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Limping or stiff leg

crimperess

Member
Hello All!

My Fern has been limping on her right front leg since around Christmas time. It's fine when playing, walking and running, but sems to go stiff after resting. She limps for about five paces and then seems to be back to normal. Fern is two years old. She has seen a vet who say's he can't find anything on examining her, and to rest her. (Which is easier said than done)!!!
He gave her an anti-inflamatory injection and seraquin tablets. She is due for her booster in March and he said He would review the situation then unless things got worse. I'm having so much of a problem keeping her quiet, as she loves to spring and jump as she plays, and not being able to have her usual walks she is exploding with energy.
Anyone had this problem with their little angel?
 
That seems to be a long time to be limping. If she were an old dog I'd be thinking arthritis, because of the fact that it is worse after resting, but in a young dog that probably isn't the case I guess. Did the vet do an x-ray or just feel her leg? Hmmm, I think I'd be getting them to look into it a bit further.

Others on the board more knowledgable about this stuff than I am, so hopefully one of them will be able to comment further.
 
Digby has this problem with a back leg/hip but he is 5 and has injured it in the past during running, he needed 8 weeks rest to see an improvement and he now takes glucosamine daily as he has some abnormality in his hip socket. For the vets to determine this properly though they needed to do a thorough set of x rays as you can't feel this stuff. I would request x rays so you know what your dealing with or rest very very well (use an x pen if you have to, no walks/jumping etc) then if no improvement after a few weeks then get x rays.
 
My dog has problems with his front legs. His elbow does not fit together properly

I would suggest you have her xrayed by an orthopedic surgeon. My dog was xrayed by my normal vet who could not see much wrong & thought it was only one leg affected.
The orthopedic vet just glanced at the xrays & straight away said both legs were bad.

My dog is very badly affected but its still hard to see on the xray so a dog with a mild problem would probably would not be noticed at all by a normal vet.

I know how hard it is to keep them quiet but its for the best until you find out what is or isnt wrong & it would be good to try glucosamine.
 
I'd definitely see an orthopedic specialist. The nearest vet college is often the best place to try though some large vet practices will have a specialist. That's a long time to be limping without it resolving or being able to find the cause, so it is definitely something to see a specialist about. There has to be a reason and I know you must be anxious to find it as it is frustrating to see something that remains unexplained.

The other thing to check for is syringomyelia. Limb weakness from SM, resulting in limping, could be a possibility if nothing else can be found.

There's more info on www.smcavalier.com
 
Hope your little Fern is feeling better soon. :flwr:
I'm going to echo everyone and say I would definitely get x-rays.
 
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