Limping, second round of Rimadyl

[LORHEL]

I'm not sure if I should be overly worried.... about a month ago, Makita started limping. I ended up taking her to the vet, who diagnosed it as a soft tissue injury, and gave her a prescription for Rimadyl.

After about a week, she stopped limping, and we finished the medicine. Yesterday, she began limping again. This is not related to when she was hit by a car several years ago, right before I adopted her. It is the other leg.

The vet said that if this does not work, or if she gets worse (how will I know, does he mean if she has trouble getting around, etc... right now she doesn't act like she's in pain) we will do x-rays.

What will xrays show and not show? I don't believe this could be arthritis, but then again I don't know. She is everything to me and I don't want this to be something serious, and worry more than I am
already.

Thank you for any advice.

Lori

[Judi W]

I would want xrays first not last so you will know better what you are dealing with. I know your vet is probably trying to save you money, but delaying findings might be a false economy. If he wants to save you money, he can charge you less for the xrays!

Sorry the dear girl is sore again.

[bettic]

How are his knees? Limping was what clued us in to bad knees. Two ACL surgeries later, his knees are like new!

[LORHEL]

Well, I am not sure how her knees are.. her vet is out next week, but I will schedule xrays when I go pick up her medicine today, I wanted to do that the first time around, but he said, no. I don't care about the cost, just getting her back to "normal".

Thanks

[Patty1231]

This happened with Rocco over a year ago. The first course of Rimadyl appeared to work but about a week after discontinuing it he started to limp again (on Thanksgiving Day, of course ). The emergency vet called me back and ordered another two-week course and he was fine after that. Same diagnosis - soft tissue injury. Had the second course of Rimadyl not shown improvement within a day or two, I was to bring him back for x-rays but it ended up not necessary.

[wagondog]

I can't and won't offer medical advice but, many elbow and shoulder injuries can be preventd by holding your dogs collar when he is exiting from the back of an SUV. Some of those new trucks are 3 feet from the ground! If your dog is predisposed to joint problems, the more weight you can hold while he is exiting the better.
I purchased a fold away step that attaches to the hitch for my dogs. A little training to use it and your good to go. (lets them get up easier too)
Jerry