pup having trouble walking

[texas_girl]

Please help me understand.
I took my 7 month old mix to vet 3 weeks ago for limping on different legs. He felt around and twisted legs and all and found no breaks or tears. He put her on Rimadyl for 7 days and oh my gosh, I had my hyper pup back. I was so incredibly happy. He had told me that if it helped, let him know and if not, to bring her back in and he would xray to go further in testing. Well, last Wednesday, she was jumping and playing like crazy and rammed another of my dogs and when she did, she started limping on her front leg. Well, we waited to see if she would get better, figured she bruised because she did cry and it didn't stop her from playing at all. It didn't get better so, called vet, he wasn't in, so I ordered the Rimadyl from a reputed online med place and had them call and get a refill on Rimadyl. He refused, so, waiting for a day off as I'm the only one that works here at my location and she is so much worse. She is having trouble walking to where she is bowed and when she stops walking, for some reason, she sits up enough off of her front legs and is completely on her butt.  She cried this morning when I helped her off the bed whne I touched her front shoulders. She isn't eating well unless we hand feed her. She will drink a little water. She will lay there and constantly stretch all of her legs. I know  that I need to take to vet and I most definately will, I have to wait for a day off and right now, the only day is Sunday's. Can anyone tell me what I may be looking at? I don't want to lose my baby. I have lost a dog to cancer 2 years ago at 12 and this baby is only 7 months old.

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

The following are all Skeletal problems that occur in growing dogs.  Most of these can be diagnosed by X-Rays and most are self limiting and can be controlled by Rimadyl or other non-steriodal anti-infammatories.

Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy
Angular Deformity of the Forelimb (front legs only)
Multiple Cartilaginous Exostoses
Panosteitis (most common in German Shepherds or German Shepherd mixes)
Retained Ulnar Cartilage Cores
Osteomyelitis (Infections)
Hypertrophic Osteopathy
Nutritional Osteopathies
Bone tumors (unusual in very young dogs)
Bone trauma
Lastly, your dog should have a complete tick disease blood profile including: Lyme disease, Erlichia Canis, Rocky Mounted Spotted fever, Anaplasmosis and more.

[texas_girl]

Thank you for this information!! When I took her to the last vet, they did the blood work and checked for all of the lyme disease, etc. I will look these up and see if any of them sound like what she is doing. I will be taking her to the vet Wednesday, although, she perked up a little last night and this morning, I want to nip it before it gets worse.

[texas_girl]

Good Call Doc.
Molly has Panosteitis. She was given xrays and blood work and she does a have an ear infection in her left ear that was just starting, so, gave her a wash and ear drops for that, other than that, all is okay other than the inflammation in her bones. Prescribed Rimadyl and will continue until she is better. She is to be given only when she really seems to need it and only for a few days at a time. Just enough to ease the pain, but, not enough to make it all go away so she doesn't forget the pain because she is so hyper and wants to jump and run and go nuts when she is better. Thank you for your advise!!