Tally, my eight month old Lab has had foot problems for probably about 1.5 months now and I'm really unsure of what action to take next. I think I put a posting on here when he first started to limp, we took him to the vets and he was given a course of Rimadyl to take which seemed to work - his limping stopped, we started taking him on gentle walks again and all seemed fine. Two weeks after his course of Rimadyl we'd been for a walk and he was fine until later that evening. He had been resting and then stood up and could hardly put any weight on his front left leg/foot (the same as previous), he went down the garden to the loo and came back - the limp had improved in that time so it was almost as though he had some stiffness from resting. In the next couple of days with an intermittent limp and no walks he then developed a lump on his foot which he didn't like me touching, moving his foot away when I gently brushed my hand over it. I took him back to the vets the next day and he admitted that without an Xray he couldn't be sure, there was a possibility he could have a fractured/chipped bone in his foot. He put a precautionary bandage on (which lasted less than 24 hours!!) and I booked him in for the Xray.

To cut an already long story short, Tally had his Xray and that showed absolutely nothing so the vet settled with it being a soft muscle/tissue tear and gave us another course of Rimadyl. Two weeks later the Rimadyl finished, no limp but still a tender lump I took him back to the vets! He's flumoxed (sp?!). He's confused because the lump is not on the joint of his bones, it's in the middle of a bone. At that visit we got another course of Rimadyl and an anti-inflammatory steriod injection which he said would last a week - if the lump's not gone by then come back and we'll give him another. The week went by and the lump had gone quite squishy and all but disappeared so I didn't go back. A week later after no strenous exercise the limp was back yesterday evening along with the lump bigger than it's ever been and rock solid.

I apologise for giving so much long winded detail but has anyone ever had a similar experience. I'm loathed to return to the vets as they have admitted they don't know what it is and I don't want to keep going back week after week trying a new drug/injection until we finally find one that works!

Thanks in advance for any replies.
Regards, Rachel

hello !
sorry to hear of your dogs trouble ! firstly is he insured ?? if so ask your vet to refer him to a orthopedic surgeon who will have a better idea of what is going on, your vet won't mind especially if the diagnosis is bugging him ! Rimadyl is ok if it clears the problem up but has its side effects on young animals which are still growing, it isn't designed for long term usage. Has your vet done a needle biopsy on the lump ?? is it fluid ? abscess ? grass seed?
I would defiently get a second opinion just for a piece of mind. Good Luck

Think this may well be too seperate problems, say a cyst and panosteitis, and agree with the poster above ask to be refered. All the best, Jackie H

Unfortunately Tally isn't insured yet - we haven't got round to doing it!!

whoops ! I would still seek out a second opinion, how many vets are there at your surgery ? or try someone else. Any insurance now would exclude limping and lumps but I would still insure him asap

I wonder if it could be something as simple as a grass seed! (May not show up on an X-Ray), and your Vet may have overlooked this possibility, (Vets are not always perfect in their diagnosis).

Suggest the possibility of a grass seed to your Vet, then ask your Vet that as you are constantly reaching out in the dark with this one, could he recommend seeking a second opinion, in order to look at the problem afresh. (He may well ask one of his colleagues).

Do get your dog insured though. He is only eight months old, and has many years ahead of him. Although insurance is expensive, it gives you peace of mind for any eventuallity. My own dogs over the years have had heart problems, arthritis, cataracts, stomach torsion, and just recently one of my elderly dogs had a virus of the liver. All costing in excess of £500+ However, because they are all insured (including my cats as well) I only have to pay the first £45 of any bill.

If possible pay for the year, then it is out of the way, then put aside an amount each week/month, so that when the next year's insurance is due, you have already saved for it - plus interest!

Let us know how Tally gets on.

All the very best,
Denise.