $35 for sedation.....whay are you adopting another puppy from SPCA?

I am so sorry he is not doing well. Recently I had someone bring me there 9 year old shepherd to look at , and he had some sores he was licking, and a large lump on his leg. I told them it might be cancer. They had been treating the wounds for a very long time, and the poor dog had to wear a cone all the time. When they took the dog to a new Vet , they where told it was cancer , and he was put to sleep peacefully .

A dog that has lumps and mystery bumps, that has sores, is loosing weight, etc.. I would look again into X raying the dog. Maybe go to a cheaper clinic.

http://www.bonecancerdogs.org/main/document/102

Please read the link above, and also note that some fungus can also cause lumps and bumps and lameness in bones.

Whisper

Thank you everyone for your kind replies and advice.  And yes, thank you to those who were not so kind... for even in the harshest criticism there is wisdom to be found.

Chaz... I have "googled"...which is what led me to the site that explained the harm the rymadle was causing, as well as the emergency care center that treated him for it.  Google(ing) also helped to relieve my fears regarding the lump...and gave me information to relay to the vet today.

Gsd... Thank you for your kind advice. As I relayed to Chaz, the vet told me over the phone to just "watch" the lump right now...and try to "train" him to sleep on his bed...which is do-able.  If it's anything other than the hydro(something) than it will not clear up in a week, and then I can bring him in.  As for the limp... as much as I hate to do it...I think you're correct, regarding the crating.  It's just too difficult to socialize the puppy without him wanting to play as well...so a depressing separation will have to occur.  Considering that there are no physical signs of damage or growths on the lame leg (the lump is on his "good" elbow), without an X-ray, the two most obvious conclusions are either a sprained muscle/tendon or arthritis.  Either way, rest is necessary (sad face)

Ladyfrost... Thank you for your question... I don't know what part of the country you reside in, but on the off chance your vet is a "chain" practice, may I please have the name.  I've gone to three vets in my area and all of their prices are the same... starting at $400 and could end up at $1,000 depending on how many "pictures" the vet needs to take to detect the problem.  As for the puppy... we were not informed that he had Kennel Cough when we adopted him. As for the "why" we adopted him regarding $$$... as I said in my previous post, I've had the lab for seven years and the only expense he's ever been was the regular vaccinations and dog food.  The puppy was "advertised" to only set us back $75 for the adoption fees (which included his first round of vaccinations and neutering).  At the time of the adoption, I have a few dollars set aside for the decision...those dollars, as I explained have been spent on unexpected vet bills (kennel cough for both animals, the lab's limp/ulcers).  OK...a little more was spent than I had set aside... the Christmas/Emergency fund has been drained.  But again...if you could lead me to a vet that would perform the X-rays and sedation for under $100, as you suggested...I'm all ears.

Kimmelot... thank you for the website.  I will look into it.  Luckily, the lump is not a sore, nor does he have any sores.  His appetite has not changed, and other than the lump and limp...one would never know anything was wrong with him (as he has fully recovered from the ulcer incident).  But as I said to Gsd, I will be working with him on sleeping on his bed, keeping him rested, and keep an eye on the lump for the next week.  It's really the limp that bugs me... and, from listening to everyone...it seems as though I will have to bite the bullet and be the "bad guy" and make him rest.

It costs you $600 for kennel cough for two dogs and $300 for Rimadyl? Don't know who you're going to but that's ridiculous. As far as the limping goes, we all have had a dog limp at one time or another, it could be a wide range of things. From something strained/fractured/broken. And without an X-ray, that's a hard one to decipher. Is he limping on a foreleg or back leg? Does he have pain near his pastern? Does he pull away due to his paw pad being messed/played with? Have you stretched (properly) his hindquarter/foreleg with him sharply resisting due to pain? I would definitely save up for an X-ray in your position. I've never been in a predicament where I couldn't get veterinary treatment due to finances, but I'd imagine it's infuriating.

I'm sorry you're going through this, I know what it's like to be poor, LOL.

I just wanted to add something here as far as crating the lab.  First of all, crate rest may do him good other than just resting the leg.  If the puppy wants to play all the time, the lab needs a break.  If they are together constantly, the puppy will likely bond to the older dog instead of bonding with you and this could result in obedience/training issues.  Crate rest is harder on the people than it actually is on the dog, in most cases.  If he's been limping, he's in pain... and he'll be grateful when/if the crate rest relieves it.  You're being the good guy, not the bad guy and in the long run, it will pay off!

Best of luck and please keep us updated.  Pictures wouldn't hurt either :)

Did you test for tick borne diseases like LYMES?  Could be a three week dose of doxycycline might be cost effective.

How was that rude? If you Google a topic, you get info.