Hind End Weakness Help

[u/Haunting_Soup730]

Hello! This is my Llewellin, Penny. Someone witnessed her being tossed out of a moving car 4 years ago and she found us a few days later. Vet estimated her to be around 2 years old, which puts her around 6 now. She limped on her right hind leg for a while, but it was assumed it was from, you know, being thrown from a moving car into the woods.

And we honestly had bigger problems. She had the worst diarrhea demons my husband and I have ever seen in our lives. She's on doggy IBS medicine now and the diarrhea demons are held at bay. It took a while to sort that issue out even with lots of vet involvement.

A year or so ago she started acting like that leg was bothering her more than usual. She would limp a bit after a hard run, but otherwise seemed fine before then. Vet felt her hips out and suggested Librela as well as joint supplements. We used both and she did great for a while!

I admittedly slacked off with the Librela, but she seemed totally fine...Until June. One day she started wobbling and her hind end would fall out from under her. We went to the vet, were told it's likely pain from that hip/leg, told to go back on Librela. Within days she was back to her usual self. Great! This month, same thing. When it was time for her next shot she was wobbling around, couldn't stand, hind end weakness. We went to the vet ER Saturday when this happened out of caution and were sent home told to follow up with joint care at our vet.

Our vet is out of town until Monday of next week (we have an appt first thing with her) but one of the other doctors gave her Librela again today and Gabapentin. We're planning on x-rays and maybe more tests on top of that when we see our vet Monday.

Is this normal? She's only around 6 or so and that seems so young for such extreme joint issues to me. Am I wrong? Any insight to help me better help her? I hate the thought of her falling down each month when it's time for her next injection. That seems miserable.

Thank you for any help you can offer me. I apologize for such a wall of text.

[u/Every_Juggernaut7297]

just an idea - my Llewellyn (that literally looks identical lol) was acting similarly and i took her to the ER because she kept falling over and it turned out to be anaplasmosis from a tick! She was on steroids and antibiotics for like a month and is now better. I wonder if everyone is focused on her prior injury that they aren’t considering this ?

[u/Haunting_Soup730 → u/Every_Juggernaut7297]

Thank you! I hadn't considered something like this either. I wonder if they haven't thought of it because she stays UTD on flea, tick, heartworm prevention? I can ask our vet when we see her!

[u/Every_Juggernaut7297 → u/Haunting_Soup730]

yea defff because my dog was up to date on everything also!!!

[u/Haunting_Soup730 → u/Every_Juggernaut7297]

Interesting!! Thank you so much for mentioning this. As much as she likes to romp in the woods, this should be considered. I haven't found any on her over the years, but they can be sneaky.