Have we a vet in the house? Ben, my 8-year old border collie cross is limping badly (right hand rear leg), and the vet wants to sedate him and x-ray him to check for arthritus and possible hip problems - which will cost about £100!

However she has accepted that it may be sense to adminster an anti-inflammatory and pain relief for a week and to keep him off exercise in case it is a simple strain. She has prescribed Metacam. So that was £40 for the consultation and the Metacam.

Why not Ibruprofen? It's an anti-inflammatory and a pain reliever (at least it is for humans), and since Ben weighs 28 kilos (62 pounds - and he's not a mountain of blubber, just a very large border cross) one ordinary BP200mg pill would be about the right dose - or is it dangerous or ineffective for dogs?

It would be a hell of a lot cheaper - which of course may well be why the vet wants to use Metacam and make more profit. My local vet can charge like a wounded rhino.