Hey all,

I have a 6 month old lab pup that started limping on Thursday evening. Here's what happened...

I got home from the grocery store with groceries and children in tow. Went to pups crate, and he flew out and ran outside to our fenced backyard to relieve himself and run around.

I was busy bringing in the groceries, and settling kids that I didn't see what happened outside with the pup. He had been out alone, and we have about a foot of snow/ice crusty nasty stuff on the ground.

When I let him in, he was limping on his front right leg. I assume he twisted/wrenched his leg or foot, or slipped and pulled something. I have been palpating his leg from the shoulder to the toes, and find no swelling or real obvious injury.

I've been restricting his activity, and giving him more crate time. He is no better, but no worse. There is still no swelling or warm areas or obvious signs of pain when I flex his joints. Overall he is uncomfortable when I mess with his leg, but there is no specific sign he give me to say "it hurts here".

If allowed, he'd run around like a crazy pup, gimpy leg and all. His appetite is great, and he his temp is normal.

Question is, do I wait a couple more days with cage rest to see if he improves? Or do I bite the bullet, and take him to the vet now. My gut says to wait a couple more days and rest him, but sometimes my gut lies to me.

Love any feedback! Thanks

Tracy

I probably would have had it checked friday, but since it doesn't seem to be an emergency I think it can wait until monday.

Did you check his nails too, I have had mine catch a nail and make it bleed and sore before.

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

I probably would have had it checked friday, but since it doesn't seem to be an emergency I think it can wait until monday.

Maybe I've just been burned too many times by overreacting (as in, spent an armload of money just for vets to tell me to wait a week)... but my inclination at this point, with MY dog, is that if I can't personally see, feel or sense any obvious problems - and it sounds like you're being very thorough Tracy - then I give a minor limp close to a week before I head to the vet. Think about springing your own joints/muscles and how long that can take to really heal... and the more active the individual is, the longer it will take for any inflammation to go away.

The important thing is SERIOUSLY limiting the activity during that week (believe me, I KNOW how hard that is with an active pup) - crate most of the time, if necessary, short leash outside, and no real romping. A week of calm and quiet will not kill the puppy, and best case scenario, it WILL heal what's most likely a soft tissue injury. If the pup is no better after a week, THEN take him to the vet, who will likely want to take x-rays (which is more expense than you need if you're only looking at a sprain ). That's all JMO, but my dog has been through a fair number of joint/lameness issues and if I've learned any thing it's to give mother nature her best shot before I head off to the vet with my checkbook.

~Natalya

I should have added that I am a total ninny about my dogs being hurt.

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

I should have added that I am a total ninny about my dogs being hurt.

No worries, Jennifer - You should know that I've freaked out and cried more than once over Oscar's assorted injuries and would quickly label MYSELF as a total ninny also (my BF will totally back that up). Somehow it's much easier to give advice when it's not your dog. That said, I truly have been a little jaded by so many false alarms (including 2 CCL tear scares, the last of which took no fewer than 3 ortho surgeon consults to finally be resolved as a sprain - but you bet I was a right mess for the full 2 months it took THAT to blow over!! :grin

~Natalya

I once took my dog to the emergency vet because he was shaking and drooling.

the diagnosis $300 later.....a thunderstorm

 Quote: Jennifer Lee

I once took my dog to the emergency vet because he was shaking and drooling.

the diagnosis $300 later.....a thunderstorm

LOL! Thanks ladies! I'm going to do exactly what Natalya would do with Oscar. Everything points to a soft tissue injury for now. If it gets worse, or no better by Thursday, I'll take him in!

I caved and took Briar to the vet today! Not the usual vet I see that is usually pretty conservative, but a younger guy, way to eager to do everything! Plus way too quick to diagnose without even X-raying. The pup has pain in his elbow, and even though I explained to him exactly what had happened prior to the limp, he was "almost sure" it was OCD (osteochondritis)which would require sugery!

Welp, $500 later, we don't have a diagnosis. He was examined, sedated, x-rayed and Lyme tested. X rays looked totally normal. He did show a faint positive to Lyme on a snap test so we are treating him with doxy. But I'm sure that isn't the reason for the limp.

Vet said if he doesn't improve significantly in a week, then I really needed to go see the orthopedic surgeon for a consult, because they may see something that he does not.

When I asked him about a ligament strain (cause thats what I think it is) and how much healing time that may take he replied about 2 months. So why should I see a orthopedic surgeon in a week???

I should have stuck with my plan to give till Thursday!

Well at least you know nothing is broken!

Can you make an appt with your normal vet before going to the surgeon, to double check everything?

Have you thought about it being pano? Our golden started limping just like that at about the same age and it was pano. Why did the vet jump to OCD if the xrays look normal?I would definitely get another opinion - sorry it cost you $500 for what seems like nothing! I hate that!