Limping? The Saga Continues

• 04-18-2008 7:20 AM

  Maxs Mom Joined on 09-26-2006 Livonia, MI Posts 1,343 Points 100

  Limping? The Saga Continues Reply Contact Call me paranoid, I probably am but I have a right to be after all. Twice in the past week Teddi has gotten up very lame on her right front. The first time was last Friday night. She had been for a walk with DH, then when I got home from riding she was moving around and appeared fine. When we got up to go to bed she got up severely limping. She seemed to get better as she moved around, we gave her an ascriptin that night and she was fine the next AM. Then last night it happened again! Same scenario, went for a walk, seemed fine after returning, gets up to got to bed later limping. She was hesitant to climb the stairs, when we got upstairs I examined her foot (as I did the Fri before) and could not see a thing. When she came in from her last potty walk of the night she appeared fine. I did not give her anything last night this AM she is fine. Here's what I am wondering, don't know why not but...can a dogs foot fall asleep? She lays in the same spot almost every night, so I could see her laying wrong on her leg more than once. I have never experienced it to my knowledge before. I am just so worried, after two CCL's on one dog, and Teddi's THR, I freak when one of my dogs limp.   Ann & Art Maxine CGC, UA NJ III, DD NJ r (11 yr old Golden) Belle NJP, CGC, UA SJ, UA JJ (5 Black Lab) Teddi CGC (1 1/2 yr old Golden) Pete 14 yr old TB

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• 04-18-2008 8:23 AM

  In reply to Maxs Mom

  Jewlieee Joined on 03-23-2007 MI Posts 5,203 Points 3,930	Re: Limping? Reply Contact  Is it possible that she's still growing?
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• 04-18-2008 8:57 AM

  In reply to Jewlieee

  Maxs Mom Joined on 09-26-2006 Livonia, MI Posts 1,343 Points 100	Re: Limping? Reply Contact  No she should not be growing taller, maybe maturing and filling out. She is 18 months now. Ann & Art Maxine CGC, UA NJ III, DD NJ r (11 yr old Golden) Belle NJP, CGC, UA SJ, UA JJ (5 Black Lab) Teddi CGC (1 1/2 yr old Golden) Pete 14 yr old TB
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• 04-18-2008 9:07 AM

  In reply to Maxs Mom

  Jewlieee Joined on 03-23-2007 MI Posts 5,203 Points 3,930	Re: Limping? Reply Contact I don't know. I've never heard of a dog's legs falling asleep. I suppose it's possible. Is she still swimming in the pool? What other things has she been doing?
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• 04-18-2008 9:08 AM

  In reply to Jewlieee

  Jewlieee Joined on 03-23-2007 MI Posts 5,203 Points 3,930	Re: Limping? Reply Contact Maybe she has been over compensating which has caused some tendon issues in the front. I did that when I hurt my big toe - over compensated which caused tendonitis in my ankle.
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• 04-18-2008 9:22 AM

  In reply to Jewlieee

  Pit_Pointer_Aussie Joined on 04-13-2007 Upstate New York Posts 964 Points 125

  Re: Limping? Reply Contact Rosco occasionally limps on his hind left leg after sleeping. He's been examined 1,000 different ways, and everything checks out, his hips are good, nothing else going on. He also works out of it after moving around a bit, so I do think they can get stiff or dead leg type things. I'd call the vet and see what the recommend and what you should watch for. (I tend to be neurotic so my vet is use to phone calls to ask if x,y, z is OK.) Hope everything is OK!   It's just a better life with dogs.

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• 04-18-2008 9:32 AM

  In reply to Pit_Pointer_Aussie

  Maxs Mom Joined on 09-26-2006 Livonia, MI Posts 1,343 Points 100

  Re: Limping? Reply Contact Pit_Pointer_Aussie: Rosco occasionally limps on his hind left leg after sleeping. He's been examined 1,000 different ways, and everything checks out, his hips are good, nothing else going on. He also works out of it after moving around a bit, so I do think they can get stiff or dead leg type things. I'd call the vet and see what the recommend and what you should watch for. (I tend to be neurotic so my vet is use to phone calls to ask if x,y, z is OK.) Hope everything is OK!       OH trust me I am neurotic too that is why I posted in the first place! NO MORE ISSUES!!!! I am glad to hear your dog does it, and checks out ok it makes me feel better about what I "think" it is. Her foot felt "warm" to the touch (compared to her other one) but if it was under her body weird that could account for it too. I need to pay more attention to her sleeping position so if it shows up again I have an idea of how she was sleeping.   Ann & Art Maxine CGC, UA NJ III, DD NJ r (11 yr old Golden) Belle NJP, CGC, UA SJ, UA JJ (5 Black Lab) Teddi CGC (1 1/2 yr old Golden) Pete 14 yr old TB

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• 04-24-2008 10:30 PM

  In reply to Maxs Mom

  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 3,082 Points 355

  Re: Limping? Reply Contact  I'm hoping that all is fine and wanted to say that when Bugsy was somewhere around 18-20 mos old a couple of times he got up and he couldn't seem to straighten out one of his back legs.  It was after he had been active and then napping.  Then after a moment or two he would be absolutely fine.  The second time it happened I took him to the vet fearing the worst. After a rigorous check the vet said that he couldn't find anything wrong, he thought there might be a slight increase in looseness in the knee felt confident there was no injury. He told me then that it might tighten up with age.  We haven't had any issues since.  The vet looked at it again during his physical and said he still couldn't feel/see anything wrong. Even though the bones are done growing like us may be the tendons and ligaments catch up a bit later.  Or since she is building her activity levels up she is just a bit sore.  I do hope it is nothing and passes for her sake and for yours. May be she needs shorter walks for a bit. I don't know, just throwing some ideas out - keep us posted!

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• 04-28-2008 8:09 AM

  In reply to kpwlee

  Maxs Mom Joined on 09-26-2006 Livonia, MI Posts 1,343 Points 100

  Re: Limping? Reply Contact  Just an update. She seems "better" we have been trying to do less with her. We should go to the vet next week for another vaccination so we are going to wait until then and see what our vet recommends. I am feeling more like it is probably a strain or something. They do take a while to heal and she does seem better. She is not used to being able to "run" not that she is doing a lot but more than she has in the past six months. Just getting to stretch her limbs may be making her a bit sore. I am hopeful that is all it is. After agility and swimming last Thursday she showed no signs of soreness. Last night after a walk it was minimal. "IF" this continues when we take her in I may opt for the radiograph so I can rest more easily. I am scared what it might show.   Ann & Art Maxine CGC, UA NJ III, DD NJ r (11 yr old Golden) Belle NJP, CGC, UA SJ, UA JJ (5 Black Lab) Teddi CGC (1 1/2 yr old Golden) Pete 14 yr old TB

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• 04-28-2008 1:34 PM

  In reply to Maxs Mom

  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 3,082 Points 355	Re: Limping? Reply Contact Maxs Mom: I am feeling more like it is probably a strain or something   That's great news!  I hope she continues to improve, her young body has been through enough
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• 05-20-2008 8:20 AM

  In reply to Maxs Mom

  Maxs Mom Joined on 09-26-2006 Livonia, MI Posts 1,343 Points 100

  Re: Limping? UPDATED Reply Contact  OK yesterday Teddi had x-rays. A week or so ago we went to see the vet and he palpated her elbow and "did not like what he felt". He could feel something on her right side, left felt fine. However his developer was down so we could not take pictures. Yesterday we went back for pics. The x-rays are inconclusive. My vet did not see anything on the radiographs to make him think she has elbow dysplasia, but he also did not see anything to explain WHY she is limping. He does not think it is soft tissue, and based on my description he feels it should be in the elbow/shoulder area. He said if it were lower she would be hesitant to put a foot down and she does not do that. She is still only showing lameness after moderate to heavy activity, at the end of the day after she settles down. She does seem to walk out of it for the most part by the time she goes to bed, and is fine in the AM. So we decided we need to send the films to a Radiologist for their opinion. My vet said if he stares at them long enough he "might" be seeing something but he showed me what we should see, and I too think what we should see is what we are seeing. If it were dysplastic there would be some changes that I don't think are there. Her elbow xrays looked pretty good to this lay person, her hip xrays looked TERRIBLE when I first saw them and I burst into tears. My vet says it will take a week to 10 days to hear  back from the Radiologist. So we wait. I think this "not knowing" is going to drive me crazy.   Ann & Art Maxine CGC, UA NJ III, DD NJ r (11 yr old Golden) Belle NJP, CGC, UA SJ, UA JJ (5 Black Lab) Teddi CGC (1 1/2 yr old Golden) Pete 14 yr old TB

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• 05-21-2008 9:12 PM

  In reply to Maxs Mom

  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 3,082 Points 355	Re: Limping? UPDATED Reply Contact sorry for the delay in responding - it sounds like it is mostly good news, our fingers and paws are still crossed. I am hoping that it is just muscle soreness as she gets back to using all four legs more equally, however I wonder if she is overusing that leg. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could just tell us what is going on with them
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• 05-28-2008 7:22 AM

  In reply to kpwlee

  Maxs Mom Joined on 09-26-2006 Livonia, MI Posts 1,343 Points 100

  Re: Limping? The Saga Continues.... Reply Contact OK the Radiologist reviewed the x-rays and spoke with my vet. Good news (I guess) it is NOT elbow dysplasia, he does not see anything on the films. So the big question is "why is she limping?" I asked my vet about Lyme Disease he said highly unlikely, Lyme Disease will cause limping on multiple limbs, she is consistent on the right front. She is too old for Pano. He said it is more likely to be one of two things. The first thing he mentioned was "un-united coronoid process", the second is "biceps tendonitis". The coronoid can ONLY be diagnosed with an MRI. Oh yeah! Sure hope her insurance covers this. That will be a BIG factor what we do from here. I believe that would be the same way to diagnose the tendonitis as it is soft tissue. Both are VERY treatable, I am praying for the tendonitis as that is treated with injections, the coronoid would mean more surgery. My vet will call my orthorpedic surgeon and talk to him and get back to me by the end of the week. Any body have serious ideas how poor lil ol me can make some money to pay for this little dog. Poor Teddi!   Ann & Art Maxine CGC, UA NJ III, DD NJ r (11 yr old Golden) Belle NJP, CGC, UA SJ, UA JJ (5 Black Lab) Teddi CGC (1 1/2 yr old Golden) Pete 14 yr old TB

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• 05-28-2008 7:25 AM

  In reply to Maxs Mom

  Jewlieee Joined on 03-23-2007 MI Posts 5,203 Points 3,930	Re: Limping? The Saga Continues.... Reply Contact  Well that is mostly good news. the tendonitis (if that's what it is) was most likely caused by her favoring her hip while healing. I did the same thing when I injured my big toe. I favored that foot and ended up with tendonitis in my other ankle. Very treatable! At least it's not all bad news.
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• 05-28-2008 8:54 AM

  In reply to Maxs Mom

  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 3,082 Points 355	Re: Limping? The Saga Continues.... Reply Contact well it's great news that it isn't dysplasia  fingers crossed that the insurance covers and that it is the tendonitis. Give that sweet baby some belly rubs for me please!
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