Beagle - Back/Leg Pain

I will try to answer some questions you asked from the archive board. No xrays were taken. I was told to get good xrays, they would need to sedate, and they were hesitant to sedate as she had just been sedated 4 days prior for a teeth cleaning. Also, they still had the back/hip xrays on file from Oct. when she had the intervertebral disk problem. It didn't make complete sense to me that they would think Oct. xrays would help them today, since whatever she did is obviously recent (it may have been building, but is definetely recent pain). I did say tendon in my previous post, but I meant ligament. He did mention anterior ligament issues, but didn't feel as though it was completely ruptured as she was able to put weight on it. She is also able to assume the urinating and defecating positions she always uses. The vet seemed surprised she was able to squat as normal, and I remember with her back incident, she was unable to use her usual defecating position.

Since she seems to be in less pain now, I am inclined to wait until Friday evening and see how she is doing. If need be, I can take her in on Saturday, or get a second opinion if I feel that is better.

Any other thoughts or sentiments welcomed. Thanks.....

original post from archived board below -

Hi. Am new to the board, but having some issues with my 5 1/2 yr. old female beagle (fyi she is perfect weight for her size per vet). About 5 months ago, she was diagnosed with intervertebral disk disease. Rimadyl and 2 weeks of 'crate rest' seemed to do the trick and she was given the all clear.

Yesterday morning, she jumped on the bed and immediately started crying, in quite a bit of pain. I took her to the vet within 3 hours of this. Also noticed when I let her outside that she was careful to put minimum weight on her left back leg. The vet had a hard time discerning where her pain was since everyplace he touched her she acted like he was killing her. He is 'inclined' to think that it is leg, not back, but that the tendon is not completely torn, or else she wouldn't be able to put ANY weight on it. She is back on rimadyl and 2 weeks crate rest.

I should mention that I don't think whatever it is just started suddenly. I noticed Thursday that she missed a step with the back left leg, but as she had just had her teeth cleaned, I figured she was still dopey from the sedation. Also, once over the weekend I noticed another misstep, but didn't think anything of it. Also, my mom mentioned a misstep on Wed. when she let her out, but of course, none of this looked like anything at the time. Hindsight is 20/20...

I guess this post is part venting about the vet and part asking if anyone has any similar experience to this? The venting part is that they did not give her any pain medication, either while she was there or for home. I have to pick her up to carry her down stairs (we are on 2nd floor), and every time I touch her she cries and wails. I was led to believe the rimadyl was also a pain med, but in talking to another friend, I am told it has about the same pain management skills as aspirin. Should I be calling the vet and asking for some actual pain meds to take the edge off until the rimadyl kicks in? Also, she was at the vet for 9 hours yesterday, why couldn't they give her something there??? And why in the world do they charge you a daytime hospitilization charge when they TELL you to leave her there for examination???

Okay, venting over - anyone have any thoughts or similar situations. One other theory that has been floated around is a possible pinched nerve... Thanks, appreciate any help.