Am worried over Chance

First topic message reminder :

Obviously we don't know Chance's true age, so we just have a guesstimation given to us making him 4, but since having him we've found he has an old injury in his left hind leg - he never goes lame and no outward sign of anything but he's fallen on the bed/sofa when he's been asleep   landed on his leg and screamed, had Radley run into it same thing... it was checked over at the vets who just did the same thing i did - checked the movement in it, felt for any lumps or bumps and said that he'd need it xraying to take it any further but didn't recommend it, as the stress on him mentally would be worse especially when he's never even limped.

I know ambulls are prone to HD so that's playing on my mind, but i think it's more likely to be arthritis in his hip, but i annoyingly ran out of turmeric (hippy mum alert) which i give Chance everyday, good job he loves it! and the next day he wasn't happy with his leg again, coincidence, banged it? i don't know, but have got some more and he's running around the house like bambi again. But i knew he wasn't happy 'cos i was manipulating it as i do when i fussed him and he really growled at me (which is an improvement from 2 years ago when he would just have bitten when unhappy)

Anyway there is a hydrotherapy center 5 minute walk down the road, so am going to go speak to them at the weekend, over price and Chance's temperament etc.

My other concern is I think Chance is either older then the rescues guess or he's old before his time, he's just not been himself over the last week or so, he's not been ill, throwing up, not off his food or anything. But i just know he's not my Chance can't explain why it wouldn't make sense, but I feel it's more a mental problem rather then physical - as though he'd mentally given up   

He does seem to have improved today and is having a good wrestle with harv as we speak, but he is still worrying me

Thanks for reading x

I think that's probably the best thing you can do right now, barring the hydrotherapy and heat compresses

yer it's certainly not worthy of vets intervention ATM but it's still worrying me, which is why i'm hoping the hydrotherapy will help him

The problem with vets is it'll cause him a lot of stress, & they'll likely just prescribe steroids.

I avoid those like the plague, and I know you do as well.

yer definitely do avoid them!

Will let you know how we get on at the weekend anyway

Good luck with it! Try to stay positive!

Ella, if Chance does have a any degree of HD he will also be arthritic anyway....I personally would go down the route you are already going with the hydrotherapy and natural or pharmaceutical pain relief unless the HD was significant which does not sound like it due to lack of symptoms, also if I get any plain x-rays of my dogs I always ask for a secondary opinion from an orthopaedic surgeon which my vets charge a £35 fee for but that is how we found out my Barty had ED...I am unsure why your under the impression that your vet would prescribe any form of steroids for HD or arthritis?

People also swear by the Bioflow collars, I keep meaning to get one but not got one yet.

My vet already told me he would recommend steroids for HD but i declined the xrays due to Chance's mental state. Plus have seen many dogs been put on metacam and steroids so it's not a new thing, but all vets are different.

I took my Barty (we have nicknamed him the "dog made of glass"! LOL) as I suspected he may well have HD but on palpation of his legs my vet thought this very unlikely but the only certain way would be x-rays but I have postponed this as I suspect it is a lack of development in his back end which has improved, when I asked about treatment she said it would be NSAIDs and no steroid therapy and that conservative management would be first point of treatment such as weight management, frequent light exercise, hydrotherapy etc.......you can always refuse a form of treatment if you deem it inappropriate or superfluous for your dog...hope that Chance is doing better but I think with all your herbal supplements etc he has more than enough to help his arthritic bones LOL

Perhaps just treat him like a dog with HD but without the official diagnosis

Thanks hun

Over the last fews weeks he's been brilliant and his leg has been fine! but we now are keeping an extra eye on it, but he gets plenty of stuff for his joints and that with hydrotherapy should hopefully keep it healthy for him

Really glad he's doing better!

thanks hydrotherapy tomorrow!

Hope it goes well!

me too

Pics!

camera is charging!

I just wish we could get a cure for arthritis!

So do I, but all we can do is reduce the inflammation.  

Yep a cure would be good

Maybe some day!

Ah have a great swim with Chance tomorrow!

can't wait!