Undiagnosed Front Leg Lameness in 9 yr old lab
Written by Kmac1979
We have been through the ringer w/ our 9 yr old lab including multiple x-rays, blood work, MRIs, and joint taps. Our vet still is unsure what is wrong with him. He has had a significant limp/lameness in his front right leg dating back to June. After many failed tests, our vet put him on prednisone which seemed to work almost immediately. He was never 100% but the pred reduced the lameness to some extent. Now 6 mths later, the pred is no longer working. Our doctor still doesn't know what's wrong and we don't know what we should do from our end.
We live in SF and apparently go to one of the most reputable vet specialists here. Should we seek a second opinion? I've read a lot online and am trying to figure out what's going on myself but with so many conditinos out there, it's hard to tell.
So my question is, is there anything anyone can think of that might not be showing up through all these tests? Should we ask for orthoscopy? Is there something that may uncover?
Thanks
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Kmac, I am sorry to hear your dog is still limping after all the work you have had done. It sounds like all the bases have been covered to try and figure out what is going on. Diagnostics on animals can be so tough sometimes because they cannot communicate which leaves a fair amount of guess work.
I think second opinions can be very helpful in many situations. If you get new information or a positive diagnosis, than it is worth the trip. If a fresh look at the case does not come up with anything new, at least you know you aren't missing something. Who knows, you may get lucky and another vet may have seen this mystery lameness before and know what it is.
If you do seek a second opinion, it may be helpful to look for a place that specializes in a specific problem area, like Veterinary Orthopedics. Ask around to other dog people or dog groups for a recommendation as well as your vet. Go for the one who really knows their stuff, not for a warm fuzzy bed side manner. Also having the records, x-rays and all lab results sent ahead of time will help the vet be prepared for your appointment.
I really wish I had some more information for you. I was curious, did the lab work include a test for Lyme Disease? I wish you good luck and please let us know how things are going. I hope your dog is feeling better soon!
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