Toby was diagnosed with LP (Grade 3/4 in left rear leg and Grade 2 in right rear leg) two months ago as he started limping on his left rear leg. Vet did blood work, gave me Rimadyl and said if it doesn't get better he will need surgery. He weighed 8 lbs when we got him back in November and when he was diagnosed two months ago he weighed 11 lbs. Trying to keep him calm was a chore as he HATES a crate (probably from his puppy mill days.) I was worried sick (just ask Megansmomma and Ladymom, I drove them crazy with emails.). It was suggested I find an orthopedic surgeon and see what they say. So off I went to an ortho. She too agreed if it didn't get better he would need surgery. She put him on a glucosamine & chondritin supplement. That was about three weeks ago. I was told I won't notice a difference for at least a month or so with the supplements. Since he was diagnosed he no longer gets any treats except Himalayan chews and a few carrots now and then. He is down to almost 10 lbs and no longer limps and he's back to his normal, ornery self. He has learned to let mom "pick up" to go up a lot of stairs. If it's the doggy stairs to the bed I let him use them as there is only three of them and they are carpeted. Starting today I am cutting his Rimadyl to once a day instead of twice a day. If it gets to where his LP will affect his quality of life, I would do the surgery but if I can get and keep his weight down and monitor his running and playing (sometimes he's too darned fast), I'm hoping surgery becomes nothing more than a word in our vocabulary. Good luck and keep us posted. |