Arthritis at the age of 2?

[L.M.]

Hi everyone!  Haven't posted a discussion in a while, but I have a question about arthritis.  My goldendoodle Seamus is 2 and a half years old.  He is a big boy...86 pounds and quite tall, but was just checked by the vet who said he is at his ideal weight...doesn't need to lose, but shouldn't gain.  He is very active...we walk all the time and we have Stella, his little sister, who keeps him extremely active running in the yard daily.  

Lately, especially with the cold weather, we have noticed Seamus limping...what concerns us is that it is his front legs that seem to be the problem, so I have my doubts that it's a muscle pull.  I've noticed it twice now...both times it does follow a pretty big romp, but we also notice that he gets very stiff after laying down for a prolonged period of time.  His limping doesn't impact his activity level, but it is very noticeable.  I wanted to know if this could be signs of early onset arthritis?  Is 2 very young for a dog to experience this?  I know the taller and heavier a dog is, the more likely they can be impacted, but we feed him quality food at the correct amount and provide him the exercise needed.  I hoped this would prevent problems of this kind.  

At this point, I'm just looking for opinions.  I know I could ask my vet, but they will run tests, prescribe meds, charge us, and send us on our way...I'm not sure I want to put my dog on arthritis pills at the age of 2... So just looking for any similar experiences from the DK community.  =)  Thanks!! And Seamus sends his thanks as well!  =) 

[Christine & Shelby]

I don't have any experience with this situation and doodles.  Any possibility of a stress fracture that has started healing... but rough play or cold weather could be aggravating it?  Any chance you can try to limit his activity for a week and see if that helps.  I had to do that with my Shelby when she was about a year after she strained a ligament in her hip.  It was very hard to do, but it could be of help.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

You might want to ask the vet to run a Lyme's Disease test, if he hasn't already. This happened with mine a few years ago, the vet said he didn't think so but I made him run the test anyway and it came back positive. A few weeks of antibiotics and all was well. It is very common in the Northern areas and arthritis in a 2 yo seems too young. Just a suggestion.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Seamus is sure a cutie! I hope he is okay.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

When Sasha was about a year old, she was limping one time after a good session of frizzbe, she jumps really high.  She limped for about a week.  I examined her leg and there was no signs of any pain when I touched it so I figured it was just a muscle pull.  After a week of rest and no frizzbe she was fine.  I don't throw the frizzbe that high anymore, I keep it low so she does not have to jump as high.  I hope Seamus is OK, he is so beautiful.

[Kim Lautman]

What a beautiful boy! I wish you well in your search for an answer. I wish I had one for you! Try the week of R & R and see if that helps. Good Luck!!

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

I would recommend limiting his activity for a week or two, and see if the condition improves. If not, I recommend taking him to the vet for an xray or radiograph (if they have the equipment) of his elbows and shoulders/hips on the affected leg(s).

Cosmo began limping on his left front leg, and the limping did not subside after two weeks of limited activity. The preliminary diagnosis from our vet was osteochondritis dissecans in the shoulder. We were referred to the vet school at our local university and they found that the problem was actually in his elbow and had to be corrected surgically. As a result of the problem, he now lacks a large portion of cartilage in that elbow and definitely has arthritis--at the age of 18 months.

My point is that the limping could be any number of things--or it could just be a strain or sprain. But, if the limping doesn't subside after limited activity, it is important to get it checked out by the vet.

I hope it's just something minor for Seamus!

[Linda Karell]

May not be the same thing, but Chervil (3 years old) has developed a limp in her front leg a couple of times.  She would limp after heavy play, and then again (more severely) after sleep or rest.  But as she got up and walked a bit, she would warm up and the limp would go away.  Because she "warmed out of it" the vet knew it was a muscle pull in the shoulder.  Each time she had to have a week of rest (leash walks, no play with other dogs, no running, etc.) and she was fine.  After she healed, he also had me start adding glucosomine (sp??) to her evening meal.  Since then I've quit playing some games that require quick stops, high jumps,  or sharp turns, and she seems to be fine.  I'd sure try resting Seamus before I worried about something more serious.  Good luck!

[L.M.]

This seems a lot like Seamus...especially with the limping after sleep.  It's going to be tough, but we are going to rest him for a week and see what that does.  Thanks!! =) 

[L.M.]

Thanks everyone!  We're going to try and limit Seamus from activity for the next week.  Just a few minutes ago, we couldn't get him to come down the stairs...when my husband guided him down, he actually slid a little bit down because he got nervous and stiffened his legs up.  If he doesn't improve with rest, we're certainly going to get him checked.    

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I hope it's nothing serious-rest and time will tell. He's a cutie!

[Leslie and Halas]

I hope a week of rest solves the problem!

[L.M.]

Thanks again everyone!  We began limiting his activity today (correction.....the attempt to do so...he already tried running around in the yard, which I guess at least tells me he feels ok).  I also discovered that our doodles really LOVE the cold weather....it's like they come alive outside in the cold!  But we also got Seamus some glucosamine/ joint vitamins that are just natural supplements for dogs that could have early onset arthritis.  I figure it can't hurt given his very often stiff legs.