Where is the pain coming from?

[CornishPorsche]

My mutt is on a fortnight's worth of Metacam after behavioural changes - she's normally a dopey, loving friend to all but has been unbelievably aggressive on the lead and very whingy whenever she's out of the house even if it's a place she adores being.

Since she started the Metacam, literally that day, she's almost back to her usual fabulous self with just two snarling episodes in ten days (rather than at every single dog we ever see, all day every day). It's amazing, and we're mortified we didn't take her to the vet sooner as we thought it was a behaviour and training issue of lead reactivity so we brought in a trainer. Clearly not the right thing to do.

Anyway, we have no real indication of where the pain is coming from or why. A few times (3?) in the preceding months, she has had an intermittent limp after running around, which lasts for about a minute of no weight bearing on the paw (her front left), then she's off again like nothing happened. The vet can't find anything obvious in the leg, shoulder or neck. Her teeth are perfect, no ear, paw or claw issues.

How on earth do you start to look for apparently invisible pain?

Has anyone else had this?

Breed? Age ?
Might get a clue from
That
Otherwise you probably need a referral to an orthopaedic specialist

How old is your dog and what breed? It could be general aching that comes with old age or some arthritis.

When the vet checked her front leg, did he check all the other legs and joints thoroughly? What about her eyes and back passage/anal glands? What are her poos like - healthy? It could be stomach or allergy/diet related.

Female, spayed, 6yo, 27kg mixed breed mutt. DNA says grandparents were husky, malamute, collie and greyhound. We e had her since 9mths old.

Runs like a greyhound, bright, stubborn and very vocal. Likes to have the last word. Loves to wallow in deep mud, dunk her head and blow bubbles....

The vet focused on the front left limb and neck, but did check all limbs. Eyes seem fine. No idea about anal glands - never had an issue with them, no smell etc but will absolutely ask.

Poos generally good, slightly dry maybe at times? Rare she has the squits, only after lots of running. No itching etc. Has been on a daily glucosamine / joint supplement since she was about a year old as a preventative attempt because she runs so fast. She's on dry Harringtons with a spoon of wet food to mix in with water as a gravy.

Our other dog is allergic to wheat so is on a hypoallergenic diet but she shows that up as very obviously itchy paws, itchy ears etc. Romanian rescue, so not related dogs.

Hadn't considered diet, as she has been on the same brand for years, although I do switch the flavours up frequently (lamb, chicken, salmon etc).

Aw gorgeous dog!

Maybe blood tests or a scan will show something? Could be arthritis

I’d assume it’d be X-rays of the leg she’s been limping on next.

The vet can't find anything obvious in the leg, shoulder or neck.

What checks did they do? Feeling alone isn't likely to be enough. If opting for scans, CT/MRI will also tell you far more than X-ray. Our Ddog had an intermittent but barely perceptible limp and it was only an MRI which eventually enabled the vet to diagnose the issue.

It could be arthritis at six years old.

I walk a collie who's a similar age and who already has arthritis in his legs - it's manageable with supplements and reducing exercise when he has a flare up.

She's gorgeous by the way 😍

@GiltEdges what diagnosis did you get?

Yes, arthritis does worry me.

I was really hoping she had a bad tooth or something similarly obvious and treatable. 😢

Checks were manipulation of the joints and limbs. It looked like a chiropractic appointment, especially bending her neck around etc 😂. She looked very confused bless her but not a hint of pain given by her, and she's an excellent drama queen.

I suspect this will be an expensive set of image led investigations then.

Bumping for the afternoon shift in case of any advice.

An MRI costs a couple of thousand though where an x-ray is usually a few hundred, so they usually suggest x-rays first.

It's amazing, and we're mortified we didn't take her to the vet sooner as we thought it was a behaviour and training issue of lead reactivity so we brought in a trainer.

This one is not on you, it's on this 'trainer'.

Any professional trying to modify behaviour (especially new behaviour and doubly especially aggressive behaviour) in an animal without first insisting on a vet check to rule out medical causes, has no place calling themselves a trainer. Shame on them.

I know @SirSniffsAlot -I'm disappointed in her as well, but this has been a slow burn issue so we honestly thought it was a lockdown-related issue with poor socialising in the last few years etc. We may not have explained it well to her but I'll definitely be feeding it back to her.

Called the vet today to ask about follow up - waiting to hear back as to whether they'll just order xrays or see her again first. Sadly the vet we saw last was a locum - he's very lovely and his manner with both our dogs is so good! Our vets are great, but this chap was especially great with our terrified Romanian rescue mutt.