Sprained or Strained leg

[Heather & Brinkley]

Brinkley plays hard -- very hard. He has an obsession with tennis balls and will leap to great heights to capture said ball . He often looks like he's flying. He scares me as he takes flying leaps off the porch instead of using the stairs. I always try to calm him down so he doesn't hurt himself, but today the Fall weather made for an extra energetic pup. He was one bouncing Doodle during one of our play times in the backyard. After play time he went in and took an hour nap, like usual, but this time when he got up he had a slight limp on his front left leg. It must have been stiff because the limp decreased as he stretched out but it hasn't totally gone away. Most people wouldn't notice it now -- just to give you an idea if the severity of it (which may not be much.) I felt around for sore spots, moved his leg around looking for a reaction and compared this hurt leg to the good front leg. He didn't react at all and as far as I can tell, it isn't swollen. He does pull he leg away when I try to reach for the top of his paw near the nail beds but none of the claws/nails are compromised.

Could this just be a light strain or sprain? What do I do? Just rest (which has been a challenge bc Fall weather makes him hyper and it takes much more activity to make him tired!!)

Thanks in advance!
Heather

[F, Calla & Luca]

I would just watch it for now. But puppies should not be taking flying leaps off porch steps. He could do permanent damage to his hips, shoulders and growth plates. Try not to throw the ball unless he's on the ground and begin to train him to avoid this leaping. That said Luca sometimes leaps, usually up steps and he does sometimes miss but fortunately he hasn't hurt himself.

[Heather & Brinkley]

He's three so not a puppy... But I don't throw the ball off the porch. He takes the flying leaps on his own. That's why I said I do everything to calm him down -- and we are working on calm exits from the house among other things (we are in obedience three classes right now to work on the overexcited reactions during play and walks). He sees the ball and gets so excited -- something ive been working in since I have had him. I never throw the ball off the porch. This is just one of those things that has taken more training then other things.

[F, Calla & Luca]

We all have those things : ) Sorry that some of my comments were a bit off the mark.

[Heather & Brinkley]

No problem. He has learned everything so well but when it coms to other dogs or play time it's like he's going to burst from within.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Heather, maybe he just bent a toe or nail too far when he landed on it. I'd just watch it for a day or so and see if he is still limping, if he is then I'd take him to be checked. Hopefully he will be all good again tomorrow.

[Heather & Brinkley]

Thanks to you both.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

My Sasha jumps really high when she is catching her frizzbe.  When she was a puppy she limped one time for a few days.  I did the same as you.. I checked her leg, no swelling, OK to the touch etc. etc.  It just worked its way out after a few days.. I don't throw the frizzbe high anymore I keep it low so she does not have to jump high. 

[Stella]

My Hartley has been limping since the end of August, also on his left front leg.  He is 4 1/2 and is hard player too - chases and wrestles with our other dog, plays fetch until your arm fallls off, does agility training etc etc.  We have been back and forward to the vet, tried anti-inflammatories, rest etc etc.  Had x-rays of his shoulder, nothing wrong with the joint that they could see.  If we rest him it gets better, but never totally goes away, as soon as he begins running/jumping/cutting, it comes back again.  We are going next week to see a canine rehab specialist (essentially a dog physio!!) in Toronto for her opinion.  The vets suggestion was to see an orthopaedic surgeon in Guelph, but I figured I'd rather try physio seeing as they couldn't find anything wrong with the joint.  I'll let you know how it goes!

[Joe R.]

It could be a slight strain/sprain Heather. Gus would do this regularly when he was younger. A couple days rest and he was good to go. But like everyone else said, just keep an eye on him in case it doesn't go away with rest.