Think my dog may have arthritis in her leg?

[Merguez]

She is only 7, but 4 years ago she fractured a bone in one of her front legs.

Lately she has been quite lame in that leg, limping, but not all the time, usually when she gets up from sleeping for a long time. She puts weight on it fine when she is on her walk. And it has been cold.

She is not overweight at all, is a medium size dog (pointer cross).

Anyone got any advice for me? Thanks.

[cathpip]

I would take her to the vets. My old lab had arthritis in his shoulder from 2 years old (always worse in winter) and he was prescribed a daily dose of rimadyl. There are lots of medicines available its finding the right one for your dog, but she is probably in quite a bit of pain.

[kansasmum]

My dog has arthritis in his back leg and spine. He has been having monthly acupuncture at my vet. The acupuncture has been amazing. My dog was on Metacam but had a big gastric bleed and now can't take many of the pain meds.
Since the acupuncture he's like a new dog, no lameness, no whining or stiffness. He takes a joint supplement daily too which helps.
My dog is nearly 11 but my vet says if you start the acupuncture when the go first has symptoms you can use it as a first defence type thing and delay acing to use regular pain meds til much later.

I couldn't believe the difference in my dog -and I was quite skeptical about it but I recommend it 100%!

[Merguez]

cathpip sounds as if an expensive trip to vet's is called for. But have realised that dog has been quite whiny lately and this could be why, don't want her to suffer pain unnecessarily .

That's amazing kansasmum. Are you in the US? (Just going on your name...)

Don't think my British vet does acupuncture ....

[kansasmum]

No I'm in the UK now. It's my vet here that does it. Used to live in the US when I joined mumsnet!

[Follyfoot]

Definitely worth getting her looked at for a diagnosis then you'll know what you are facing. We lost our luffly Lab last year. She was arthritic from the age of 2 and was on and off Metacam most of her life. Have to say acupuncture was fantastic for us too, along with hydrotherapy.

[poachedeggs]

Acupuncture is fairly widely available in UK veterinary practice. You could try The ABVA's Find a Vet feature although not all veterinary acupuncturists are listed, only ABVA members.

If your own vet doesn't offer it, they will be able to refer you elsewhere.

It is really important to say that it isn't advisable to treat a pain case without a proper diagnosis. If you were my client, I would want to examine your dog and probably arrange xrays first. We should really use acupuncture as an adjunct to licensed analgesics, for welfare reasons. There is a vast body of evidence for the use of licensed painkillers, and much less for acupuncture. Also only around 80% of dogs respond to acupuncture so don't shy away from a trial on NSAIDs first.

Most of my acupuncture patients are chronic spondylosis or arthritis cases, some of them haven't responded well to analgesics or have had side effects, but the overwhelming majority of animals have needed both medical treatment and needling.

[Merguez]

Thanks everyone for the brilliant responses. I will book an appointment with the vet tomorrow.

[weighingitallup]

I know a vet that does accupuncture if you are in the south east, pm me