9 1/2 year old Lab not doing well... need opinions.. as we're currently stumped..

[Tanya]

I am so sorry, sending good thoughts I am afraid I have no advice

[mjmpirate]

I absolutely hate doing this, but if it might help.

help with Rimadyl...

Thank you....but please don't "hate doing this" because the reason I started reaching out on this board was for any and all help/suggestions/advice so this link to the other post and thread is helpful.... I know that at the end of the day we all share the same love and care for our pets..especially labs..

As far as the post by MontananDakota and all of the caring comments... Well, I feel like i'm in the same boat because even though I'm aware of the risks associated with the Rimadyl as of right now it seems to be helping and over the last month he's been on and off of it as the different issues have come and gone... serious emotional roller coaster but trying to do everything I can for my boy and i've told him that as well especially when it's just been the two of us on our little walks.. I am lucky that I have so many friends and family that continue to ask about him and another one of the hardest and most frustrating things right now is "I don't know"...I don't know, I don't know.... I'm such a mess right now and just typing this has my eyes watering up... and now I'm just rambling... so I apoligize.. I just turned 40 in Feb. and the first 4 years of Hardy's life it was just the two of us for the most part...now i'm married and have a 4 year old daughter who means the world to me as well... Seeing her hugging, giving kisses and telling HardyBear how much she loves him is a feeling I can't describe...but the other day when Hardy wasn't feeling well and I was trying to keep it together in front of her as well as Hardy...she said "daddy, is HardyBear going to die".... oh man, I didn't see that coming as we fortunately haven't had to have that talk yet so it caught me off guard....ahhh, sorry again for the rambling.. but thanks for letting me vent a little..

[POPTOP]

So, so sorry. Having a child ask that question, heartbreaking. Go ahead and ramble and rant, we're here to listed and help in any way we can. Absolutely know how you feel. We home older dogs and know the health rollercoaster very well.

To be fair to Rimadyl, which I don't like to use at all, Mardi is on it now for a very bad hip and bad knee on the opposite back leg. It has helped her tremendously; she's almost 13. Just getting her to the vet for regular blood work is so complicated with her limited ability to walk.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your pup. Also sending lab board mojo that an answer is found.

[smartrock]

I don't have any ideas about what's going on. Can you get a consult at NC State Vet School? You're lucky you're so close.

[lovemylabby]

Hello and welcome,

Was your boy tested for Lyme disease or any other tick borne diseases?

[Berna]

Wanted to send good thoughts for your boy.

I have a boy who is also 9 1/2 and I can imagine what you are going through and not knowing is the hardest part.

Did the x-rays show any arthritic changes? That would explain his reluctance to get up and walk and why Rimadyl is working.

[mjmpirate]

Wanted to send good thoughts for your boy.

I have a boy who is also 9 1/2 and I can imagine what you are going through and not knowing is the hardest part.

Did the x-rays show any arthritic changes? That would explain his reluctance to get up and walk and why Rimadyl is working.

I forgot to mention that part about the x-rays of his back legs.... Multiple vets and radiologist looked at the x rays and none of them saw any arthritis or arthitic changes. The radiologist did spot some inflamation in his back left knee but nothing severe.

[labsnewfy]

Hello and welcome,

Was your boy tested for Lyme disease or any other tick borne diseases?

Was thinking the same thing. That might explain some of his problems being stiff and having a hard time getting up and down.

[mjmpirate]

I was just getting ready to provide an update on my boy Hardy's status. Hardy's health has progressively gone down hill this week. The biggest and main issue right now has come in the form of losing use of his hind legs. Last week he was stiff getting up and walking around but would loosen up as the day progressed... In the last two days, including today he has gone the opposite direction (so to speak) with his legs. He was in pain yesterday and I had even given him tramadol to help him rest comfortably but even that was seeming to touch it so I called vet last night and told him we had to do something cause I was not going to let my boy suffer like this and the loss of leg use and control without serious support also his feet quickily went from slightly dragging to turning over. The vet prescribed Gabapentin since the legs now seemed to be a neurological condition which tramadol and/or Rimadyl wouldn't help with pain for. I gave him one of these and within an hour or so he was resting much more peacefully and relaxed. He could get up on his own but walking and controling his hind legs was/is still a struggle. I took him back to the vet at lunch today and we discussed everything again and how he was kind of an enigma but first and foremost of importance was managing the pain and looking at quality of life...all while I was in tears... I didn't even know if today was the day to let go of him but as I had him out of the tahoe and in the yard at the vet he wanted to get back in the tahoe rather than head inside like he usually does when we're at the vet..so that felt like he was saying not yet dad. We decided to continue with the Gabapentin but to stop the Rimadyl immediately and switch to prednisone at the end of the day tomorrow and see if that helps any by the first of next week however we're taking things hour by hour and day by day right now so a lot can happen either way between now and the first of the week. I again made it clear that my main concern it and always will be him not being in anymore pain right there with quality of life. I just feel so helpless but please understand as I am trying to keep telling myself.. that Hardy has had x rays of his entire body, ultrasound of his abdomen, blood tests done every week the past 3 weeks, checked for lyme disease as well as all tick borne diseases AND these have all been reviewed by 3 different vets, x rays sent and reviewed by radioloist and multiple specialist have been consulted which has resulted in thousands of dollars in bills (not that money would stop me from fixing him but at the same time we're not rich). I'm not giving up on him and will continue to sleep downstairs with my boy but exaustion is real.

Well, I've now rambled on aqain and had who knows how many grammar mistakes but this is where we're at as of right now.

thanks for your continued prayers and support.

[kimbersmom]

I'm tearing up in sympathy for you. No answers here, just affirmation that Hardy is fortunate to have such a loving owner. I'm sorry y'all are going through this.