RVsBoxer
Super Boxer
Hey guys, I am getting really depressed and frustrated here and am hoping I can get some advice. Sorry this is going to be long.
My Boxer Wilson has had problems with his right front leg since March, when he first started limping. After a couple months of the vet telling me it was a sprain and to let him rest (yeah okay, try making a Boxer take it easy), I finally decided to do some x-rays to see if it was something more serious. The x-rays showed nothing and they decided he probably had a tendon/muscle/ligament strain and it was going to take several months to heal. They put him on an anti-inflammatory.
After a couple months of pretty much no improvement, I decided to go to an orthopedic specialist, who confirmed that he has tendonitis. It wasn't serious enough to require surgery, but they said he needed physical therapy.
It's been almost 3 months now - he's had ultrasounds, aquapuncture (similar to acupuncture only they inject a liquid into his pressure points that aids in healing) and has even done hydrotherapy. He's also been on a supplement called ligaplex AND has continued taking the anti-inflammatory.
It seemed like he was getting better, his range of motion was greatly improved. However 2 weeks ago I noticed his gait seemed more unbalanced than usual, and when I went to the vet she could hardly extend his leg and said something must have happened to worsen his condition.
We have been trying so hard to keep him calm, and it's been extremely difficult to ignore him and tell him "NO" every time he gets excited. We walk him 3 times a day, for only 10 mins at a time spread out which is what the vet suggested.
My husband and I are at our wits end because we have spent nearly $2000 so far (in just 3 months), and we really can't afford to continue any longer. He should have been healed by now. I am extremely depressed about it, and I know it's really affected Wilson also as he mopes about most of the time (he gets bored with chewing stuff).
We were very active before this, went to the dog park all the time, long walks, play dates....now all he has are these short walks and no interaction with other dogs at all. If we try to play in the house he gets super excited and starts jumping/running around and then we have to stop. We can't even let him off leash in the yard anymore because he can't be trusted to not run/jump.
I don't know what to do anymore, I need to figure out how we can get Wilson healed without spending more insane amounts of money (just a visit with the specialist is between $35 -$70, depending on how thorough the examination is; hydro, ultrasound and aquapuncture each cost around $45. That's a lot in a week...and we were going in every 5 days). We just can't afford all the expensive therapy anymore. And if we can't go in atleast once or twice a week it really isn't worth it.
I feel so awful, all I want is to make him get better. If there is one prayer God could answer for me, this is it.
Anyone have any ideas/suggestions/advice for me?
My Boxer Wilson has had problems with his right front leg since March, when he first started limping. After a couple months of the vet telling me it was a sprain and to let him rest (yeah okay, try making a Boxer take it easy), I finally decided to do some x-rays to see if it was something more serious. The x-rays showed nothing and they decided he probably had a tendon/muscle/ligament strain and it was going to take several months to heal. They put him on an anti-inflammatory.
After a couple months of pretty much no improvement, I decided to go to an orthopedic specialist, who confirmed that he has tendonitis. It wasn't serious enough to require surgery, but they said he needed physical therapy.
It's been almost 3 months now - he's had ultrasounds, aquapuncture (similar to acupuncture only they inject a liquid into his pressure points that aids in healing) and has even done hydrotherapy. He's also been on a supplement called ligaplex AND has continued taking the anti-inflammatory.
It seemed like he was getting better, his range of motion was greatly improved. However 2 weeks ago I noticed his gait seemed more unbalanced than usual, and when I went to the vet she could hardly extend his leg and said something must have happened to worsen his condition.
We have been trying so hard to keep him calm, and it's been extremely difficult to ignore him and tell him "NO" every time he gets excited. We walk him 3 times a day, for only 10 mins at a time spread out which is what the vet suggested.
My husband and I are at our wits end because we have spent nearly $2000 so far (in just 3 months), and we really can't afford to continue any longer. He should have been healed by now. I am extremely depressed about it, and I know it's really affected Wilson also as he mopes about most of the time (he gets bored with chewing stuff).
We were very active before this, went to the dog park all the time, long walks, play dates....now all he has are these short walks and no interaction with other dogs at all. If we try to play in the house he gets super excited and starts jumping/running around and then we have to stop. We can't even let him off leash in the yard anymore because he can't be trusted to not run/jump.
I don't know what to do anymore, I need to figure out how we can get Wilson healed without spending more insane amounts of money (just a visit with the specialist is between $35 -$70, depending on how thorough the examination is; hydro, ultrasound and aquapuncture each cost around $45. That's a lot in a week...and we were going in every 5 days). We just can't afford all the expensive therapy anymore. And if we can't go in atleast once or twice a week it really isn't worth it.
I feel so awful, all I want is to make him get better. If there is one prayer God could answer for me, this is it.
Anyone have any ideas/suggestions/advice for me?
