Dog people know dog people.
Pepper has either a partially (hopefully) torn ligament and/or cartilage in her right knee. I'm having to carry her up the porch steps. She's on pain meds and doggie arthritis meds and doing 300% better. But now we have to see how she's tolerating the meds. If they're wrecking her kidneys or liver, we gotta go to plan B, all the while hoping she doesn't completely tear the ligament before it heals. She's 12, she ain't gonna do well with reconstructive knee surgery I can't begin to dream of being able to afford anyhow.
But she's here now. She's not even really a very good dog, but we're like an old married couple after 12 years.