My senior dog has arthritis and is limping. Meds aren't working.

Question

My jack Russell is 10 and has Queen Anne front legs. She is lame on front right. X-ray says mild arthritis in both. NSAIDs plus pain medication not working. We have minimal insurance. Pet's info: Dog | Jack Russell Terrier | Female | spayed | 28 lbs

Rodrigo Roca, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, sorry to hear about Mollie. There are multiple causes of pain and lameness in the front legs. One of which includes inflammation of the biceps tendon, most often diagnosed with an ultrasound. Elbow dysplasia which can be composed by 3 different disease processes (elbow incongruity, fragmented medical coronoid process, and ununited anconeal process) which is diagnosed with a CT scan. And any injuries to the wrist or toes often seen with x-rays. Most of these can be treated first with medical management, strict rest, and occasionally a splint or bandage. However, of this is not working for Mollie, then she may need to see an orthopedic surgeon to determine if surgery is necessary. At that time, depending on what the findings of the orthopedic exam are, you may be faced with having to do additional diagnostics. Unfortunately, your insurance may or may not cover these. Speak with your veterinarian about adding more pain medications or considering a referral to an orthopedic surgeon if deemed appropriate. Hope this helps and best of luck.

My senior dog has arthritis and is limping. Meds aren't working.

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