limping

[msheely]

My dog started limping pretty bad on his rear left leg. I made a vet appointment for tommorow, was wondering if any of your dogs had limped and maybe just was a sprain. Im hoping thats all it is.

[rocksteady]

it could be ... a sprain, pull or worse, torn AC ligament ..

or something as small as a cut pad, sliver, blisters (from the heat)..

Just try to keep the dog from jumping, running.. give him rest.. the vet should be able to tell ya~

[msheely]

Yeah, Ive been trying to keep him off his feet. Man I let him out to do his business and there was someone else letting their dog out. My boy forgot all about the limp. Just went nutz. I really hope its just a sprain.

[Scotsman]

Rock I was thinking cruciate ligament also. Hopefully it is just something simple. Cruciate sx on a bull dog is tough do to all the muscle density in the back legs.

[SFK]

Check them pads.

[RHI]

Hope all goes well, hopefully not , but if is the cl, some require surgery and some don't...
if surgery is a last resort, can try crateing constantly first and ( only ) going out to go potty in a small area or on a leash & only long enough to go to the bathroom then back in the crate....can take awhile but sometimes can heal on their own....same thing if surgery...hope its nothing that severe....possible give Glucosamine chondroition supp. while healing if this is the case...

[whiteyransom]

hey guys, since you're on the subject...my dogs been limpin for a couple of days on one leg. it seems to reoccur on the same leg every once and awhile. got the vet to check it but it was fine at the time. right now i can feel the muscle/ligament move over the rear knee when i straighten it out. anybody got a clue?

[RIVES PITS]

You Think He Might Have Gotten Bit By A Spider Or Something Like That Doesn't Al;ways Swell After A Bite.

[MR PITS]

Well I hope that your dog recovers.

[RHI]

hey guys, since you're on the subject...my dogs been limpin for a couple of days on one leg. it seems to reoccur on the same leg every once and awhile. got the vet to check it but it was fine at the time. right now i can feel the muscle/ligament move over the rear knee when i straighten it out. anybody got a clue?
Could be a torn cl or could possible a luxating patella, maybe not as likely, 2 differant things, or possibly growing pains, if had torn cl prior and did'nt quite heal completly, could ocassionaly limp, we had a dog that had a torn cl and thought it had healed completly and for awhile would ocassionally limp. Sometimes can take awhile to completly heal ......some do and some require surgery.....theres so many things it could be, hope they get better....

[SouthernDixie]

My dog started limping pretty bad on his rear left leg. I made a vet appointment for tommorow, was wondering if any of your dogs had limped and maybe just was a sprain. Im hoping thats all it is.
Mine limped when she was having growing pains. It would come and go.

[msheely]

Thanks for the replies. Took my dog to the vet. She said it was a sprain or could be something in his hips. Gave a shot of pain reliever and prescribed some pain meds. Will see if condition improves. If not better by monday time for xrays.

On a side note this was my and his first trip to the vet. He went to the clinic for shots and neutering but this is going to be his full time vet. The lady was recommended by my sister. Anyways, the vet said how wonderful a dog he was and then told me she had a three year old boxer pit mix. She laughed and said arent all pits vicious as he was licking all over her. Then she said if the same thing that happened in denver starts here she will be the first to petition against it. I thought that was very good to hear. especially from someone who will be taking care of my best friend. Its funny my sisters corgie was limping and when the vet examined her she had to be muzzled because she nipped at the vet. My sister was like I bet they muzzle your dog. I told her i didnt think so. I was right
Thanks for the replies.

[RHI]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by whiteyransom

hey guys, since you're on the subject...my dogs been limpin for a couple of days on one leg. it seems to reoccur on the same leg every once and awhile. got the vet to check it but it was fine at the time. right now i can feel the muscle/ligament move over the rear knee when i straighten it out. anybody got a clue?

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Could be a torn cl or could possible a luxating patella, maybe not as likely, 2 differant things, or possibly growing pains, if had torn cl prior and did'nt quite heal completly, could ocassionaly limp, we had a dog that had a torn cl and thought it had healed completly and for awhile would ocassionally limp. Sometimes can take awhile to completly heal ......some do and some require surgery.....theres so many things it could be, hope they get better....

Thought someone might be interested & nice to know.....
we have had a young adult male do this a few years ago, also a couple large pups around 6 months old or so....Also know of other people....I don't give our dogs Asprin, but DMSO from the feed store helped , just apply to the leg were soare & don't get on hands, it will leave a copper taste in your mouth that tastes like pennies....comes as a roll on type application.....also, as far as your dog with the muscle or ligament problem, I would take him to the vet, it does not sound the same as this.......good luck, the DMSO could help until you decide what to do....Can Give The Appearance of Torn CL when in the Rear leg.......

Growing pains / Panosteitis



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Edited by: Dr. Theresa Welch Fossum
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<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">Overview


Panosteitis is an inflammation involving various layers of the bones of young, growing dogs. This condition occurs spontaneously and ultimately resolves on its own. Other names for panosteitis include enostitis, eosinophilic panosteitis, juvenile osteomyelitis and osteomyelitis of young German shepherd dogs.

The exact cause of panosteitis is unknown, but the disease tends to occur in large and giant breed dogs between five to 12 months of age. The German shepherd breed is most commonly affected. Males are more commonly affected than females. In females, the problem can be associated with coming into heat for the first time.

Panosteitis can cause severe lameness in more than one leg. The degree of pain may be such that the dog develops a fever, stops eating and starts to lose weight.

What to Watch For

<LI>Shifting leg lameness


<LI>Fever


<LI>Loss of appetite


Diagnosis

Diagnostic tests are needed to recognize panosteitis and exclude other diseases that cause similar symptoms. In addition to obtaining a medical history and performing a thorough physical examination, tests or procedures that your veterinarian may wish to perform include:


<LI>Orthopedic examination. Your veterinarian will usually watch your dog walk in order to assess the lameness. Each individual limb is then usually examined. Front legs are usually affected first. Pain can be found on deep palpation (applying pressure) over the areas of inflamed bone.



<LI>Radiographs. Radiographs (X-rays) can be helpful to make the diagnosis, but the changes in the bone can be very subtle and difficult to visualize on radiographs. Have Radiologist confirm


Treatment

If panosteitis is diagnosed or highly suspected, treatment will consist of rest and anti-inflammatory pain-killers such as aspirin.

Home Care and Prevention

Home care is primarily aimed at limited your dog's movement. Keep your dog quiet and rested in a small area of your home or in a crate.

A short course (seven to 10 days) of aspirin or another anti-inflammatory such as Rimadyl® or Etogesic® may be recommended. Do not administer any drugs that have not been prescribed by your veterinarian.

There is no way to prevent this problem from occurring. However, you should take comfort in the fact that this disease usually runs a short course and almost always disappears without specific treatment. It has an excellent prognosis.

Be prepared for the possibility that the clinical signs of pain and lameness may wax and wane, come and go, and shift around to different legs before it disappears entirely. It will usually resolve by the time your pet reaches maturity. Appreciation of the “shifting” nature of this disease will minimize your frustration when it reoccurs in another leg.
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<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">Information In-depth


Lameness in young, growing dogs may be caused by a number of diseases. Some of the more common causes of lameness in this age group are:

<LI>Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) HOD causes inflammation and swelling in the growing region of young bones. This differs from panosteitis, where the pain and inflammation tend to occur in the mid-section of the bone.



<LI>Osteochondrosis and osteochondritis dissecans Developmental cartilage abnormalities in the joints of growing dogs, such as osteochondrosis (OC) and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) can produce a similar lameness. But with these conditions, the problem exists in the joints, and pain is elicited when the joint is manipulated, rather than when pressure is placed on the bone as in panosteitis.



<LI>Bone cysts Bone cysts can occur in young dogs that have a history of lameness. Affected dogs exhibit pain when the diseased bone is palpated (technique of examining organs and body parts by touching and feeling them). This is an uncommon disorder.



<LI>Hip dysplasia When the hind legs are affected owners may mistake the lameness for hip dysplasia.


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[RHI]

<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">Veterinary Care In-depth

Veterinary care should include diagnostic tests and subsequent treatment recommendations.

Diagnosis In-depth

Diagnostic tests are needed to recognize panosteitis and exclude other diseases that may cause similar symptoms. Many times the diagnosis is presumptive and response to treatment is the only way that the presence of the disease is actually “confirmed.” Tests or procedures that your veterinarian may wish to perform include:

<LI> Orthopedic examination After taking a detailed history concerning the lameness problem, your veterinarian will usually ask to see your dog walk and trot before beginning a thorough palpation of the affected limb(s). Panosteitis will usually produce pain on deep palpation of the bone (usually the mid-portion of a long bone). The forelimbs are more commonly involved than are the rear limbs. Observing pain on deep palpation of the bone will make your veterinarian consider this disease as being more likely than osteochondrosis (OC) or osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) (both of which usually produce joint pain) or hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) (which usually produces pain at the growing ends of the bone).

<LI> Radiographs (X-rays) Radiographs are usually taken of the affected area to help confirm the diagnosis of panosteitis and exclude other problems, such as a bone cyst. Radiographic changes with panosteitis are often extremely subtle or even absent. It is not uncommon for the X-rays to show the “classic” changes seven to ten days after the problem first starts, by which time your pet may be pained in a different bone or lame in a different limb altogether.

<LI> Repeat radiographs Your veterinarian may wish to take radiographs of the affected area seven to ten days after the initial examination to confirm the diagnosis. Radiographic evidence of panosteitis may be present at this time, even if the initial radiographs appeared normal.

<LI> Nuclear scanning or nuclear scintigraphy These tests may be performed, but are rarely required to diagnose panosteitis.

<LI> Blood work There are no consistent blood work abnormalities in affected dogs.

Treatment In-depth

Treatment for panosteitis may include the following:

<LI> Rest, supportive care and painkillers are usually the mainstay of treatment for panosteitis. The most commonly recommended medication is aspirin (http://www.petplace.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=1528), preferably buffered or Maalox-coated (ascriptin). These drugs help to lessen the pain of bone inflammation and can be given with food.

<LI> Warning You should be aware of the possible side effects of aspirin, particularly gastrointestinal upset associated with vomiting, diarrhea, bloody or dark colored stool, inappetence (avoiding food), or just not feeling right. Consult your veterinarian and stop the medication immediately if any of these signs occur.

<LI> Other anti-inflammatory medications, such as Rimadyl® (http://www.petplace.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=1513) or Etogesic® (http://www.petplace.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=1565), may be recommended by your veterinarian. Do not give a painkiller without first consulting your veterinarian.

<LI> Steroids should probably be avoided in young dogs.
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<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">Follow-up

After diagnosis, it is important to keep your pet quiet and rested for several weeks. Do not allow your dog to go up or down stairs or jump on/off furniture. To enforce rest, some dogs benefit from the use of a crate.

Allow your pet to go outside just to go to the bathroom (on a leash) and then bring him/her back inside the house.
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[Marty]

Very good info thanks :)

[msheely]

Thanks, that was good info. My vet prescribed deramaxx. I really hope he is better by monday. She thinks its a sprain. I really, really, hope thats all it is. Im happy to find a good pro-apbt vet.

[RHI]

Very good info thanks :)
your welcome, :) if not these circumstances, maybe it could help with someone elses situation..... here is the actual link

http://www.petplace.com/Articles/artPrinterFriendly.asp?all=1&artID=223&conID=13780

[RHI]

Thanks, that was good info. My vet prescribed deramaxx. I really hope he is better by monday. She thinks its a sprain. I really, really, hope thats all it is. Im happy to find a good pro-apbt vet.
your welcome, hope everything works out....