I have a 5 1/2 year old working Mal. A couple of months ago after a training session we thought he may have torn his ACL in his right rear leg but when the vet checked his leg out and looked at the x-rays nothing noticable appeared. After having three weeks off with anti-inflamatory meds he was fine working and playing like normal.Three weeks later on a very cold weekend(teens)i looked out at his kennel in the morning and noticed him hold his right rear leg up again. So i made plans to have him checked out again when i returned from vacation, but when i returned from vacation he was fine. That was until three and half weeks later an another cold spell hit(teens).The next morning when i went outside to feed him before we went to work he was limping and holding the same leg up again. I have kept him in the house at night and during real cold days and have not had any problems. Note: 8 months prior to this recent injury he injuried the same leg and was out for a week before he returned to normal duty with out any problems. Can anybody offer any ideas on the problem. could it be arthritis?
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Sounds like it could be arthritis? Is he limping or maybe his feet are freezing in the cold weather. My dog will hold up a leg if the snow gets between his toes and it's too cold. Also maybe it's a problem with arthritic toes. Some dogs do get arthritis in their feet. Hips have been x-rayed right? Also it could be a partial ACL tear only and not full blown. My cousin's Rott had partial tears in both knees and he would be fine then limp then fine again. It all came down to surgery and he's normal now. The did the TPLO on the dog..Good luck