My dog fell, can't use leg. X-rays clear. Is high rheumatoid factor from trauma?

Unfortunately, rheumatoid factor is sometimes present in dogs without rheumatoid arthritis, and not all dogs with rheumatoid arthritis test positive for the factor. That means that this value should be interpreted in combination with reference ranges given by the lab and clinical signs. Please write to us these more pieces of informations to have more specific answers.

So sorry that Dolly fell down the steps. Since the x-ray did not show a break then she may have a soft tissue injury, like a strain, sprain, or possibly a ligament tear. I am not exactly sure why your vet prescribed a diuretic (Lasix), an antibiotic (Cephadar), and Corotrop (heart medication) so you really need to discuss with your veterinarian. Please call your vet an ask him/her why the medications were prescribed and exactly what the medications are treating. It is difficult to make a recommendation without knowing your dogs entire medical history and knowing the results of the physical examination.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diamond is adorable! It does sound like she is somewhat painful as she is hesitant to do normal activities. This can be caused by arthritis - pretty much any joint can be affected as well as the spine. Your vet can perform a thorough orthopedic exam and x-rays to isolate the signs to a particular part of the body. Certain conditions such as Lyme disease and autoimmune disease also cause generalized joint pain and can be ruled out with bloodwork. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have about Diamond!

If the x-ray was clear than cancer is not likely. The swelling is most likely from the door hitting her leg. Other things that can cause knee swelling would be arthritis, ligament injury, patella luxation, infections (Lyme disease, etc.), strain/sprain. If the swelling does not resolve after being on the anti-inflammatory than she will need to be rechecked by your vet for more diagnostics to determine the exact cause and best way to treat.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Vito. If a fracture has been ruled out by x-rays, then I suspect that he suffered a painful soft tissue injury. He likely has a fair amount of swelling causing the firmness that you feel. I assume that his veterinarian prescribed him pain medication. Keep him very quiet and give the medication as directed. If he was not given any medication, do not give any over-the-counter pain medication as these can be toxic to dogs. Contact your veterinarian for one if it was not provided. If he does have medication, but it does not seem to be strong enough than ask for a secondary one to be added. I hope this information helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would still keep the appointment you have with the veterinarian. In the meantime, you could start a pain medication to help her out. I would recommend Well & Good Buffered Aspirin. You can find this product at PetCo and it is specifically for dogs. Follow the dosing on the bottle as directed. The veterinarian will likely give you a different medication that is safer to use long term. I hope this helps! I would definitely get x-rays of the leg tomorrow to look into this further and rule out any bone fractures.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lucy. I am sorry to hear about her recent troubles. How frustrating! There is a muscle known as the iliospoas that wraps around from the lower back to the pelvis. If this muscle is strained, it is extremely painful. This can be detected on a physical exam, but would not show up on an x-ray. Other problems can be related the spine itself such as disc disease. The most common cause of rear limb lameness is a torn cruciate ligament in the knee. Has she had stifle x-rays? More rare conditions are autoimmune joint disease or a tick borne infection. Both of these are typically accompanied by a fever. You may consider a referral to see an orthopedic specialist if you are having trouble reaching a diagnosis. I hope this information helps!