[onyx'girl]

This is a pic of Kacies elbow. I was told by the vet(without x-ray) that this feels like an old break that didn't heal properly. It is not mushy or swollen. Does anyone have suggestions on how to go about what I can do to maintain this without her getting worse? Today the dogs were jumping over a two foot fence and playing around, now Kacie is limping. She has shown no signs previously that this was bothering her, but I am wondering if she may be getting arthritic. She is almost three and I have had her for a year. Who knows what or when this happened to her

 

[BowWowMeow]

Do you have her on a good joint support product? That can make a huge difference. If possible I would limit high impact activity like jumping and be sure she gets lots of swimming and walking.

 

[Barb E]

Have you been to a good ortho vet with her?
That would probably be my next step if she was mine.

 

[onyx'girl]

I feed raw, and as of now have not given any chron./gluc. supplements to her. Today is the first day she has shown signs of discomfort. I will limit the jumping of course, but am not sure that corrective surgery is an option as seems to be an old injury.
Its really too bad, because she would enjoy and be good at agility if it wasn't for this elbow joint.

 

[3K9Mom]

At the least, I'd want an xray. How do I know this is an "old" injury and not a brand new one? Xrays show arthritis as well. Your current vet can take an xray as easily as a specialist, but it kind of worries me that s/he didn't take an xray immediately. (This sort of thing always makes me question a vet's judgement. I'm sure your vet is quite good. But it just gets me doubting....) So I'm with Barb. I'd whisk Kacie off to an orthopedic. Injuries that don't heal right on a 3 year old are a lifetime of trouble. We don't want that for your sweet girl.

Once we have a clearer idea of what's going on in that joint, we'll have a clearer idea of how to treat. Supplements are great most of the time. But if it's an acute (recently incurred) traumatic injury, anti-inflammatories, rest, and perhaps even surgery are in order. There's just no way to know until we get pictures. I'd definitely start there. Your regular vet can certainly take xrays. But specialists often want their own films because they want certain angles and such. So even if you bring your own along, unless your regular vet knows exactly what s/he is doing, you're going to pay for a second set of radiographs. It's up to you how to proceed. But that's how I'd do it.

 

[BowWowMeow]

i would also go ahead and order some supplements. They can't hurt.

 

[arycrest]

I agree, the first thing I'd want with a diagnosis is an x-ray. Mac's "knotty" ankle was very painful which turned out to be a very nasty bone infection. First the x-ray, followed by a biopsy, then months of treatment. I don't know what would have happened to him had my vet jumped to the conclusion it was just arthritis following an injury.

 

[3K9Mom]

Gayle brings up an excellent point. May not be *injury*-related at all.

 

[onyx'girl]

I took Kacie for rabies shot in Feb. and the vet pretty much said there was nothing that could be done because it felt like calcium build up already with the joint. It has been the same way since I adopted her a year ago, no change. I am going wed. for heart-worm blood draw. I use this vet only for shots and speuters as that is all luckily I have ever needed, but I will have to go elsewhere for more intricate care. This is a farm vet (now daughter and another one is partnered with 70+yr old vet)that I have went to for over 20 years, but in the past year I have had bad experience at this clinic with an x-ray on Onyx hips -improper position while she was sedated to be spayed, so will have go somewhere else for the x-ray, diagnosis. Ruth, is Springtime the place you go and what supplements are suggested for this? I trust this forum more than my vet, as you are all researching the best treatments out there! I hear from my trainer the nearest good ortho vet is in the Grand Rapids area, an hour away(

 

[Tula]

Either way, with joint issues I would at least go with Salmon Oil, Ester-C, and Vitamin E. These will help with inflammation and lubrication of the joints.

Once you have a good diagnosis, you can then go from there on what else to add supplement-wise.

 

[3K9Mom]

For joints, (Zamboni had bilateral TPLO 6 years ago. So I'm always looking for ways to lube up those titanium knees of hers!). She also has a tiny bit of hip arthritis. Not much, but I want to keep it that way. I use:

Glu/Chond/MSM -- I use Schiff Move Free 1 twice a day for her 40 lb body.

Fish Oil (Fish oil often comes with Vitamin E, so watch that. You can overdose E.)

Esther C. I'm not sure it works or not.

I just found Antarctic Krill Oil at Costco yesterday. Supposed to even be better than salmon?? (And more sustainable than the fish). Ok. I bought it. I'm a sucker for new and improved supplements for my dogs. So I'm swapping out her fish and in her krill. We'll see.

http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/uncategorized/why-krill-oil/

 

[BowWowMeow]

I give a big thumbs up to the Ester C for arthritis and hip dyslpasia because it's a natural anti-inflammatory. I have Rafi on Springtime Inc's Longevity now. I had him on the Joint Health and I saw a big improvement but I've seen an even bigger improvement with the Longevity. It's got lots of extras though. An added bonus is that it helps neutralize the acidity in the urine. Rafi's pee was killing the grass but now I've notice that it's over fertilizing it.

 

[onyx'girl]

I do give vit. E fish oil and EsterC (all human grade) with their meals unless I feed fish that day. The Springtime longevity is the one that maybe will help I have also been giving Braggs ACV in the drinking water as well. Thank you all for the advise, links and replies. I was wondering when Kacie would show discomfort from her elbow, and after jumping happily and running around today it finally began. She luckily is not overweight, so she doesn't have to deal with extra pressure. Onyx may have bitten her, as she is an obnoxious, never off the job herder. I shoul never named her Onyx it seems to be a shortened version of obnyxious!