My dog is still lame after chiropractor. What's next for his pain?

I think a physio assessment is a good idea for Trick. Physiotherapy may help with his continued pain. I'm not sure if you've had any x-rays done on Trick, but I'd recommend having that done if it hasn't been before. Given that it's been three months, depending on the cause of his pain, it might be time to consider a surgical treatment for him. You can speak with your vet to see if that is an option as well.

Poro Mocha Latte! I'm not sure what, if any tests, have been done on her. If imagining tests such as x-rays, an MRI, or a CT haven't been done, I'd recommend taking her back into the vet to discuss having one or all of these tests done. Visualizing her spinal cord may help give an answer as to what is causing her pain, and she may need surgery to correct any issues. I agree this isn't normal, and I think what I suggested should be the next steps for her. I would make an appointment for her sometime this week. I hope this helps!

Hi. Thank you for writing in with a question. This off and on limping could be caused by several things ranging from a soft tissue injury to infection or repeated injuries. I don't know if you were in valley fever heavy areas, but if you are that is a possibility for an off-and-on lameness as well. I would recommend continuing rest and anti-inflammatories prescribed by your veterinarian until you can see the orthopedic specialist. The orthopedic specialist is the best Next Step. Good luck and I hope he feels better soon

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Trick is uncomfortable. If his stifle is swollen or tender we would be concerned about an ACL injury, a sprain or muscle pull, or another ligament injury. If his hip is uncomfortable he could also have aggravated a congenital dysplasia issue, or pulled a muscle or ligament. If it does not improve or worsens after 24-48hours of rest, I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his discomfort. I would touch base with your regular veterinarian before altering his medications. Good luck!

This presentation could be due to a neurological lesion affecting nerves innervating the legs (please tell us which leg you think is affected to have more specific answers). I would recommend a neurological examination and eventually further investigations (EMG and MRI/CT might be needed). Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I'm glad to hear that Rocco is still energetic as ever. In terms of things you can do to help with Rocco's discomfort, you might want to consider limiting the type of exercise that causes this kind of pain. As Rocco gets older, his joints may not be as well lubricated as they once were and he may even be experiencing some onset of arthritis. This can be verified with a physical exam and/or x-rays of the affected joints. Though you have indicated this only seems to happen after significant exercise, it might also be worth checking for tick borne diseases that can cause shifting leg lameness. Even though it doesn't seem likely in this case, if that were causing this it would be easily treatable. As for things you can do actively to treat the discomfort, I would consider starting Rocco on a joint supplement and/or fish oils. They will help lubricate the joints and reduce the affect of osteoarthritis long term. Pharmaceuticals available for the treatment of pain and inflammation in dog are extensive and variable. Some are generalized anti inflammatories, opioid pain killers, and some that address neuropathic pain. Other treatment modalities to address discomfort and inflammation include laser therapy, acupuncture, massage, and certain types of therapeutic exercises. The first thing you need to do though is have Rocco examined to rule out any sort of injury. Once that is determined, you can move onto treatment and prevention. Hope this helps.

The next step will be to have several x-ray done to evaluate potential injuries and conditions in the spine, hips and knees. i would recommend asking your vet to send the xrays to a radiology specialist for second opinion as well. according to the result your vet will need to explain a treatment plan, it might be medications or surgery.