Grade 3 LP - Lots of Pain

[inluvwithfluff]

I can’t believe I’m back here again.

Through a series of events I’m too tired to explain at the moment (I had two hours of sleep last night) an ER vet gave us the shocking news that Biscuit has Grade 3 LP on his left leg and Grade 1 on his right. He was in a lot of pain so they gave him a shot and sent us home with Tramadol. This is the first time he’s presented any pain related to his knees and I hate myself because I should have seen the signs before it got to this point. He woke up this morning still in pain, so my parents (I know I should have gone but I only had two hours of sleep and was literally shaking) took him to his general vet and he says there’s nothing we can do about the pain but give him the Tramadol. Both suggested surgery in the future. We are trying our best but we may have to put off the surgery until next year. I also want an opinion from a specialist before we do anything but my parents are fighting me on this. I know I have to convince them. Biscuit is shaking (looks like muscular contractions), panting occasionally, arching his back and staying off his feet. He is wobbly on the Tramadol. This started last night at approximately 12:30. We were at the ER by 1:00.

I’m wondering in the back of my mind if this is something other than LP. Would LP cause this sudden constant pain? I was under the impression it caused discomfort instead of pain unless arthritis or other damage was involved. Maybe he teared something? He didn’t struggle when they manipulated his legs but he kept stretching out his Grade 3 leg when he was standing. I’m worried he might be suffering from something that requires immediate attention. I brought up how he had bloody stool a month ago (which hasn’t recurred) but the ER vet reassured me it wasn’t related. His follow-up blood work came back fine for that and we opted for an x-ray (just in case) which also came back fine. The only recent problem was a urinalysis that showed an infection which he's being treated for. No straining to urinate. We even checked for stones and he doesn't have any. I asked the ER vet if the pain could be related to the uti and she again said no. She performed a physical. I’m not sure what to believe.

I can’t stand seeing him like this and I don’t know what to do. I know I have to see a specialist about the LP soon (the ER I went to has board certified staff, I used ACVS.org) but right this moment I feel lost and like a failure.

[BlueBelle]

Oh you poor thing and poor pup. That is dreadful when they are hurting specially if we don't know why. I would think a board certified ortho specialist is required at this point because of the suddeness PLUS the amount of pain involved.
Let us know how this proceeds.

[Valenie]

Hope your baby feels better!

[ladyjane]

I would definitely take him to a board certified orth surgeon for a second opinion. He could have torn his cruciate ligament. If so, surgery should not be postponed. They develop terrible arthritis if those are not repaired.
Good luck.

[ladyjane]

Oh...and one other thing. Ask your vet about an anti inflammatory. Usually they give them for LP to reduce the inflammation along with helping with the discomfort. There may be a reason he cannot take them, but I would ask the vet.

[inluvwithfluff]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Oh...and one other thing. Ask your vet about an anti inflammatory. Usually they give them for LP to reduce the inflammation along with helping with the discomfort. There may be a reason he cannot take them, but I would ask the vet.

Yes, I won't feel better until he sees a board certified orthopedic surgeon Arthritis can also develop with untreated LP, right? I don't want things to get worse and worse. Thank you for the advice and good luck. I'll be asking my vet about the anti-inflammatory and I'll ask if there's any specific reason it wasn't suggested in the first place. **Edit: I remember the ER vet saying she didn't want to increase Biscuit's panting or make him nauseous, so she decided on Tramadol. Maybe this is the reason but I'll ask for clarification either way. If he can take an anti-inflammatory without problem then I want him on one.

Valenia & BlueBell - Thank you for your thoughts. I might disappear for a while because I need sleep and don't want to spend too much time on the computer, but I will come back with updates when I can.

[ladyjane]

If money is an issue, you might be able to get Care Credit. Many vets do accept it and sometimes with no interest for a certain time period.

CareCredit Healthcare Finance - Payment Plans and Financing for Cosmetic Surgery, Dental, Vision, Hearing, Veterinary & Other Medical Procedures

[Teresa Ford]

I am sorry your baby is in pain. I hope everything works out soon. Hugs and prayers.

[inluvwithfluff]

Small Update: I had a bit of a cry... but things are calm now. Had to get it out of my system. I went to talk to my mother about Care Credit and - to my extreme surprise! - I saw a Care Credit pamphlet on the dining table. She's been considering it but we have to be mindful. If we can't use Care Credit for whatever reason, we've found a bit of a safety net somewhere else. Now it's just a matter of talking to the specialist and discussing options, prices, keeping Biscuit as pain-free as possible, etc. We also want for the uti to clear.

Biscuit is still in pain but he started to walk around a bit. I had to help him drink water because he's very careful with his back legs. What worries me is that he appears to be straining to urinate. I don't know if this is the uti or something else entirely. I called the ER and they said it could be the uti but to come in if it gets worse. We're trying to stay calm as we keep an eye on him.

That's all for now. I still haven't slept so I'm very tired. Thank you for the hugs and prayers, Teresa.

[diannenet]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

If money is an issue, you might be able to get Care Credit. Many vets do accept it and sometimes with no interest for a certain time period.

CareCredit Healthcare Finance - Payment Plans and Financing for Cosmetic Surgery, Dental, Vision, Hearing, Veterinary & Other Medical Procedures

CareCredit is VERY easy to obtain. You can apply for it on line and they will give you a sheet to print out (I think that's what we got) so you can use it immediately. Within a week or two you will get your CareCredit card in the mail.

Good luck to both of you. Toby has Grade 3-4 LP in his left rear leg as well. This was a year ago he was diagnosed. They put him on crate rest and anti-inflammatories plus I got his weight down and have him on Cosequin and he is doing great. He was looked at by a board certified ortho and she suggested surgery if we couldn't get it under control but we did and he's been fine ever since. Please keep us posted.

[ladyjane]

Many times a pup does get better and surgery is not necessary! The only vet I would trust to make that call is a specialist.
Hopefully Biscuit might not need it at all just as Dianne said.

[susan lynn]

Hugs and Prayers for you and Biscuit that he feels better soon.

[inluvwithfluff]

It's 6:00am and Biscuit is up and asking for food! He looks so much better and it's hard to believe he was so sick yesterday. It doesn't even look like he'll be needing the Tramadol today. No shaking, panting, or stiffness. And he peed with no straining!

I'm so happy he got better and I hope the specialist tells me he can live comfortably without surgery. Maybe it'll just be a matter of managing these episodes. I actually told the ER vet that I'd read surgery might not be necessary if the LP was manageable but the vet tech laughed and said, "Look at him! It's affecting his life. Don't read too much." She made my night worse

I didn't have a very restful sleep but seeing Biscuit so much better gives me the confidence to nap without guilt now

Thank you for all the thoughts, I'll keep you guys updated!

[Ellie May]

Really watch the straining. If he keeps happening he may need an antibiotic change and bladder stones would need to be ruled out.

Arching in the back could have been from his legs or abdominal pain or back pain.

I'd be very concerned if this is LP presenting with these symptoms. I agree with the tech. If it happens again to this extreme and you confrim it is LP, then it really should be corrected.

[inluvwithfluff]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Really watch the straining. If he keeps happening he may need an antibiotic change and bladder stones would need to be ruled out.

Arching in the back could have been from his legs or abdominal pain or back pain.

I'd be very concerned if this is LP presenting with these symptoms. I agree with the tech. If it happens again to this extreme and you confrim it is LP, then it really should be corrected.

Yup, I will. An x-ray (for the bloody stool) showed no stones and an ultrasound confirmed he was clear. I thought the ultrasound was a bit much at the time because of the clear x-ray, but now I'm glad it was done. He never strained until last night and his major symptom for the uti has actually been frequent urinating. That's why I was worried last night and called the ER. I made sure to ask the ER vet and regular vet if the uti could be causing the pain and they said that was doubtful. If he strains again then I'll take him back to the ER or regular vet per the ER's orders. He's going to his regular vet soon either way for a follow-up on the infection.

The vet tech is probably right, but I'll be consulting a specialist and his opinion will be the one I take into consideration when I think about correcting or managing the LP. Personally I would like to avoid arthritis at all costs (and we've already planned to spend money on the procedure if it comes to that) but if the specialist believes it can be managed then I will listen to what he has to say. What bothered me the most about the vet tech's statement was "don't read too much." On the one hand, pet owners shouldn't think they're above vets or veterinary medicine. There's also a lot of incorrect and dangerous information floating around the internet. But I do believe pet owners should try to learn what they can about what's happening and reading is a part of that. Talking to the vet and asking questions is the other part.

Yeah, this got wordy. I need to work on that

I almost forgot to update on Biscuit, so here it is: Still no shaking, panting, or stiffness. No straining that I've seen. He's not sleepy or sluggish the way he was yesterday. I think the Tramadol really knocked him out. Better than yesterday all around.