Mystery Limp with NO Other Symptoms

Okay DK family this is long winded (sorry) but I am hoping someone else might have an idea on what is going on with my poor Sassparilla. This started without warning and won't seem to go away.

At our October doodle romp Sassy played as she usually does but after we got home she settled down without movement, for those that know her she is the energizer bunny and goes non stop but I didn't think much of it other than I could finally get some things done around the house. Come dinner time when I called her I heard a very loud yelp and when she appeared she was not putting any weight at all on her front left leg. I worked the leg, spine and surrounding area and nothing seemed to bother her but when she'd try walking on it she couldn't? She spent the entire night yelping when she moved and whimpered with every breathe all night? Needless to say the family slept downstairs, she came to me and cuddled for well over an hour which isn't like her and the entire time I stroked, massaged and loved on her. Next morning no change so I took her straight to the vet where she could barely walk to the door so my daughter carried her in. Of course as soon as she saw the vet she got anxious and the adrenaline kicked in. She was fine walking up and down the hall but as we left as soon as she exited the office the limping came back full force! I screamed for the doctor and he watched her return to the car, chopped it up to soft tissue and gave us an anti-inflammatory and sent us home with limited activity. (Note this was not her usual vet but another working out of his office that day)

She seemed to be improving but then the following month the next romp comes around and bam same thing so I continued the meds thinking we are just getting older but on thanksgiving she was playing in the house and that night again limping and yelping. Fast forward to this past Saturday, I was out all day came home and got the usual greeting then they settled down and I ventured upstairs to do a little work. I heard a yelp but it didn't register because I saw her out of the corner of my eye heading down the hall to my bedroom but when I called her to go back downstairs she again was yelping, whimpering and limping. This Sunday was out romp again and I denied her her greatest pleasure of chasing the ball and only tossed it about 2-3 feet from my seat to keep her quiet and again she's limping and in pain. She fooled everyone at the park acting like there was not issue! Last night she was crashed dead silent on the floor and when I called her for dinner she didn't move or open her eyes! Eventually the tail started wagging and as you can see in the attached video she didn't put ANY weight on her leg when she got up. This morning she is still limping and whimpering but thankfully she hasn't yelped.

I have a call out to the vet to see if he wants first crack or if I should go straight to an orthopedic specialist? She is my ADHD dog and the lack of activity I'm sure is eating her alive.

I'm baffled on (a) why all of a sudden and (b) why it hasn't gone away and (c) the fact I can poke and manipulate and it doesn't hurt is confusing? Is it soft tissue, pinched nerve, or what in the world could it be?? She is six and has always been active although the last three years we aren't nearly as active as we once were (thanks to my workers comp injuries) but we play and chase a ball or toy EVERY night at home mostly from the couch and down the hall into the kitchen, if I have daylight we will play in the back yard. She's a non stop play hound from the moment I wake up or walk in the door she places a toy or ball in my lap and we toss it across the room, down the hall on in the backyard, my only reprieve is to eat so this goes on all night till we go to bed. I've never seen her slip although she has been t-boned a few times over her lifetime at the dog park but most were quite a while ago? In November I took her to my chiropractor and she worked on her but I'm not sure I noticed a difference. We have a doggie door that she runs in and out of, could that be causing an issue after all these years? I've had big dogs and doggie doors all my life only difference is Sassy tears out of the house through the doggie door rather than walking in/out of it? I work full-time but my mom is home with her and says neither of the girls are very active when I'm gone it's not until I get home that they the get the happy zoomies and start roughhousing.

My sister has my nerves on end, she's lost two to cancer and both started with a simple limp. Whats concerning about that mostly is Sassy came from the same neck of the woods!

The vet just called and wants to see her first thing tomorrow before referring her to an orthopedic. I'm grateful because he is very open to referrals and specialist. Sassy has her own cardiologist he referred her to as a pup when he found her heart murmur. They describe it as an innocent murmur and both agree it's most likely from her separation anxiety.

Please if you have anything to offer I'd be greatly appreciative. The more I go in with the more we can rule out from the get go. It breaks my heart to see her like this and I want to everything I can to find the cause and alleviate the pain.

TIA

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie on December 11, 2017 at 1:09pm

Thank you I will add this to my list of questions. This seemed to come out of no where and she is clearly not a happy camper. She is my busy body dog, to restless to relax so to see her not moving and worse yet hiding out in the crate that she hates throws up all kinds of red flags. I've been very happy with this vet to this point, he's never steered me wrong, so I'm hoping he follows through for me now. Sassy had a bad bout of pneumonia several years back and we worked as a tag team so I could keep her home, everyday I'd drive up and he evaluated her right from the car so she wasn't in and out or exposed to others. My last girl looked horrible and when I first came to him he read me the riot act until all the tests came back and she was fine, he then apologised and explained the pets health and well-being was his main priority. I appreciated that, after I realized I wasn't the horrible person he made me feel like! Then when she had cancer and he was forced to do surgery he reduced his fees for the sake of not waiting until i could get the funding in order. He's hard as hell to understand but his passion for pets is what it's all about.

Permalink Reply by Bonnie and Kona on December 11, 2017 at 12:19pm

I’m so sorry! I have no words of wisdom just sympathy for both of you. So scary.

Permalink Reply by Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie on December 11, 2017 at 1:09pm

Thank you Bonnie ❤

Permalink Reply by Trudy Harlow on December 11, 2017 at 3:50pm

I would think at the very least, an X-ray is in order. Please let us know what the vet says.

Permalink Reply by Stella on December 11, 2017 at 5:06pm

Ugh, so many things can cause forelimb lameness - from the neck right down to the toes. I'd definitely have her at your regular vet for a consult and he could take preliminary X-rays to rule out serious pathology. Then the next step could be referral to an orthopaedic specialist or a rehab professional.

Permalink Reply by Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie on December 13, 2017 at 7:02am

I sure hope we are in the right path? She sure wanted to play last night so she was feeling pretty good, it was really hard telling her NO! Her desire to play is stronger than her desire to breath!

Permalink Reply by Stella on December 13, 2017 at 5:04pm

The meds are probably making her feel good, but all they do is mask pain, so sometimes dogs can ask to be more active than they should be!

Permalink Reply by Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie on December 12, 2017 at 3:42pm

Update on Sassparilla:

Picture for cuteness, this was on the way to the vet this morning, going solo she knew something was up!

Of course they're was no limp this morning but she got a full physical work over from both vets. First guess is possible pinched nerve based on the video and where her limp is focused but they said it's really hard to confirm? They are starting her with prednisone, tramadol and an antibiotic and she's not supposed to engage in any activities other than short controlled leash walks for the next two weeks! He also recommended raising her food/water bowl as well. Wondering how that will work for the cats?? Oh, I'll also be adding a glucosamine to her daily diet.

I had a word with Josie and Maverick and I hope they take me seriously! Bad enough when we got home this morning Maverick was on the roof and Sassy was in a panic for his safety! Lol. All was better when he finally came in to see where she'd been.

If no improvement they will do a sedated xray series then MRI, if nothing is found and it's still bothering her then we will most likely see a orthopedic specialist. Because of her heart murmur they don't want to rush into sedation.

I also found out last night her sibling (from same litter) is also having similar issues, so I wonder if its something genetic? He is much more active than she is so hearing from them the sheer worst case scenario panic is gone but now my heart just aches for the two of them. They are still way to young to be in pain and have their spunk and sweet playfulness compromised.

Thank you for your prayers and well wishes, looks like I need to do some reading on pinched nerves. Not sure if this treatment will work or if further actions will be inevitable? We will watch her closely and try to find a way to play without actually playing, she is not gonna be a happy camper with the new house rules!