What to ask the vet? 2ND UPDATE< A MORE SERIOUS DIAGNOSIS. SURGERY PLANNED

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Boris came home from day care last Tuesday week with a sore leg. He wasn't limping but he wasn't putting all of his weight on his left leg. He was also stiff when getting up from sleep and it eased out as he moved it.  He was due his annual boosters and well check last Friday so I kept him rested and didn't let him out to play. The vet gave him the Bordatella vaccine and I have an appointment this Friday to do the rest of the vaccines as I like to stagger them.   The vet isolated his shoulder as having the problem and gave me three days anti-inflammatory tablets and said she would check it again this week.  She also said that it can take a week to ten days for an injury to heal and that if it hadn't she would do xrays. 

Two things of concern. It is now Wednesday (eight days on)  and whilst Boris isn't sore getting up from a lying down position he is still not putting his full weight on his leg. It is not obvious unless you are looking closely but I'm sure that whatever the problem is has not resolved completely.  Also today he started coughing, it seems to me like a mild Bordatella cough and the exact same thing occurred one week after the vaccine last year. The vets said this couldn't happen but I am sure it is happening. 

I am bringing him in this Friday and I wonder what questions I need to ask especially in relation to his shoulder. Are there any genetic problems that I should be concerned about and what tests do you think I should be requesting if they are not suggested. If it is an injury from rough play and this is highly possible would an Xray reveal the problem?  I will of course me mentioning the cough and hopefully it will not get any worse. Last year it lasted 24 hours and was minimal and I am hoping for the same this time around.

*UPDATE*

We were back to the vet today and this time it was our regular vet (there was a locum last week). He gave Boris a much more thorough examination than last week and said there was no soreness or injury which I was 99% sure of but just needed reassurance. He said I could start letting him off leash again but of course he could hurt himself again with rough play. Obviously I knew that! He also said that the slight cough which is also gone now is normal with the nasal vaccine just as F said and that some dogs get a full blown reaction which needs antibiotics but that happens rarely. Boris was perfectly behaved (he loves the vets and the nurses) jumped on the table and waited patiently for the treat at the end. 

*UPDATE * 2.  The shoulder issue seemed to have gone away until this Thursday. When Boris came home from a long walk he was limping on the same front leg again so I brought him straight to the vet who isolated the pain to his shoulder again and decided that he needed to XRay him this morning. I left him in at 9 and called at 2 as instructed to be told that Boris was awake and that the Vet had looked at the X-rays and sent them to the Veterinary Hospital for a second opinion. Of course I was very worried, actually felt sick all afternoon,  but had to wait until 5 pm when we went to collect him and consult with the vet. It turns out he has osteochondritis dissecans” (OCD). Common enough in Labs and Golden Retrievers, a degenerative condition. Bottom line he needs to have an operation very soon and we are assured that the outcome is generally very good. It's complicated but there are lesions on the  shoulder ball joint. He will be referred on Monday to the Veterinary Hospital where he will have keyhole surgery and will also be checked to make sure it is not in the other shoulder also. This has been a huge shock but we are very h)opeful that he will make a full recovery and the keyhole surgery will make recovery easier.Meanwhile he is home and happy though we have to try to keep the boys from any rough play so for now they go out to the yard one at a time ;

For anyone who wants to check it out further i am including a link here:

http://www.animalmedcenter.com/faqs/category/ocd

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am sorry to hear about Boris. Was the Bordetella nasal or injected? A soft tissue injury might not be visible on x-Ray.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

The Bordatella was nasal. Same last year same thing happened, it is a mild dose (so far) Is there anything congenital that is particular to shoulders just in case it isn't an injury and is flagging something chronic? Thanks F

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am sure there are congenital shoulder problems ut I think they are mot as common as hip problems.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sorry to hear this, Nicky. I have no advice, but it doesn't seem out of the question that the bordatella vaccine could cause mild symptoms of the disease, just like some people get mild flu symptoms after a flu shot. 

For what it's worth, I don't think the shoulder issue sounds like something genetic. My guess would be he pulled or strained something running & playing at daycare. Soft tissue injuries do take a long time to heal, if that's what it is. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

If he's still limping on Friday when you bring him I would definitely ask for the x-rays and I would also ask your question about something congenital versus an injury depending on what the x-rays show.  My guys get a slight "Bordatella cough" from time to time just from going to Daycare....I suspect they become exposed, start to show mild symptoms, and then the vaccine kicks in and the symptoms are gone.  I would think it would be possible that this could happen from the vaccine.  A day after I get a flu shot I get mild muscle aches...take an Advil and that's the end of it, but I'm guessing it is from the flu shot since it happens every time.  I hope you get some answers and that Boris is better real soon.

[F, Calla & Luca]

People do not get flu from injectable, killed vaccine nor did dogs get kennel cough symptoms from the injectable vaccine. The aches and pains that people experience are due to the body mounting defenses against the foreign proteins which is what you want. This is how we develop immunity. However, the intranasal Bordetella vaccine can cause some symptoms since it is a modified live vaccine.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Right, I never got the flu just a day of those symptoms letting me know it was working.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am sorry Borris is not feeling well. I hope by Friday he won't be limping at all.  Keep us posted though.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Oh, that's interesting re the nasal as opposed to the injection. Today he is much better and I only heard him cough once. We went to the beach yesterday but I didn't let him of leash at all and today the new dog walker came for the first time and took them both out. He isn't limping at all and actually hadn't been, he was just not putting his full weight on it.  Today I can't see any evidence of stiffness. I am bringing him in tomorrow for the remainder of the vaccine panel that is now due. The vet will also re check his shoulder. I did have the conversation about congenital as opposed to an injury and her thoughts were that it was probably an injury. I am feeling much better today about the whole thing but lets see.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good news, Nicky. I get the Bordetellla injections for my two.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I hope the vet visit makes you feel even better! 

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Nicky -

I'm sure all will be fine. Sending hugs.