My 8-year-old golden still limping with a bone fragment. What to do?

Poor Rosie! Yes, based on your description I agree that biopsies of the suspicious area would be the logical next step. Bone cancer is unfortunately common in Golden Retrievers, so I definitely recommend trying to get a diagnosis ASAP for the best chance of a positive outcome. Referral to a specialist for additional imaging studies could also be considered, if you would rather exhaust all non-invasive options first. If the biopsy does not show evidence of cancer, it may still provide some insight into what is causing her lameness issues so that she can be effectively treated.

Riley licking the elbow that much has me concerned, especially with his age. I would push to have an x-ray or two performed on the affected leg to make sure there is no underlying disease with the bone (bone tumor, bone fragments in joint, etc.) that needs to be addressed. It also looks as though Riley has caused a hot spot over his elbow. I would recommend keeping a cone around his head and applying an ointment such as Sentry Wound Cream (over the counter at Petco) as directed on the box. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be mroe than happy to help you further.

Hi. There is an abnormality in the cores of the bone near shoulder. Cancer is a possibility, along with bone infections (bacterial or fungal), or inflammatory diseases. Unfortunately with her being older, cancer is higher on the list then younger pets. Based on this xray, we can't say for sure. I would recommend sending these x-rays to a radiology specialist, which your veterinarian can do. A bone biopsy can be done as well to determine if the changes are consistent w cancer. Good luck.

It may be a good idea to remove the chip, or at least go in arthroscopically (with a tiny camera) to see what the joint looks like and clean it up if necessary. My guess is there was significant trauma if it was enough to dislodge a chip there so it may predispose her to arthritis as she gets older, so going in while she's young and not having any signs could be beneficial. I would see if your veterinarian can recommend a boarded surgeon that performs arthroscopy to take a look at her and her x-rays and see what they think.

If he is still lame and painful then cage rest is recommended. He does need to see his vet but no jumping or running until you get there. If it is a back leg I would be suspicious of an ACL year or other soft tissue damage at his age

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Levi definitely could have hurt himself while hunting - he could have caused some soft tissue damage (damage to the muscles or ligaments) or a fracture (broken bone). X-rays would be able to determine if a bone is broken or if there is damage to a joint. He is a little bit young to have arthritis, but it is still possible. It is definitely concerning that the carprofen did not help him, as it is a great pain reliever for dogs, especially for bone/joint pain. A few other things that could be going on are a tumor of the bone or a disease transmitted by a tick. Because Levi was hunting, it is very possible that he was bitten by a tick (he does not necessarily have to have a tick on him at the moment). Ticks can transmit many diseases, including Lyme disease, which can cause limping. A quick blood test could rule this out. In the meantime, I recommend keeping Levi as quiet as possible - definitely no hunting until the cause of his limp is diagnosed. I hope this helps!

I would make sure his pain is adequately controlled and the margins of the biopsy were clean. You may want to have x-rays performed to ensure there is no abnormality to the underlying bone or joints.