Limping dog dilema

[Big D]

So things have been financially tight for us for the past several months and of course that seems to coincide with our dog suddenly having one thing wrong after another.  I have always been the type to get things taken care of right away before they get worse, but now I find myself wondering what to do.  

For the past two weeks my dog has had a slight limp.  Enough to where you definitely notice, but she has never yelped about it and doesn't struggle to do the stairs and still gets super excited for her (short) evening walk.  She is still very playful and romps around the yard and house, but it is always noticeble, especially after she gets up from laying around.

She is 11 years old and it seemed like the same thing happened when she was 8, but the x-rays showed nothing and she seemed to get better after we put her on glucosamine.  She's still on the glucosamine, and I hesitate to do x-rays because we just can't afford it.  I'm not even sure I want to know what the x-rays would show- we lost our other dog two years ago to bone cancer so that would be sad, and if the x-rays don't show anything I'll be mad that I spent $ we don't have on nothing!  

I guess I have been hoping it will go away on its own (like a bruise or pulled muscle).  I hate to not do anything, but I really can't afford more trips to the vet to play guessing games.

WWYD?

[cameragirl]

You can give aspirin if you aren't already. I understand the situation you're in, and it isn't fun. Last year I was unable to work, we had a really tight budget, and my dog was not in good shape. He was old, went blind, and seemed to be having neurological issues. Eventually we took him to the county clinic to have him euthanized. It wasn't what we wanted, but it was the most kind thing to do for him.

Not that you need to do that, but maybe the county clinic could help with the health issues? Most areas have low cost or free pet care for low-income families, and if you have an SPCA in the area, they sometimes also have clinics without income limits.

Btw - have you checked the paw for anything that could have been stepped on? You can put peroxide on the paw, and if something like a cat tail is stuck, you'll see it bubble.

[starrlamia]

IMO pet's health and well being are just as important as the rest of the family. If a child hurt themselves you wouldnt hesitate to find the cash to get them better. Pets should be no different and deserve to live pain free and well taken care of. I would take your dog into the vet, if it has been going on this long there is an issue to be addressed, what type of dog is it? Limping can be a sign of spinal, hip or joint issues. Until you can get them to the vet, I would do strict rest to not exaserbate the issue, small short, slow walks would be ok but limit stair climbing, jumping and running.

[Big D]

I have never heard of the hydrogen peroxide test- good to know!

I also didn't know about SPCA or county clinics doing things for cheaper, do you think that includes x-rays?

I also agree that pet's health is as important as family health, which is why even with tight financials I can't bring myself to change her food to "cheap" dog food.  But, unfortunately, the rest of the family is covered by insurance and everything pet related is out-of-pocket at time of service.  I'm sure our families (DH's and mine) wouldn't think twice if we asked for help financially because of a child, but if we did the same for our dog they just wouldn't take us seriously.

She is a greyhound, so not a breed prone to any health issues other than bone cancer.  It is her front left leg that is bothering her, so I'm assuming that couldn't be spinal (oh, please don't let it be spinal) or hip.  But the joints I do worry about and I worry that something like that won't show up on x-ray and I'll be out a couple of hundred bucks and still no answers.  

I really wish she could be more specific and tell me "my foot hurts" or "I banged my elbow the other day" that would make my decision so much easier!  I really do feel guilty not taking her in yet, but I will feel even worse if I spend $ we don't have and still don't get any answers, YKWIM?

[cameragirl]

It varies from area to area. I would call the local SPCA or shelter to ask if they offer services or can recommend anyone. You'll probably see more resources in urban areas, but I have known country vets to help out, as well.

[babygirlie]

Run your hand down her leg and feel for anything broken. Gently squeeze and see if she winces in a particular place. First look for splinters or bee stings or a broken nail.

Quit the walks until she feels better. I like to go for walks too on my broken foot due to boredom but it makes the healing take forever! I wouldn't bother with a vet until a few weeks. See if she gets better on her own. The only thing you can do for a fractured foot is to stay off it anyway.

[nd_deadhead]

I wouldn't advise aspirin - it can cause nasty stomach upset in dogs.

A limp that hasn't gotten better in 2 weeks should probably be checked out. You don't have to get xrays. A good vet can manipulate a dog's joints to determine range of motion and location of pain, and prescribe Rimadyl for joint pain (not as hard on the tummy as aspirin). At a regular checkup, my vet felt all over my dog's legs and spine, and determined he had a little arthritis (he does seem to act sore when the weather changes). Since it was minor (so far), and consistent with his age, there was no need to do an xray.

Walking is actually good for arthritis, so I think you should find out the cause, to best know how to treat it - rest or exercise.

I hope your furbaby feels better soon!