the beginning: hind leg trouble
on may 18th, 2012 sullivan began limping on his hind leg. we initially thought he had tweaked something running or while leaping over rock forms in the yard, but alas, the limping lingered. concerned, and ultimately worried he was in pain, we went to our vet for consult.
upon examination, the doctors at windhover veterinary clinic were unable to pinpoint/diagnose the problem and sent us for specialized treatment. deramaxx was prescribed to control sullivan’s pain which was quite noticeable in diminished activity level, visible limping, and overall malaise.
we first visited dr. nicole amato at ivg hospital for an x-ray of sullivan’s anterior cruciate ligament (acl). upon physical examination and x-ray review, dr. amato discerned that sully’s acl and accompanying ligaments/joints were all normal, with the exception of age appropriate wear and tear for an 8-9 year old dog.
windhover’s secondary recommendation was to visit cathy symons at sterling impression animal rehabilitation center of new england. cathy determined that sully had tightness in his iliopsoas muscle and developed a healing plan of massage and ultrasound treatment. weekly and sometimes twice-weekly visits to cathy proved insignificant and there was no change in sullivan’s hind limping with intense treatment.
supplemental to sullivan’s seeming orthopedic problems was a 1-inch sore on the back of his leg that would not heal. sully would bite and lick the sore with intense perseveration. windhover doctors each took a stab at wrapping the area with various bandages, but sully always found a way chew off the casting. we returned to sterling impression for laser treatment on this sore; but alas, no positive change. given the unimproved, unresolved nature of this condition, sully wore a lampshade elizabethan collar for weeks to prevent licking/biting and was put on various antibiotics (cephalexin/keflex and clindamycin) to hopefully prevent infection and heal the sore. unfortunately, the sore never properly healed.
over time, sullivan’s hind leg limping subsided naturally. to this day we are unsure of the root of the trouble – be it muscle strain/sprain, neurological abnormalities or whatnot. the lack of medical clarity and status-quo “no positive change” treatment results remain most frustrating. the wound on sully’s hind leg is still present despite herclean efforts to facilitate healing.
