Two months ago "hip arthritis", now "torn knee" does the vet know anything?

I would take your dog to a different vet for a second opinion. My dog was misdiagnosed by his vet twice within a 3 week period as having a bladder infection. He gave us steroids and Tramadol for the pain and he regained his ability to hold his urine but as soon as the steroids wore off, he'd start having accidents again. My son suggested I go to his vet. I took my dog in and the vet immediately said that from my dogs posture, he already knew that it was a spinal problem instead of a bladder problem. He gave my dog some shots and kept him for the day. When I took him in, he had trouble walking. When I picked him up, he ran to me. My poor dog was in significant pain for 3 weeks until I found a good vet. Get a second opinion. Just because they can say they are vets, doesn't mean that they are good ones. It might not be as bad as you think. My dog is fine now and is 15. I take care not to make him do anything that will twist his back but, he's on Tramadol for arthritis in his back and hind quarters and he's perfectly fine.

It is possible that your dog has arthritis in the hip and a torn cruciate ligament of the knee at the same time. It sounds like your dog may be an older one?

We don't give arthritic dogs anything that sedates them. We give them NSAIDS for dogs (anti-inflammatory medication.) It doesn't sedate, but works by calming down inflammation. It's what people take for arthritis.

To diagnose hip arthritis, the vet may be able to feel the hip joint "grinding" when the hips are manipulated. They place one hand on the joint and move the leg all around, while feeling the joint. The only real way to diagnose it is just like in people --- x-rays of the hips. Once the diagnosis is done, the dog goes on anti-inflammatories, such as Previcox, as needed. The dog also goes on a glucosamine supplement, such as Glycoflex II for life. Neither of these meds sedates the dog at all.

If the dog is overweight, then weight loss is imperative!!

As far as the torn ligament, that is diagnosed by feel. The vet can feel whether the knee is stable when they try to move it around. They hold the top of the knee with one hand and the bottom with another. They can feel how stable it is. Xrays of the knee would rule out anything else being wrong, but that particular malady is diagnosed by feel mostly. Surgery is the fix for that. And about half the dogs with torn cruciate will tear the other one. That is why we believe surgery is the best option --to give the dog one good, stable knee, at least! If your dog is too old or unhealthy for surgery, then the NSAIDS would help with the knee pain. Weight loss is important for the knee, as well as the hips.

If you have not allowed the xrays, or if your vet didn't recommend them, then she may be rather clueless as far as definite diagnosis; however most vets can feel whether it's arthritis. Some will go ahead and treat in order to keep the pet comfortable if the owners refuse the diagnostics.

You can ask for your records and take them to another vet if you want to. Ask for a 2nd opinion. But if no xrays have been taken, that is going to be suggested.

Find a vet with experience in knee and hip issues. Most are, but sometimes if this is a very new vet, she may want to consult with an experienced vet on this case.

Poking your dog isn't really doing anything, since that wouldn't show instability of the knee. The pain comes from walking on that knee. Sometimes arthritis hurts (hips) when you touch it, but more often you'll see your dog slower to get up and then getting better once she gets going.

It sounds like there is a communication problem here. Our vets and technicians talk with owners at length, explaining things and making their best recommendations. That is what the good ones do.

Good luck. And don't forget the weight loss. If you can't easily feel your dog's ribs without seeing them, then it's time to back down on all food and treats by 25% until the ideal weight is reached.

Did the Vet get X-rays? X-rays would be the only way to really tell for sure.

How old is the dog? How big is the dog? Does dog use that leg at times or not at all? Is it bad enough now ? to medicate?

I don't like these new age Vets. they all seem to have attitude of being far better than thow.

Take her back to the Vet & ask for a specific diagnosis & ask why there had been two different diagnosis's? You need to know what is hurting your dog. did they do any treatments?

If you just didn't like the Vet or the clinic, maybe try another Vet.

Here is an anatomy of the canine hip so you can see things you can't by just looking at the dog

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=anatomy%20of%20ca...