Some large veterinary facilities have these tanks that allow the dog to walk on a treadmill while being supported by water. I feel swimming is good but again must be controlled.

Have as your goal that the dog will be comfortable on the leg and ultimately able to return to field work, not that he necessarily will be ready to hunt on the preserve in September. Remember, all ACL surgeries, and any other surgery for that matter, do not produce 100 percent success and do not follow the same post-operative recovery course in each individual or even in each leg of the same individual.

(Question) Have attached a brief medical history and four vet records for your perusal.  I am a 71-year-old avid hunter and this dog is in the prime of her life and now after walking about a block on a leash, she is lame.

She is a five-year-old female German shorthaired pointer; she weighs 49 pounds and resides in Wisconsin; and is a professionally trained hunting dog who has tested in the NAVHDA system through the Invitational level.  She is a high prey, high energy and big running dog.  We follow vet recommendations with inoculations, etc.

Since March of this year she has been troubled with chronic limping on her left foreleg, and sometimes holds her leg in an elevated position even when resting. Numerous x-rays have revealed nothing wrong with the leg or forepaw, and various treatments including splinting, restricted activity and several different medications (NSAIDs, etc., detailed in the attached vet records) have provided temporary relief. But the limp always eventually returns after the treatment ends.

Any suggestions you can provide would be greatly appreciated. --JB

(Answer) You have certainly gone all out to diagnose your dog's problem and have not found a definitive diagnosis yet. And you may never find one. I would be tempted to remove the NSAIDs from the treatment plan and use something as simple as rest and hot packing (soaking) to change whatever is going on in this foot.

NSAIDs are wonderful drugs with great anti-inflammatory properties that give pain relief. In my mind I feel that lesions require a certain amount of inflammation to bring to the wound certain products of the body that contribute to healing. Drug manufacturers might not agree with this thinking but the use of Previcox for six months really has not gotten you very far toward a solution of this problem.

Hot packs or soaking will also encourage increased blood flow to the area and encourage healing. This simple treatment plan of no NSAIDs, hot packing and rest for a couple weeks will do no harm and may give you the information you need to define this dog's problem.  

Good News!
I finally got a new puppy. She is a German shorthaired pointer, with big liver spots and ticking in the white. She is nine weeks old today and helping me as I write this column. She seems like a good solid pup and will be fun to watch grow up and become a real hunting dog. More about her in future issues. Until then, I remain at htholcombdvm@qwest.net for more questions or comments.