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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Vets tomorrow re pain management. Any advice?

65 replies

Ephedra · 18/07/2014 10:41

We have a 5 year old border collie who has something wrong with him. The numerous vets we have seen don't know what the problem is despite many tests.

Pain is an issue for him but he hides it really well (so I have no idea how much pain he is in). He is not normally on painkillers we just give them when we think he needs them. He has been on them for a week now and on Wednesday I called the vet about increasing the dose for that day as he was really restless and clingy. I've never had to do that before and I am not 100% sure that the pain was dealt with.

Dog is currently on pardale v and has had tramodol before, he cannot take NSAIDs at all.

Tomorrow we are going to discuss options* with the vet but I don't feel like I know enough for the discussion to really useful, so does anyone have any advice?

*I am aware that options include if and when to pts.

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daisydotandgertie · 19/07/2014 10:51

What have they eliminated?

What are his other symptoms?

Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 17:01

Hi Daisy they have eliminated hip/elbow dysplasia, arthritis of hips, knees, elbows and wrists. X-rays of hips, spine, knees, and elbows all came back clean (these were done more than once by different vets). Blood tests for limes and some other things that I can't remember came back clean as well.

He walks with a weird gait. His back left leg is very stiff when he walks so the his right leg looks loose. He often walks using his back rather than his legs iyswim. If he runs he often wets himself later, one vet thinks he pinches the nerves in his spine making him numb. He sometimes reacts if his back is touched and he is always rubbing it against things.

He often limps a bit on his front legs and at the moment he is spending a lot of time licking his left elbow. He also takes the skin off his pads when running, it doesn't matter what surface he is on. It starts like a blister and then it rips.

None of his joints are or ever have been swollen, nor are they red or hot.
He also has allergic colitis.

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Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 17:03

Also, his walking/gait/limping is not consistant. He will be doing really well (but not normal) for weeks and then suddenly seem really bad.

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Floralnomad · 19/07/2014 17:07

Have you had his spine scanned ? some things don't show on plain X-rays and its odd that he would have trouble with all his limbs . Did you go to the vet today ?

Aked · 19/07/2014 17:18

I was also going to say has he had myelography, or an MRI?

Hope your appointment today has helped some.

Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 17:19

No he hasn't had an mri, there was a disagreement between vets and the specialist (the last one) didn't think it would tell us anything.

Yes we had a vets appointment this morning. It wasn't very useful as the vet hadn't seen us before and hadn't read all the dogs notes, so she didn't want to prescribe anything new without consulting his old vet (who has semi retired). She also kept dismissing my opinion of how much pain my dog is in Hmm but has increased his painkiller (pardale v) to 3 times a day.

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Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 17:22

No myelography aked.

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daisydotandgertie · 19/07/2014 17:34

What are his energy levels like?

daisydotandgertie · 19/07/2014 17:34

And has he ever been anaemic?

Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 17:42

At the minute he is not playing as much and is sleeping more than normal (I don't think it's because of the heat as he isn't sleeping on the cold laminate).

I don't think he has ever been tested Daisy.

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Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 17:51

Actually it is possible that he has been anaemic, he poo'd blood a lot before we got his colitis undercontrol (maybe 3-4 years ago).

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Toooldtobearsed · 19/07/2014 19:29

Mine had elbow dysplasia, which did not show on an X-ray. Luckily, my vet sent it to a specialist and little pup was MRI'd. He had a chunk of floating bone which has been removed. In fact, he is in recovery now. It did not show on X-ray, but was clear as day on MRI. Might be worth a referral to an orthopaedic specialist?

Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 19:40

We have seen an orthopaedic specialist, a dermatology specialist, a physiotheraphy specialist and a chiropractor! Plus 5 different vets from the local practice and 2 from the practice in the next village.

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Floralnomad · 19/07/2014 19:48

But still no MRI - amazing .

Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 19:53

Nope! Each vet says he needs a MRI and then changes their mind. They say something in one appointment and then say the opposite at the next. Even the reports they send to each other (if they even bother) don't relate to what was said in an appointment.

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Floralnomad · 19/07/2014 20:03

Then I think its time you insist that that's what you want .

Aked · 19/07/2014 20:17

Poor boy:( What area are you in ephedra? Perhaps someone could recommend a referral practice.

Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 20:26

I agree but first I need to get him better drugs. Which is mondays job.

Tbh I don't care what is wrong with him as long as he his happy and painfree. Some of the things that have been mentioned include ehlers donlos syndrome, something neurological and "that just may be the way he is."*

*Due to bad breeding by whoever was dumb enough to breed border collies with defects. He bottom jaw is also really short and he has a weepy eye that never stops.

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Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 20:27

Lancashire Aked.

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Floralnomad · 19/07/2014 20:39

Has he tried Tramadol ?

Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 20:49

Yes, it didn't seem to do much.

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landrover · 19/07/2014 21:17

Right, weepy eye, eye specialist for optimmune ointment (bloody marvellous and a miracle cure!) Insist on an MRI scan (Very expensive. i assume you are insured) It absolutely must not carry on for him poor thing. When tramadol doesn't work, I think its obvious something needs to be done! Poor you and him, this is not fair at all. MRI insist on xx (possible thought to try acupuncture for the pain but presumably that won't fix the problem) I think you have to take your balls with you this time, let us know how you get on xxx

landrover · 19/07/2014 21:25

Cant bear that they said "that just may be the way he is" sounds like the nhs to me!!!

Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 21:29

Landrover his eye has never bothered him at all and the last time he had ointment for an eye infection (not the weepy eye) I managed to get one dose in and thats it. No matter what I tried or how many people I had to help he just wouldn't let us do it.

He doesn't like been poked and prodded, he reacts rather very badly. It's the one of the reasons I only take him to the vets when I really have to.

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Original poster
Ephedra · 19/07/2014 21:30

Cant bear that they said "that just may be the way he is" sounds like the nhs to me!!!

I may have rolled my eyes and asked why was he getting worse then?

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