Riley just had her 9month post-operative check up. She had chest x-rays and an ultrasound. No evidence of cancer, which is wonderful news. She has had an issue with “knuckling under.” Her left front paw will sometimes roll under. As you might imagine, this is causing some difficulties with Riley’s ability to get around. Additionally, sometimes she hold that paw up (while laying down), and it sort of flops around. It is almost as though she can’t get the paw to work properly, but maybe at the shoulder level. At the recent check-up, x-rays of her shoulder were taken. There is some arthritis there, and it has advanced since the last films were taken in October. Also, Riley has an audible click when she walks. It is not her harness, as you can hear it when she is not in the harness. Nor is it toenails, for you can hear it even when she walks on carpet. We are mystified.
We have had her to three different vets with this issue. The rehab doctor thought that it was because her posture is poor, and she is wearing herself out just getting around. He recommended massages, which she likes quite well. Riley’s regular vet thought that it might have a neurological basis, but we elected to wait to follow up until the oncologist had seen her. The oncologist thought that a trying gabapentin might be useful, so that is next up.
Is there a possibility that what she is experiencing is a long-term effect from the chemo? Somebody suggested that to me, but I hadn’t heard anything about it. We are looking into acupuncture, so that might be another thing to try. While we are not totally opposed to taking her to a neurologist, we’re not sure what that might accomplish. The ultrasound didn’t show anything obvious, but it just may be because an MRI is a better tool for finding possible growths on the spine. Speaking of MRIs, our other pointer had one last month, and it disclosed that he has a brain tumor. He has been treated (it was in an inoperable part of the brain) with stereotactic radiation, and we are in the wait and see mode. Lots of vet visits around here lately.