My doodle's knee is gigantic! Arthritis symptoms and signs?

[Emily]

I have a vet appointment Tuesday and am hoping for a cancellation tomorrow to get in earlier. We do not have a 24 hour clinic anywhere near us. She is walking, playing and eating. Her walk is stiff legged but she has always walked and ran funny because her hips are not correctly formed. Her hips do not have that tight mortar pestal fit- so instead of smoothly moving in the socket, the bone actually bangs into the socket. This is per the orthopedic vet we saw 2 years ago when she went lame for a few days after running hard. Now we don't let her run hard. This anatomy is why she tends to run like a bunny hop and on occasion has soreness after playing for long periods. Please no comments about parent genetic testing. I CHOOSE to adopt her. I love her.

Her knees have never been a problem but yesterday while I was grooming her, I noticed that the inner side of her knee (on the back leg ) is huge! It has been so darn cold that we haven't been outside running or playing. There is No known injury. She isn't limping and uses all four legs. She does always use her other leg first to weight bare when doing steps and drags the swollen knee leg a little bit. The knee has a large swollen mound. The mound is hard. Not moveable. Not warm to the touch. She won't yelp when I mess with it, but she doesn't want me to play with it. Currently she is chasing our kitten through the house.

I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this? When you say your doodle has been diagnosed with arthritis, what symptoms does he/she have? Any tangible evidence? I feel so sad for her. She has been a laid back dog, I wonder if she has been in pain and I just didn't know. She is so calm and quiet. What do you give your doodle to help?

Tuesday can't come fast enough.

[Emily]

Things got crazy. She wouldn't walk. She popped three stitches out just from walking. Then I went into the vet where they cleaned the site and stapled it shut. The next morning all the staples were out except one. They put in 9. The incision site has been oozing and looks bad. Top it off with her iv site, is all hot red inflamed and horribly painful for her. She has been confined to one room. No stairs at all. Has had her cone on 24/7 and still is having difficulty. Dr. Today told me to use Benadryl 50 mg today and tonight and then tomorrow and will start Prednisone tomorrow morning. I feel bad for her. I know her back leg wound hurts still and her front paw iv site is extremely painful with a gigantic hot spot. :( i couldn't go to the vet today because of a snow storm that dropped 12 inches. The 14 mile stretch to the vet was closed all day! It's frustrating that I have followed all rules of recovery to a T and she isn't doing well. When she was spayed, she had similar problems. Why is she soooo sensitive o everything? Even sound, or some people she just will not go around at all.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I a so sorry to hear of all this trouble.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I'm so sorry to hear this! I don't know why some dogs are so sensitive. Maybe genetics?  I hope you can get things calmed down and improving for her and yourself soon!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so sorry to read this.  I hope tomorrow will be better and you are able to get to the vet,  We had a foster that simply could not leave his neutering incision alone - cone and all, he chewed open the stitches, was restitched and did it again.  Of course it became infected. He did finally heal, but I feel your pain.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

How is Emily doing?