articles on paw preference highlight magazine

Articles on paw preference highlight magazine trial#

Truffle’s lameness improved, but she remained very stiff through her hind leg. Their veterinarian advised 2 weeks of rest and NSAIDs. Clinical examination highlighted a painful caudal lumbar spine, reduced range of motion in both hips, and remodeled, crepitus stifles, but no instability of the stifle joints. When she came home from a routine walk lame in one of her hind legs, the owners were quick to visit their veterinarian. Truffle, a golden retriever aged 10 years, had been slowing down in recent months and her owners had simply attributed this to her getting older. Monty also continued taking his analgesics for osteoarthritis, so his previous energy levels returned, and he was able to continue enjoying daily walks in the park. Addition of a thyroxine replacement rapidly resolved the twitches.

The results showed that Monty had hypothyroidism. To ensure they were not putting all eggs in one basket, their veterinarian suggested another blood panel including cholesterol and T4. These included Monty’s recent tendency to twitch when awake as well as changes in the color and texture of his coat. Luckily, Monty’s owners had a great relationship with their veterinarian and felt they could discuss a few “minor” observations they had noted. However, when he started to slow down even more, all parties thought the end was nigh, especially as recent routine blood work was unremarkable. Monty, a labradoodle aged 12 years, was already on a comprehensive care plan for his osteoarthritis. Encourage dog owners to keep their dogs’ paws in good condition and their nails trimmed and tidy. Limping often is caused by mud or other debris stuck in the paw, so always remember to check for the “simple answers” before undertaking more extensive investigations. These were easily removed, and Max was back to his active self again. He found a couple of clumps of matted fur wedged between the metacarpal and digital pads that were like a “pebble in the shoe” for Max. Thankfully, the veterinarian checked Max’s feet. Because Max was a “wriggler,” assessing his joint range of motion and level of comfort was not easy, so radiographs and palpation under sedation were organized when he presented with lameness. His owners previously had a spaniel with bilateral elbow developmental disease that led to early-onset osteoarthritis, so they were always expecting the worst when they visited the veterinarian. Max, a cocker spaniel aged 3 years, had frequent veterinary visits. With her advice and support, Mia showed significant improvement, returning to her playful self within a few weeks. Her owners were not able to afford surgery however, they consulted a rehabilitation veterinarian. Her owners, together with the vet, decided to proceed with imaging, which showed that Mia had intervertebral disc disease. She deteriorated further before the planned 3-month reassessment and started dragging her toes. Although Mia improved due to the medication, her response was not as positive as expected.

Articles on paw preference highlight magazine trial#

With no ataxia or indications of proprioceptive deficits, their veterinarian recommended a trial course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), suspecting underlying arthritis.

Once she started to wriggle when picked up and no longer enjoyed being towel dried, her humans began to suspect she was experiencing pain. Mia, a West Highland doxie aged 7 years, had been lagging on her walks for a few weeks and had lost some of her playfulness. The following “week of case studies” will highlight the dangers of falling foul of those similar symptoms. Other conditions have symptoms similar to those associated with arthritis. Being methodical and thorough and getting the correct diagnosis means you will be able to choose the most appropriate interventions for the dog in a timely manner. Perform a thorough clinical, neurological, and orthopedic examination, and encourage the owner to undertake imaging to confirm the diagnosis. Observe how the dog stands, walks, trots, and transitions. Listen to their observations and ask lots of questions. Read the history and have an in-depth discussion with the owner. A thorough examination is crucial for a correct diagnosis. However, jumping to a premature conclusion can mean overlooking other issues and making an incorrect diagnosis, resulting in the dog not receiving its needed treatment. It is all too easy to assume a diagnosis of arthritis in an elderly dog that presents with lameness and pain.