Nearly 10 but I can't really remember a time when my terrier didn't have a problem - or three. He's had a nasty skin allergy which has remained with him since he was 2 (controlled mainly with tablets which I think eventually caused severe pancreatitis last year and four days on a drip), he had his anal glands removed, a tooth removed, hurt a leg at 6 months which meant weeks of rest, hurt a shoulder at 5 which has never fully recovered. Recent xrays showed arthritis in both elbows - which with hydrotherapy and massage we were seeing a slight improvement in, certainly walking more freely. Now, after jumping off a sofa at my Mum's house he's hurt his paw/leg. It wasn't her fault, we always lift him in and out of cars etc but it's not possible for her and who'd think such damage could be done. He is in pain all the time, two visit to the vets but they can't tell whats wrong. Medication isn't helping so he's due back there on Wednesday. We were so positive before this, we'd been able to walk him more and the weight was gradually coming off (he just needs to lose a little). Now he's back to hardly walking (I have to carry him to a suitable place to toilet) and of course we are now having to be careful with his food again to stop the weight going back on. Over the years he's had I think 5 xrays, so many tablets for different ailments - I can't believe what this boy goes through. He's such a good lad, happy and funny, given the chance he runs around like a mad thing despite the pain, and often we allow him to - what's the point otherwise ?.  We'd do anything to help him. I can't believe how he can make us so happy yet so sad at the same time. Has anybody else had a pet that seems to suffer all the time ?. It's really getting me down and tearful - I want him to have a happy life.

I know exactly how you feel - Remy's only just coming out of all his thyroid problems after 7 years of failed diagnosis and failed treatment.  And Saffi's arthritis just gets worse.

Did he land on the leg with the poorly shoulder?  I wonder if it's a soft tissue injury - Remy hurt his shoulder and did that 5 years ago, it took 6 months to heal and I know that if he hadn't had his thyroid problem it would have taken a lot longer (he plods off lead so running and hurting himself again wasn't a concern).  Have you tried a McTimoney chiropractor?  When he hurt his shoulder he could have knocked things out of line - gentle manipulation (and it is gentle with a McTim, no popping or cracking, just massage then little flicks) might help hugely.  Soft tissue injuries also don't tend to show on x-ray and can be hard to diagnose - Remy never showed any hint of pain in his examinations and his x-rays were fine.

Sorry to hear this and yes,me and many others know just how you feel,I have posted about my girl peg many times,ongoing health issues but finally I think we are getting somewhere,i dont let her jump in or out of the car but there are times when she wont wait and I hold my breath,she is the kind of dog that managed to find barbed wire where no one else could and always manages to injure herself on a bank holiday.
You just have  give it a little time,its hard when its one thing after another but when he is back on form the joy of seeing him well is all the more.
Peg dog was on steroids for 6 years which I managed to stop at the beginning of march,fingers still crossed here,but yesterday on her walk for the first time in a long time I watched her bound through long grass,chase her brother and give him what for,i could of cried with joy it made me so happy to see her so fit and full of energy.
Every night when I kiss her before I go to bed ,i tell her how much I love her and I always say to her please stay well.

I know how you feel. My now 11-year old lurcher had had around 30 anaesthetics in his life-time so far. Started off with neutering, then stitches due to accidents and attacks from other dogs about 12 times. He has also broken a tooth that needed treatment under anasthaetics (twice), had TPLO surgery so was knocked out a few times for that (x-rays, MRI, surgery, x-rays again after), had a piece of twig burried in his skin that needed surgical removal, had his dew claws removed after injury, recently had x-rays after a  leg injury, removal of fatty lump... He must hold some sort of record for the amount of anaesthetics he has had... LOL He is also hypothyroid. Yet, he is as fit as a fiddle and also has no problem with the vets and if given the chance wanders off towards the kennels every time we are there for anything... LOL

My saluki isn't so bad but has had a few mishaps in the last two or three years like a grass seed up his nose (needed knocking out to remove it), removal of his dewclaws after persistant nail bed infection, removal of lump, nearly sliced off his toe that needed careful stitching together of nerves and tendons and a damaged disc in his back which he had x-rays and MRI for...

Luckily my spaniels seem (so far) fairly robust with regards to injuries and accidents, though one is hypothyroid with associated allergies and the other may be hypothyroid too (testing at the moment). But overall these two are rarely at the vets - compared to the sighthounds. LOL

All I can say, please be persistent and keep at it with finding what is wrong. With both my lurcher and my saluki, the cruciate issue and the damaged disc issue were only discovered with an MRI... so perhaps that becomes an option for you if nothing else can find anything. A chiropractor is certainly another professional that I use if there are any movement issues as well, so another thing to look into.

Thank you all. He's a bit brighter today - overnight his limp almost disappeared. Still doesn't help everything else but hopefully one problem over........paws crossed !. I guess I get so upset simply because I love him so much and want him to be happy, I'm sure all good and caring owners feel the same, it's natural.

Phew and I thought George had had a lot at 9 anaesthetics-makes me feel better that if need be he should be okay to have another (only if necessary!!)