A friend of mines dog has been diagnosed as having arthritis by the vet.  She is puzzled as her dog runs around like a lunatic most of the time but suddenly started to limp after getting up, she is only a young dog 18 months old. She hasnt had her long and is wondering whether her previous owners knew there was something wrong with her when they sold her, is there a way she can find out previous vet records as im sure that the previous owners wont tell her which vet they were with etc.

Or will the vets be able to tell how long the condition has been there? I know these are questions she should be asking the vet but you know what its like, you dont think of questions until you have walked out! 

TIA

I'm not sure I see the point in trying to find out if the previous owners knew - it doesn't change the outcome? Does she want to try and sue them? The original owners would be the people to contact, their vet should not give out any information about the dog when it was with them.

More importantly I would think she should be looking for ways to slow/halt/help the arthritis. I recommend glucosamine and chondroitin tablets from here. The 500mg glucosamine/400mg chondroitin come in a capsule that is easily pulled apart so you can sprinkle the powder on the dogs food :) It's miles cheaper than the doggy alternative.

Thanks for replying.

She doesnt want to sue the previous owners or anything...just concerned that the insurance will be invalid if the vets say the arthritis was there prior to when she took out the policy...will the insurance company want previous vet details??

From X-rays can the vet tell how long the arthritis has been there?

I believe she gives her glucosamine and chondroitin, a chicken flavour tablet from PAH. 

Very young for arthritis, do dogs as young as 18 months get arthritis?  I take it she has had x-rays done?  There might be a name of a previous vet on the vac card?  I agree though, the orginal owners are the people to contact.

PS Just to add, if the dog has never has symtoms before that required vet attention then an insurance company would have difficulty proving that the dog had a pre-existing condition at the start of her insurance.

My dog was 2 and a half when he was diagnosed with arthritis in his knee joint.  The vet thinks it is the result of an injury when he was younger.  We don't know when that might have happened as he has not sustained any significant injury to that leg in the time he has been with us.  We got him aged 6 months so it may even have happened before he came to us.  We just don't know.  Until he started to limp badly around October last year, he showed no signs even though the x-rays showed that the arthritis is very severe in the joint.  His cruciate ligament had also slackened, exacerbating the problem and that is probably what caused the limp to become evident.

The insurance have paid out every penny for the operation and follow up treatment to date...thankfully!!

Ah I see, of course secondary arthritis, such a shame in one so young.

Poor dog :-(

Unfortunately, yes, the insurance company will definitely want details of any vet the dog was previously registered with, and can request a full clinical history.  Insurance forms are fairly standard and if the previous notes are not available the vet has to say so; the question is usually worded something along the lines of "Has the pet been treated for this or any related condition before?  Yes.  No/Don't Know. 

I know insurance companies can be frustrating to deal with and seem very unfair.  I deal with a lot of insurance claims and while I understand owner's frustration; often they don't seem to realise that by signing an insurance form I'm entering into a legal contract stating that to the best of my knowledge all the information is true.  It's amazing how often owners try to persuade me to lie about insurance claims.  Not only is this totally unethical and could end my career, it's also a criminal offence.  I've had clients who've taken out insurance after a condition is diagnosed and asked me to change the dates; in effect, commit fraud!

Anyway, sorry, that was a bit of a rant.  I hope the policy covers the dog in question with no problems, chances are it will.

Sounds just like Molly, started limping at 18 months & now after many trips to the vet & numerous ops has been diagnosed with hip & elbow dysplasia.  As many have suggested Glucosamine is a good supplement, also hydrotherapy has worked wonders.  I really hope your friend's dog doesn't have the same as Molly, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, with the dog being so young as well there is so many options!
Good Luck!

How was diagnosis done, were xrays taken? just wondering, my 3 year old lab is on house rest at the moment because of limping when she gets up, we narrowed it down to right shoulder,  felction test showed there was a problem there, she has had bloods done and xrays they have shown nothing, but ruled out some of the things we were worried about, at the moment we are treating for tendon injury, and are following this through if this proves to be wrong further investigations will be done, just wondered if it could be anything simular with your friends lab or if a definate diagnosis of athritis has been done, xrays will normally show bone spurs if arthitis is present

justi

Poor girl :(

Did she have ex-rays to diagnose the arthritis?  The reason I ask is if it only affects her when getting up it could be a problem with her hips if it is in her back legs,  or elbows/shoulder if it is the front!

And I think the vet can tell how long the arthritis has been there by taking ex-rays!