UPDATE:
Well, Stogie obviously is not reacting well to the Rimadyl. He's been incredibly tired and sleepy. I contacted the Vet again today, and he told me to STOP THE RIMADYL. One of the side effects is the dog being tired, sleepy, lazy or lethargic... He told me to stop giving him that pill as it is obviously working or doing something to his nervous system. :yikes:
He told me to come in and get some pain meds that he's going to cut into quarters for Stogie (since he's so small - only <9lbs) and give him these to keep him out of pain.
I explained to him that Stogie doesnt seem to show me any signs of pain, except that limp. You can pull, prod, poke, rub, stretch and touch that leg and he doesnt show any signs of being upset or show any signs of pain. Its obvious that I'm pissing him off by messing with him, but no evidence of pain (whining, whimpering, crying, agreesive biting, or anything like that when touching that leg)
He plays, jumps, runs... no issues. I'm comparing it to Human behavior... when my leg hurts I'm careful not to fly/run down the stairs, I'm real tender and gentle walking up/down street curbs... that kind of thing... not him. He jumps up/down on the couch like its nothing. Never hesitates, flinches - nothing... he just limps when he walks on that leg. He still runs, he even pulls me around the block when we're out for a walk on the leash... but he does limp on that left rear leg while walking at a slow pace.
I asked the Vet, did he think we were chasing a wild ghost? (ie: looking for a problem when none exists) he didn't feel that was the case, he said he's (stogie) is so young, if he's limping - somethings wrong. I asked if its a Dachshund thing for them to limp? He said no. He said the only time you see that kind of behavior in a dog is when (for example) the dog might wear a splint for a while, then after he gets the splint off - the dog still limps because he's been limping WITH the splint for so long... This is only week 5 of the limping for Stogie, and he didn't think it was "in grained"... he thinks something must be wrong.
So he told me to come in a make an appointment to drop Stogie off on an empty stomach one morning, so he can sedate Stogie and take x-ray's, and give him a more complete physical exam while he's out and sedated. That way he's not working against the tensed up muscles, etc. and he can position him the way he wants, etc... If Stogie is jumping, running, pulling, et... I doubt an x-ray is going to show him anything wrong with his bones? He wont see any tissue or ligament stuff with an xray? He added that if he doesn't see anything wrong after this step - he'd have to refer me (stogie) to an orthopedic specialist
What do you guys think? Should I go this route and let the vet sedate him and take xrays, etc... or take him to another vet for another opinion?
DESPERATELY SEEKING ADVICE HERE.