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OA Diagnosis, Pain Identification
 CAM Forum User
CAM Forum User
18 January 2022 at 4:17 pm

Importance of correct diagnosis

Hi

My dog was diagnosed with arthritis in front and hind right limbs in November, and subscribed Loxicom. He is 8 years old and a large breed dog.

At the time he had slight lameness/stiffness and limping, on his front right leg after walks, and his pace was slower during walks.

Since taking the loxicom he seems to have deteriorated rapidly. He now limps permanently on his front leg and intermittently on his hind leg, with stiffened gait.

Yesterday he was prescribed gabapentin. He seemed extremely sedated after having the gabapentin, hyper upon waking, and shortly after waking he had hind limb ataxia, which he has never had before. I haven’t given him any further gabapentin and don’t intend to.

He does have natural supplements such as cold water salmon oil, glucosamine, turmeric, ground hemp seeds.

Please can anyone advise, in any way? He is worsening daily.

Thank you

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  • CAM Responded

    18 January 2022 at 4:18 pm

    Good evening

    Sorry that you’re having such a terrible time.

    In honesty osteoarthritis responds well to non-steroidal anti inflammatory like metacam. So if a dog responds poorly I would be worried my original diagnosis was wrong and would be looking at reassessment and imaging to confirm the cause of both the lameness in the forelimb and the stiffness in the hindlimbs.

    Gabapentin too can be a wonderful intervention for the appropriate diagnosis in many dogs. It can cause wobbliness and ataxia if started on too high a dose for that dog at the beginning….this is hard to predict so starting at a low dose and building is generally advised

    Personally I would be wanting a diagnosis …where the pain for lameness coming from is and where is the abnormal gait changes in the hind limb coming from….then you know what you are treating and what medication is likely to be the best to start with.

    I hope this help… it’s a complex disease with no one size fits all.

    Xxx

  • CAM Forum User

    18 January 2022 at 4:19 pm

    Hi Hannah,

    Thanks very much for taking the time to reply and for your advice, I really appreciate it.

    I’m going to change vets and get him in this week, have imaging and diagnosis and go from there.

    Thanks again, that is a great help, it makes sense, fingers crossed I can help him.

    XX

  • CAM Forum User

    18 January 2022 at 4:19 pm

    Hi all,

    Thanks again Hannah. I’m updating now, just to say really please if anyone’s reading do insist in confirmed diagnosis. Turned out my boy has osteosarcoma, he’s on his last days now.

    Thanks

  • CAM Responded

    18 January 2022 at 4:20 pm

    I am so sorry to hear that… I really am xx

  • CAM Forum User

    18 January 2022 at 4:20 pm

    Hi Hannah,

    Thank you, I know you are, and thank you for your advice and for running this website in the first place, do really appreciate it.

    Sorry so long in replying, hasn’t been a great time

    Thanks again
    Lynn
    xx

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