hurt leg / ankle of pet

Question
Hello, our baby "Bailey" is a mini-schnauzer and she is 7 1/2 years old.  She has a few things against her, like she is MAJORLY overweight (she weighs 21 pounds), she is blind in one eye, she is a diabetic, and has food allergies.  Now, on Monday she was fine and dandy when I took her outside to potty.  She came back in with me and lay down in my room while I worked on the computer.  I went upstairs to tidy up and she stayed on her bed.  After about an hour of being upstairs I heard her whine and it got louder and louder.  When I got to her she tried to stand and fell down, she tried to sit and fell down so I rushed her to her doctor.  The doctor couldn't move the leg at all (it was completely stiff) nor could she find a pulse and the leg was cold.  She gave her a steroid shot with a pain shot and sent us home and told us to watch her closely.  My mom brought her back to the doctor yesterday because she will now stand up but that leg just "hangs" there.  If she tries to put weight on it the leg just bends where her ankle is and flops.  The vet said that we are to continue using the steroids as prescribed (1/4 pill every 12 hours) and that it is probably tendonitis and will get better over time.  I do not think I am happy with that answer.  Especially since her leg just flops about.  Is there anything I can do to help her leg straighten out?  or should we just continue giving her the medicine and work out on its own?  How long should she be this way?

Answer
Hi Renee - Oh, I am so sorry about your Bailey's leg.  Yes, the vet is correct about the tendonitis.  If it is not better in 4 days then I would ask for x-rays of the leg.
Also, we can talk some good supplements to help your girl...Do you want the supplement info now or do you want to wait and see it the steroids do the trick.
Long Term ( down the road) she will need some good supplements.  Also, being overweight does put too much pressure on the joints.


Let me know what you want to do
OK???


Marie Peppers
Pet Chef
Alternative Meds For Pets / expert
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