Jade limping again!

[DMikeM]

Christ does it ever stop?!! Well last Wednesday Jade flew down the stairs trying to get some coyotes that were just passing by our fence she barked them every name in the doggy book and I think some in human too after they all peed themselves and ran for the woods she came back but was limping a little. I figured she bruised herself going down the stairs or might have tripped up when she hit warp 9 going across the yard. Well Thursday she did not want to participate much in class or even afterwards when we go off leash and her limp was worse. So I decided lock down time. I closed off the stairs from Friday to this morning Monday and skipped training class today too. All weekend she favored that leg but when I try flexing it or pressing on spots she just looks at me with no expression at all. I can't tell if it is in the foot, toes, elbow or shoulder because she refuses to let me know when it hurts.

So how long do I wait until we go to the Vet on something like this? She is 15.5 months now.

 

[thedigitalkiwi]

Our DDB 12mth old pup has had bouts of limping for the last few months. There is no sign of pain when you flex it and the vet hasn't found anything specific wrong. She's been on and off rymadol and it just clears up itself. Someone said it was growing pains.
The be safe, I'd take her to the vets to make sure but if its the same as our females had, then it clears up on its own.

 

[Smokeycat]

I know when Kryten developed his limp I couldn't figure out where he was hurt, I thought it was his shoulder, because he let me manipulate his leg without batting an eye. When took him to the vet he did not like her trying to bend his elbow. She told me that many dogs that fully trust their owner will not fight any manipulation because you only do good things and therefore even though it may hurt they don't show it. Someone they don't trust that implicitly isn't given the same leeway.
If her limp hasn't improved even with resting her over a few days I would take her in, that's what I did. Hopefully it's just a pulled muscle that's taking a while to heal.

 

[cookiedough39]

Mastiffs can tolerate a lot of pain. She probably doesn't hurt until she has to put her weight on it. If she is limping I would give it 5-7 days before vet. If she won't put any weight on it, or won't eat, or doesn't want to move at all I would go immediately. That's what my vet told me in the past.

 

[DDBsR4Me]

I would probably take her in, especially after resting over the weekend with no improvement.

 

[DMikeM]

Try this again in the proper thread. Sorry for the confusion.

Well she has not been getting any better and it's been 10 days so off to the vet this afternoon. I wonder how they will x-ray when she wont allow anyone else to handle her or even walk her on a leash? Would you allow a vet to sedate your dog for x-rays?

 

[Smokeycat]

I posted in the other thread but here it is again.

Kryten was sedated for both of his sets of X-rays. The angle that they needed his elbow at was likely going to hurt.
On a side note if Jade did injure her knee, and your story about how she got hurt resembles many I've read on the orthodogs site I'm part of, they really need to be sedated to check for stability in the joint.

 

[DMikeM]

It's so hard to tell how this happened. She loved to bolt out the door and into the yard or down the stairs to warn anything moving within 20 yards of our fences. The other thing I realized is we have a big hole in the back yard that she could have hit while running across the yard in dim lighting. Will be filling that in tonight if it is cool enough.
I have tried to get any reaction out of her by squeezing, turning, pulling, and pushing on every part of her leg and foot and the only thing I found was a slight look when i squeezed her paw. So I tried the other paw and she did nothing. Back to the other paw and she looks at my hand and my face, so it may be in her foot.

 

[ruthcatrin]

I have trouble with this forum loading weird, and if I don't wait till the page is TOTALLY loaded to click on something it'll often "click" on the wrong thing.

Anyway, like I said in teh other thread, see if the vet will allow you to help restrain her for the xray, wearing a lead apron isn't a big deal. But depending on how they need to flex her for the xrays mild sedation (at the very least) might be required.

 

[DMikeM]

Yep will do. She will be getting her first rabies shot today too. Just wish I could skip it.

 

[Smokeycat]

For both your sakes I'm hoping that whatever is wrong is minor and easily fixed. Orthopedic issues suck.

 

[cayeesmom]

The benefit if they sedate her is they can manipulate/exam her joints better then if she is tense and fights it, same with the xray.

 

[DMikeM]

My fear is when i had Dozer looked at years back he was fine until after the x-rays. From that day on he had troubles and I think the VET was too hard on him and damaged his hip while he was sedated.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

There are a couple of vets here in the UK that will give a relaxant rather than sedate for hip and elbow x-rays that are done for scoring purposes. Also the owner is allowed in with the dog to help hold/manoeuvre and re-assure. This also allows you to take the dog home sooner with less side effects compared to deep sedation, is less risky and more cost effective as well! Would be worth asking about, you will feel better, have a better understanding, say and involvement which will give both you and Jade reassurance.

 

[DMikeM]

Back from VET. He seems to think it is a wrist issue as the mobility is less on the lame side. So for now Rimadryl and rest, 7 to 10 more days and see if we get improvement. And no she was not real keen on him touching her but still did not show one lick of pain to him. He did say she had to be one of the best looking dogs and Boerboels he has seen. Also said she was just the right weight even though she is down to 115. He wants to recheck her weight in 10 days too but it could be due to the restricted excersize.

 

[kacopley]

I don't have the same level of knowledge as others on here, but I noticed you wrote "again" on your title line. Has she had this issue on and off for a while? Our puppy had the same issue a few times and was diagnosed with panosteitis. We only had a flare up twice but I think it has corrected itself. We were given medicine to administer if he seemed uncomfortable, but we've not had to give after the second flare up. We were told it could continue up to 18-24 months. I hate it for my little guy but am always thankful if anything is not chronic or lifelong. Good luck! Btw, our puppy was only around 2 and 3 months when the flare ups occurred. I'm not sure with your girl being 15 mos. if she would develop it this late anyway. Just food for thought

 

[DMikeM]

yep this is the second time and I did mention Pano to the vet and he didn't seem to think much of it.

 

[alwcm4]

Hows Jade doing?

 

[DMikeM]

I am only seeing the slightest amount of improvement. Monday will be the 10 days rest mark then we will reevaluate he condition and possibly go for x-rays. Not really thrilled over these events and am very concerned for her. But thanks for asking.

 

[musicdeb]

Poor Miss Jade... Keep us posted, Mike.