UKC

Hi folks. 

The old pooch, 30kg 12.5 year old choccy lab has developed a limp this week. He's in good health generally and doesnt have anything underlying that I'm aware of i.e. liver and/or kidney.

He's developed a limp coming from his front left leg this week. Ive had a prod around and cant produce any discomfort and he doesnt have anything obvious stuck in his foot but I am pretty confident it's musculoskeletal - he's OK after a little warm up but when getting up from laying down for a while he really struggles and limps. I was hoping it was just a strain or something, although he only gets gentle walks now, which of course I have stopped, but this morning it has become markedly worse with some whimpering.

I can't get an appointment until Monday morning but I wanted to check whether I could give him some paracetamol to take the edge off. Ive called the vet who said they used to do this but it's not standard procedure now, apparently, althoug they do in emegencies. They were understandably nervous about making any recommendations without seeing him.

Ive checked the internet and it seems that giving paracetamol is OK in small doses and I reckon 500mg would be OK, twice a day with his size, but before I did anything wanted to check if anyone had got some experience.

Thanks

Richard

My vet recommended me to take Aldi paracetamol regularly as it was cheaper than specific doggy paracetamol and had exactly the same effect. Dosage is dependent upon size etc and I'm not a vet but it will probably be fine.

Are you sure you aren't a dog, Frank the Husky, although I'll admit that my baking is somewhat sporadic?

We used to use Arnica tablets with our Newfoundland when he got older. Kept him mobile up to the end at 13.5 years (good age for Newfies)

We were advised to give out lab paracetamol. He was about 28kg and I think the does was half a tablet twice per day. This was last summer so fairly recently. 

Off licence but 10 to 15 mg per kg every 8 hours paracetamol is as safe as you or me taking say a 1000mg dose. Assuming you're dog is generally healthy otherwise. 

Vets can't legally advise or recommend you to use paracetamol as there is a vet licensed product: pardale V. 

Calpol sometimes has xylitol in it which is poisonous to dogs so if going to give paracetamol, just get the basic tablets.

Elbow arthritis is common in old labradors. If lameness getting quickly worse I'd get emergency type appointment over weekend.

Good luck Richard. 
I would have no hesitation with that sort of dose unless she/he is already taking metacam or similar and in that case I would exercise some degree of caution. I have had old dogs but I am not a vet.

To be honest I’ve got some gabapentin and a few other bits and bobs kicking around I would also consider as a temp fix if it were my dog.  I had a terminally ill dog who enjoyed edibles in his last few weeks. Having seen the effect of that on a dog with cancer, I would also consider in small doses for a lame dog too. 

We gave our 32kg Lurcher, children's Ibuprofen when he developed a limp while we were on holiday once. I believe it's very similar to Metacam. It worked a treat, just don't tell the pharmacist that's what it's for.

I gave my sick old dog (35kg) paracetamol, one human supermarket tablet twice a day plus other drugs, a bit of an overdose but chopping pills off centre is a pain. One vet I spoke to said they can tolerate significantly bigger doses short term when managing severe pain so for sick old dogs it's often not killing them faster than what's causing the pain.

Jk not a vet

There is a pretty narrow gap between an effective dose and a toxic dose for ibuprofen in dogs and it’s not a drug I would use clinically, or ever really consider as one I would use. It’s quite different from meloxicam in this respect.

paracetamol is increasingly used in dogs, but we don’t have a lot of efficacy data.

Paracetamol toxicity seems to start around 150mg/kg in dogs. frequently used clinical doses around 10-15mg/kg two to three times a day appear well tolerated, but we have very little objective safety data.

Cats are much more sensitive to the toxic effects of paracetamol than dogs - don’t go there.

very good point from ‘im off’ about checking for Xylitol in human products given to dogs (and cats).

OP - you should certainly get him in to see your Vet as soon as practicable, and that’s the best advice you can get.
 

Thanks everyone. Responding for wider awareness. 

The vet called me back late last night and said that between now and Monday 500mg paracetamol every 8 hours woukd be ok for a dog of his size. She said it was slightly off label advice but was happy with it if it takes the edge off.

She clarified that under no circumstances would she ever recommend ibuprofen for dogs as this can be damaging.

Thanks again.

Our 25kg dog takes half a paracetamol twice a day, as recommended by the vet. 

did you find any vets in the room?

i'm looking after a young dog with a red bump on his lip. i have advised owner to see vet as a number of possible causes (some contagious), but would a vet be able to diagnose visually or waiting/tests?

I'm gonna start charging 😂.

It needs to see the vet and safest to test it too. Needle aspirate....cytology is starting point. Not an emergency but next week or two.

I doubt it's contagious. It's most likely a histiocytoma if dog is young. Histeocytomas are benign, sometimes go away with time, sometimes get surgically removed (usually just to confirm is a histeocytoma with histopathology).  However, it needs to be checked it's not a mast cell tumour as they look very similar. These can be very aggressive so need investigating very carefully. So yeah....get it checked.

Anyone else? 🙂

Mines 40kg and takes half as well as recommended by the vet! Does weight come into it at all?

many thanks - will let her know. not acne then?

same dog had a ringworm-like blistering on snout a few months ago which was diagnosed as an allergic reaction, possibly to lime (lime plastering being carried out at time)- not convinced..

Hi, has that cleared up and did you notice it anywhere else on your dog?

snout has cleared since xmas..current lip lump has been there a few weeks i think.

both seem similar to examples of canine acne i've seen...

Fine need aspirate is the test of choice for a mass like that, or if there is ulceration you may be able to get a good sample using a direct impression smear. You do need to see a vet, whatever it looks like to us on here. 

In reply to the thread:
The use of paracetamol without veterinary advice is not recommended and current medicine regulations regarding 'under care' means that an examination will be needed in most cases as those are the current rules! 

Dose is half a paracetamol twice a day for my 38kg greyhound (arthritis) in addition to steady Meloxicam dose, as recommended by the vet. I only give the paracetamol if he appears to be struggling particularly, e.g. if he couldn't help but run around the garden and is now paying the price

A quick squeeze of Fido’s anal glands please and I promise I’ll leave you alone. 

RiP to my best mate 28-3-25.

Turns out he had bone cancer in his leg. Vet recommended he be euthanised.

So sorry for your loss, they really are the best of friends.

I'm a vet and putting people's pets to sleep is the worst part of my job, but please try and take comfort in the fact you have made the best, most selfless decision you can for him. 

He looks like he was a lovely dog. I'm sorry

What awful news, really sorry to hear it.  That's a lovely photo of the two of you together on the train.

Thanks. That was last summer on the Wensleydale Vintage Railway. He hated buses and trains so had to sit like a person, then he was fine.

He was, deaf as a post lately but such a lovely gentle nature.

I'm in bits right now, and shock I think as its happened so quickly this morning. Just horrible.

Anyhoo, off to have a few drinks, to replenish the liquid. 

Really sorry to read about this. Every dog and cat I ever had was a character, complete and individual to themselves. It's such a wrench when they go. I've not had dogs since I was a boy but have recently thought about adopting a rescue mutt. Probably won't. Not sure I'd want to deal with the inevitable when they get old and depart. We're on Naxos right now and there are cats everywhere. Some of them look like they live a good life and some look hard done by. It's part of life's unfairness. If you give an animal a good life then good on you, it's all you can do so well done for doing it.

Sorry to hear that. Osteosarcoma comes in quickly. It sounds like you got it somewhat early. Good news. Very sorry to hear the outcome.