Good morning – sorry that you are having a tough time…

I think it will be easier to list things in bullet points to help you out hopefully.

1. In my experience dogs are incredible at coping with issues, especially musculoskeletal complaints. If they are long standing complaint they are even more adept at coping likely because they have to deal with the niggle, discomfort etc and having weight shifting/postural coping strategies to offload the problem area. Thus, your dog may have had a moderate to significant issue that they were managing quite well. This is in fact very very common. Then there is a sudden deterioration and a belief it was an acute episode when actually it was an acute episode on a chronic condition. This definitely fits with conditions like hip dysplasia as they generally have discomfort when younger, they them seem to stabilise for a period of time/years for it to show itself again later.
2. Speed can be dog’s friend – it it often easier to locomote at speed so that the weaker limb is “carried” ie the dog is not so dependent on its weight bearing function. They can certainly conceal inadequacies when asked to work at speed.
3. Balls are incredible “drivers”. The buzz that they get from chasing balls is very very very addictive which will override discomfort (for the most part). My sisters dog was still wanting the ball t be thrown till the day she collapsed due to cervical disc disease. So, again these activities can really mislead an owner- it certainly misled my sister.
4. The turning inwards sounds like it will be coming from higher in the limb, but without visual assessment and palpation it is hard to say. The inward rotation is an adapted posture to unload a certain aspect when using that limb.
5. Dragging can be associated with weakness, but that weakness could be progressed musculoskeletal disease but also could be neurological – always worth bearing that in mind. A neurologists ears will prick up with the word drag xx
6. Yes clinical examinations can temporarily make a situation worse. This is a sad classic occurrence when getting radiographs. It should pass within a few days though a bit like delayed onset muscle soreness.
7. a good impression of the problem can be obtained on clinical exam – but confirmation would be with imaging such as radiographs – were you offered that.
8. Hip dysplasia is the developmental condition – at 14 years old your dog would now likely have significant arthritis.
9. Associated with any joint related disease there will be associated conditions of the soft tissue due to disuse from weight shifting away etc. The examination may have exacerbated compromised tissue around the joint.
10. A dog can have more that one condition – your dog may have bad hips which he has been coping with but it may also be lumbosacral disease, or intervertebral disc disease so having a full check up with sedation and imaging may be in your best interest – especially as arthritis should respond well to an anti inflamm like galliprant.
11. I would be going back and asking for a full review and say you understand only so much is possible with eyes and hands and that you accept a sedation to collect blood sample and imaging may be in your best interest.

I hope that helps xx
Hannah

It is always very difficult when the dog is older – I would always suggest physiotherapy can have great impact on an arthritic dog – so yes!

And if you are getting mixed messages from the vets then I would suggest as discussion with the specialist – great opportunities to get a well-rounded view on your dog’s case!!!

xxx