miniature schnauzer swollen limb

Question
QUESTION: I have a 10 year old miniature schnauzer with swollen left rear leg.  I have taken her to the vet more than once, with tests done for lupus, tick born diseases, xrays, and also biopsies of her swollen limb and the lymph node in the upper rear part of the leg.  All of these tests have come back negative.  She responds perfectly to prednisone, they have treated her with 3 types of antibiotics, but as soon as she's off the prednisone the leg swells again.  The leg is not painful to her, but it does get very swollen, starting in the paw and moving up her leg, past her knee (?).  Have any experience with this?  We're at our wits end with this.  Any natural remedies for swelling to replace prednisone, I would hate to keep her on this for the rest of her life. The vets don't know what else to do either.

ANSWER: This certainly sounds like some sort of infection to me. Is it possible that the dog could have gotten a foxtail in its pad that is working its way around?

I would most certainly go to another vet for a second opinion! Sorry, but I don't know of any substitutes for prednisone.

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QUESTION: Would an MRI be the way to go to see if something is in her paw? The xrays showed nothing.

Answer
If the veterinarian thought that an MRI might help to diagnose the problem, then I certainly would do that. Did you get a second (or third) opinion?

You might also try a veterinary chiropractor. Chiropractic has been a blessing for our agility dogs and injuries they have gotten. http://www.avcadoctors.com/search_for_avca_certified_doctor.htm