Mabel is limping :(

[Emily]

Thanksgiving day we went to my moms house. She has a Pointer who runs FAST! Mabel spent two days running and chasing the Pointer. We noticed after a romp that she was limping really bad. It was her back left leg. She would try to run but rather would hop like a bunny or not bear weight at all. That weekend she struggled to get up. The vet said to give some NSAIDS for a week. She seemed much better but today she began to limp again....she did play for a short time with another dog yesterday... I haven't called the vet YET. I am thinking she probably just strained a muscle or ligament? Anyone have any advice?   Her feet pads look fine. The one on that back left does appear to have a tiny slit in it...but she doesn't even flinch when I squeeze it. What do you all think?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Our Springer just had surgery for a torn CCL.  This was his second one and both times he had a full tear with leakage in the meniscus.  I suggest that you take Mabel to the vet right away, so you can get a diagnosis. My Springer did not cry, flinch etc. but according to the vet was in a lot of pain.  I am not saying that Mabel tore her CCL, but I certainly would have it checked out.  At least she could get pain and an inflammatory medicine from the vet.   The first time Gordie tore his CCL, he was chasing Ned at a dog park and stepped in a gopher hole.  The second time, we have no real idea when the 'event' occured, but wonder if it was a slower tear and if we could have done something before it needed surgical repair.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Hey Nancy...knowing about Gordie that was the reason I took Gracie in immediately.  That and the fact our friend just lost their 4 1/2 yr old Doodle to bone cancer in his back leg and it all started with a limp.  I became paranoid! 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I know, Nancie, I am paranoid about limping now also.  I think usually it turns out to be more like Gracie's situation than Gordie's CCL or our dear sweet Simon's cancer.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I just had the same thing with Gracie Doodle and it cost me over $400.  She was outside running around in the dark and the next morning when she jumped off the bed she came limping out.  It was her back left leg also.  I felt all over, checked out her pads to see if she got something imbedded in it. I was thinking an ornament hook since she helped me decorate the tree the night before.  I couldn't find anything wrong.  My DH took her for a walk and she continued to limp but once she got going it eased up just a tiny bit.  My neighbor did some more aggressive probing of her foot and toes and found that the second toe was tender when she pulled or squeezed it.  We took her to the vet and he was able to make her wince also.  We had to leave her for x-rays.  They found nothing.  They x-rayed her toe, foot, knee and hip and there is absolutely nothing going on so she came home with pain pills which we never used and she slept since she was drugged up.  They said to keep her quiet for 7 days and after two days she was running and chasing her ball.  We wouldn't allow her to jump for the ball but before the 7 days was up she was just fine.  Knowing this now, I would just watch it and not let Mable run or jump for a few days.  Then go to the vet if it persists.  That was an expensive lesson for us!!!  The diagnosis was a sprained toe.  I can only imagine how these dogs run across lawns and over walls that one day they would smash their toe or get it caught in a sprinkler head or something.  I am thinking that is what happened to Gracie.  Think what would happen to us if we did the romping they did barefooted!!! Ouch

[F, Calla & Luca]

I'd check it the limp out since it has recurred.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We went through this with Sophie when she was just over a year old.  She runs and plays so hard when she is outside that I worry every single time I let them out the back door (and probably don't do it as often as I should because of it).  She hurt a back leg, don't remember now which one, but we took her to the vet and she felt it all over and moved it in different directions and said she thought it was just a sprain or even a small partial tear.  We had to keep Sophie confined with no running and jumping etc. for 4 weeks.  I ended up keeping her confined for about 6 weeks.  After that she did really well for several months and then it happened again.  Took her to the vet again and that time it didn't take as long for her to recover.  Our Vet isn't huge on pain meds for these type injuries because they just makes them feel better and then it is harder to keep them quiet. 

[Bryce P]

Maybe her legs are sore, or she strained her muscle.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Well if it's not better by Monday a VET trip would be necessary IMO

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I tend to agree on the side of wait and see, but that's just me. Murphy has had several foot injuries and a limp from aggressive playing in his first year or two. It only took one (expensive) trip to the vet to learn how to rest him, watch him and baby the area for at least a few days or even a week , to see if it improves.

I agree with Nancie on this one. And if there was limping without any obvious reason for it, like unusually vigorous romping and it kept recurring, I'd be more quick to go to a vet.

[Emily]

So we thought things were better with rest but up it all flared up again.  First the Vet said wait and see. The next visit the Vet gave her an doggie anti inflammatory and a vitamin for joints that cost $140 for both medications.  Every time Mabel begins to move quick she yelps and lays down.  A few days ago she couldn't get up and when she stood she wouldn't put her paw down. When she would walk, she walked straight legged.  I called the vet who made me wait until today. She is currently under general anesthesia for hip and leg X rays.  They are referring me to a surgeon an hour away. They have not given me an official diagnosis yet. Breaks my heart.  I read an article about a vet who injects the dogs stem cells into the area..way less invasive and way less expensive that knee surgery.  Does that sound nutty?

[F, Calla & Luca]

No it doesn't sound nutty at all. I have been reading about this and they are just starting to do this for people. I am very interested in this topic. Of course, it depends on the diagnosis and whether there is a possibility stem cells, which apparently can regenerate cartilage would work for the problem. Insurance does not cover this for people and I doubt it would for dogs, though.