Question:
As some of you know, Toby (my 8 yr. old shih tzu) has had a few problems this summer. In mid June he started refusing to put pressure on his right hind leg and needed a steroid shot to help with a strained muscle. Only a few days later he underwent surgery for the removal of three benign perianal tumors and castration.
Well, in the past few days I've noticed that Toby seems to have a weak left hind leg. It's not neccessarily obvious stuff like limping or the refusal to put pressure on it, but rather more subtle stuff. I've noticed that when he tries to support himself with that leg during urination he sometimes seems awkward and loses balance. Additionally he often catches that particular leg while running up stairs or jumping up on furniture. He has also started licking the top of the leg near the hip a bit..not constantly, but at least twice a day. I never see him lick the other one. He does have a bump on the bottom portion of the leg, but he has a history of skin cysts which the doctor says is normal.. he advised to be aware of whether or not they seem attached to muscle or grow. This one is not attached and isn't big so that doesn't particularly concern me.
I am a little concerned about the stuff I've been noticing in regards to a bit of a weakness in that leg. Admittedly, ever since he recent problems I've been very observant of his behavior and have, probably, developed a bit of paranoia..but this problem is definitely not imagined. My mom and brother think, of course, it's ridiculous to call the vet AGAIN about a problem and I know that, if it's nothing serious, the vet might give me a lecturing. However, I really believe that he weak in the leg and want to get it looked at before it potentially becomes a limp or whatever. I'm going to try to get him looked at tomorrow, despite the fact that I'll have to deal with some inter-family opposition to do so... but in the interim I wanted to know if any of you guys have any idea as to what these symptons sound like or if your dog has experienced this ? I was thinking perhaps something like arthritis could be a culprit.

Russell

Answer:
That Toby is being quite a worrisome little guy, isnt' he?

A touch of arthritis maybe? Many dogs do have that by age 8.

And your vet will NOT lecture you - they like it when people care about their pets!

If the problem gets worse, you might want to take him in to check for arthritis.

Answer:
I can't imagine a vet lecturing you for being caring and cautious with your pet. He probably will be happy to see it and wishes all his patients had such loving "parents".

Answer:
Yeah, I'm actually hopeful for arthritis at this point because I've read so much about bone cancer on the net. My family is very strongly opposed to taking him in for this in light of the other problems he's had this year. They're kinda sublimating the frustration that they have into anger directed at me, claiming that I'm too obsessive and that I'm ruining their summer. I feel the problem does have merit (I've been actively observing for at least a week) and, though I HATE having to deal with the thoughts of potential problems as well, feel like taking him in is the right thing. All I've found info on are arthritis, common ligament/muscle injuries and bone cancer.. so I'm a bit concerned about the last potential problem.

Russell

Answer:
Sorry to bring this old topic back up to the top of the page, but I wanted to update with the results of his visit and the following days. I'm somewhat distraught, so I wanted to post it.

I had my mom run Toby into the vet who checked him out, felt around his entire leg and took him in the back to observe his movement. He did not seem to think anything was the problem. He suggested that I was simply paranoid about the dog and even - ugh - suggested that I may munchausen syndrome (despite the fact that I rarely take the dog in myself) and that I was simply imagining the problem. Yet, I still feel very, very uncomforable.
In the days since the checkup I have noticed that Toby is hesitant to jump on furniture or to stand on his hind legs (both of which he was willing to do readily before), especially after sitting or laying for long periods of time. After a while he will stand up, but will often lose his balance and fall down. I now fear that he has a problem in BOTH hind legs.
Unfortunately, I think my doctor is now willing to dismiss any concern I may have as paranoia. He did not want to give the dog x-rays (wich I wanted to have done in order check the legs) and suggested that it was not neccessary at all. I know that, if the dog showed REAL problems such as not walking or limping, the doctor would be willing to do them.. but I don't feel like sitting around when I truly believe there is a problem waiting for it to progress far enough to warrant inspection (and, probably, too far to offer any hope for treatment). I trust this doctor A LOT, and if Toby would need an invasive surgery or care for a diagnosed disease I would definitely want him treating him, but I feel now that I may have to find someone else for the actual diagnosis.
Like I said, I truly believe Toby has some sort of problem. It may be a hip problem, or muscles, or arthritis.. or, god forbid, cancer. But I know something's there.. three weeks ago he LOVED to jump and leap onto furniture, now he is VERY resistant to trying either. I watch his behavior very closely and think I'm capable of noticing a departure from his normal activity.
I feel kind of hopeless right now, because I feel like I need to help him out but I don't know how. My doctor thinks I'm just being weird (which I ALMOST find insulting), and he's gotten my family buying into the exact same idea. Because of this it will be hard to get anything done.. I don't make enough money to afford any of the stuff I know he needs, but no one trusts me enough to help me out. I can't sit around and let something happen to this dog without at least trying to stem it.. but I'm just very confused on what I'm going to do. It's really hbad because the inherent horror of having my little dog being sick is compounded by a bunch of people unable to accept that he actually is. I adore him to such an extent that my WORST fear has always been for something to happen to him, but I at least thought that - when it did - all those surrounding me would be working as hard as I was to help him out. I just feel a horrible combination of guilty, helpless, betrayed and - most of all - sad. Wow.. I really can't believe this is going on.

Russell

Answer:
Ahh Toby poor guy!

Your vet shouldn't really dismiss you like that without even trying some pain medication to see if it works.

Have you considered going for a second opinion? What you may want to 'try' to do and I don't know if you're comfortable doing it but maybe if you called the vet and said something along the line of 'can we try some pain medication for a couple of days, just some baby aspirin to see if things change?' See if the vet is open to doing that, a little bit of baby aspirin can't harm Toby but get the vets opinion and advise. If it works, then hey...you know he has some pain somewhere and the vet can further look into it.
Don't give the aspirin w/o getting the appropriate dose amt from the vet accding to his weight though

Answer:
Maybe I should try that. Would that, in any way shape or form, alert the doctor to the presence of cancer ?

Russell

Answer:
Just that there is pain there Russell, and that pain is a result of some form of injury/disease and that it's not 'meaningless'. Its worth a try anyway right
Keep your chin up!

Answer:
First let me say that your intelligence shines through in your text. I can't believe you are not being taken seriously. You do not sound histrionic or paranoid. You come across as sincere, extremely bright, level-headed and heartfelt. If you can do that in text alone, I'm stunned that those who communicate with you in person are not taking you seriously.
I'm impressed that, despite the vet's poor attitude, you still credit his capabilities and would want him to perform any surgery that might be needed. Still, he should be as eager as you are to find out what is bothering poor Toby, and he should be taking your word on the fact that there IS a notable difference- whether or not Toby displays said difference at the office, on demand.
Luba's suggestion might just work, to point out that if aspirin helps....then whatever it is helping must EXIST! Perhaps this would inspire the vet to find out what is causing whatever the aspirin is helping. Then again, he might just be glad you are "pacified" by the effect of the aspirin, and hang up the phone thinking it was a lovely placebo to calm YOUR "paranoia". If his ego is tied up in this, you might be hard-pressed to get him to admit that he was mistaken, especially since he has made some insulting comments as to your capability to determine whether or not something is wrong in the first place. I hope it doesn't come to that.
Your idea to get a second opinion, then take it Toby's vet- might just be the way to approach things. Perhaps he would better accept a diagnosis from one of his "peers". Again, if ego is involved, this plan will fall flat on its face as well. In which case I'd suggest you allow the vet who diagnoses him to treat him, if you trust the new vet to do so.

Good luck to you both, and please keep us posted!

Answer:
As a sidebar to this, is there any possibility that this is related to him having been nuetered a few weeks ago ? I read a few places that it takes the testosterone 3 or 4 weeks to leave the body fully, and it's been about a month since he was neutered. Could the absence of testosterone have slightly weakened his muscles at all ?

Russell

Answer: