Don't Ask Don't Tell, or Maybe I should follow my own advice.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am an advocate of wait and watch regarding many health issues. I once even wrote about it:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/are-vets-necessary

I noticed sometime, I don't really know when, that Calla's hind legs tended to "toe in" a bit. That is they veered toward her midline, especially the right leg. She had absolutely no complaints and she ran and played as ever. So I decided I'd ask the vet at her next visit, which was about 3 weeks ago. No vet had ever complained about Calla's gait or noticed anything. Maybe I shouldn't have asked or told : )

The vet called her walk slightly "wonky", which I took to be an non vet term: ) Calla yelped when the vet did something to her leg but I've noticed both my dogs don't like to have their legs moved in certain ways. The vet said it could be hip dysplasia which made me very upset. She recommended x-rays.

I made the appointment but debated with myself about it. I asked what would we do if she did have HD? Glucosamine chondroitin, in which I have little faith, and weight loss. Calla could still lose a few pounds but she has lost 2-3 and she is far from obese. And she would have to be sedated. I started reading. I decided I wanted to know and I took her in Tuesday for the xrays.

The vet said Calla's hips were good but she thought Calla might have a partial ACL tear on the right. She recommended resting her--a month of only leash walking. She also wanted her on 2 weeks of anti-inflammatories, namely Rimadyl. She gave me the name of an orthopedic consult if I wanted to see someone. She said he was excellent and honest.

I tried the leash walking and realized it would be a long month. Calla kept walking me to the gates in our yard because she figured a leash meant a walk to somewhere else : ) And Calla loves to go out, a lot. I realized it was pretty crazy to go from at least months of noticing something and letting her run etc. to this rest her business. I also searched my computer and realized we discard most rear end pictures of our dogs. But I found a couple from 2010 in which Calla legs  looked pretty much the same as they do now.

I did not start the Rimadyl. I had asked the vet about labs having some reactions to Rimadyl and she said that there are lots of things on the internet and not to rely upon it.  Ha, I wonder what she'd say about DK. She said that Rimadyl is very safe.

I decided once again I needed to know. I called on Wednesday and was shocked the orthopedic consultant could see us today. He examined Calla's xrays, and her. He had me walk Calla up and down a long hallway. At one point when the doctor was listening to Calla's heart, Luca started  licking the doctor's ear, which he found amusing. He was a terrific guy. In the end he decided Calla is fine. Her joints are stable and not swollen. He said it was just her conformation and nothing to worry about it, which was the conclusion I had started to reach myself but I didn't trust my own judgment : ( So we came home and Calla jumped and played. I love my girl with the wonky walk. In the end it was much ado about nothing but I have peace of mind. Hopefully we will live happily ever after.

Calla's opinion:

[F, Calla & Luca]

Truly, I don't think her walk is really wonky although her hips sway a bit more than Luca's. But she does toe in a little. No video. I may try to get one. I am trying to ignore the whole thing now since apparently there is nothing to worry about or do.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

How old is Calla? She has such a cute baby face!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Calla was 3 in January. I'm not sure when this picture was taken, I just wanted her sticking her tongue out : ) But since you practically begged me : ) here is a more recent picture from March.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

In any case, she is just adorable!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

She does look very feminine in her face. Love it.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I really like this picture

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Is this what you see?

[F, Calla & Luca]

More from about mid leg down. How do you do this sort of thing?

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Hm, I think Monty's legs are even more curved. As if he swam across the world on a barrel.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I guess we all need to love them as they are : ) Monty is a gorgeous doodle.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Then this one?

Spud does this also.  I even took a picture in January but it may not show it as much.  It was the real reason I took this photo. Or tried to. I was trying to see his funny walk.

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