Jump to content
BC Boards

Lame getting up


abcollie
 Share

Recommended Posts

I've got a dog that will not put weight on his rear leg for 10 or so steps when he first gets up. After that he puts full weight and goes on as if nothing happened. He's "off" on it when he walks (not lame/limping but not completely normal).

 

First time I went to the vet we did the "drawer" (sp) test, checked toenails, feet, pulled, pushed and prodded and nothing we could decipher. So, crate rest and anti-inflammatory for 2 weeks and he got a "little" better but not 100%. Walked him for a couple of weeks (no work) again a little "better" but still would not put weight on it after a long rest (seems OK if he just lies down and gets up).

 

So, back to the vet for a full range of X-rays. Foot, hock. leg, back. hips, spine ... etc :@) Nothing you could point at and say AH ... got it.

 

He has an odd way of walking but is good at the trot and doesn't act like it really bothers him (but you know how BC's are :@( I've gone back to working him and he's no better or worse. I keep a boot on him in case it's a toe and don't work him hard.

 

Anyone had anything similar that might add some "light" to the mystery?

 

Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's more than just asleep (and since it's always the same leg ... odds against that).

 

Funny I talked to my Chiropractor (she use to do animals until she was threaten to be sued (Hey this IS CA :@) ... guess it's hard to get people and pet malpractice?) She told me some things to "feel" for on the spine and really don't feel anything "out". But I am looking into a dog Chiropractor and acupuncturist. Can't hurt!

 

Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would be suspicious of his back at least as much as his leg. Is he an older dog? I have an older dog, now retired, who has back problems. He presents just as you are describing your dog. After many months of trying lots of stuff, I found that keeping him thin was, by far, the single best way to control his pain. If it were a younger dog, though, I would start going to specialists and looking for some kind of soft tissue injury that involved his back.

 

Maria Amodei wrote an excellent article on just this problem with her dog in this summer's NEBCA newaletter. The article is on page 9.

 

http://www.nebca.net/news2000s/Summer_2009.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the article ... very interesting (and great little newsletter :@) Do you know what all she did (seems like swimming was the number one thing ... which I could "sort of" do as I have one of those inflatable pools).

 

He's only 3 and it "came on" all the sudden. He wasn't even working ... we were on a trip and he wasn't entered in the trial.

 

What it reminds me of is when I had AND I KNOW I'm going to spell this wrong :@) Planter Fasciitis (whatever) and when I would first get up in the AM I would hobble for awhile and then walk it out. The only thing that helped was stretching 4 or 5 times a day. So, I've been doing that with him along with massage (leg and back since I don't know where it is). The stretching actually seems to be helping (famous last words :@)

 

Thanks for the info.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is purely anecdotal, but my Wick had a similar problem and it was her hock (I could hear clicking as well at times). She needed rest and long slow walks, short at first, then building in duration. She'd only limp after a long rest, then she'd seem to walk it out.

 

I didn't even bother going to my regular vet; the chiro diagnosed it. I would try to find a good one in your area - they'll save you a lot of money over x-rays, which may not show soft tissue or subtle things. Ask sports people, we live and die by our chiro's!! Massage is also good, press lightly and look for heat.

 

One thing I've learned over the years, is back pain can manifest in the legs, and vice versa. There's no way to tell which it is w/o first finding the source of the problem. I once had a very prominent sports vet try to tell me my dog's problem was in her knee because it was a little tender. Turned out that was a resultant minor symptom, not the actual cause. So don't let anyone tell you it must be a back or must be a knee or whatever, find the actual source of the problem or you'll be dealing with it as a nagging injury for some time to come.

 

Good luck to you. Diagnosing and rehabbing soft tissue issues is no fun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just to throw in another idea - something like this happened to Celt. At Bluegrass, where he did not run and generally only had quiet walks, he came out of his crate on three legs. As you said, leg up for maybe a dozen steps or so and then seemingly fine - until the next time he got up. He was crated on a very comfy pad. He would sometimes stand on "tip toe" on that leg.

 

The first, general practice, vet to see him thought it was a soft tissue or sprain but the short course of Rimadyl and reduced activity produced no improvement.

 

The second, general practice, vet to see him suspected an ACL tear and did a more extensive exam, a sedated manipulation, and xray - and diagnosed the ACL tear, and referred him to an orthopedic vet.

 

The orthopedic vet re-examined Celt very extensively, although not sedated, reviewed the xray, and diagnosed a sprain, for which she prescribed three weeks of crate rest and two weeks of that with Rimadyl. He's been sound since.

 

For Celt, the strict rest with medication did the trick - reduced activity and a shorter term of Rimadyl did not allow for healing. I hope your diagnosis and treatment are as simple and effective!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, do you think the longer time "crated" and being on anti-flammatories was the reason for the "cure"? I'm just wondering if it had already started to heal and so another crate rest added to the "fix"? I guess ... What I'm trying to say is do you think if you had done 3 weeks at the very start it would have solved it then or was it the extra time to heal and then the added rest?

 

Anyone know any Chiropractors around the Temecula Ca? A friend of mine found an acupuncturist I think I'm going to call when I get back from the finals.

 

Thanks guys ... sure frustrating :@(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey, Candy. I've got a GREAT holistic vet who does both chiropractic and acupuncture. She's up in Redlands, but well worth the drive, and not even pricey.

A

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey, Candy. I've got a GREAT holistic vet who does both chiropractic and acupuncture. She's up in Redlands, but well worth the drive, and not even pricey.

A

 

I'm game :@) What's her name/number and I will call when I get back from the finals. Redlands isn't that far ...

 

Thanks,

 

Candy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nancy Modglin, DVM. (909) 796-4277. Have fun at the Finals,

A

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Soft tissue injuries are so hard to diagnose. I've got one dog that has trouble with his iliopsoas muscles and has presented in a similar way. It can look a lot like a knee or back issue (actually a lot like a cruciate injury which is what I thought each time) and takes a good amount of time to heal. Here's a good article on it (aimed at agility dogs): http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/pdf/Proof...mbLamenessa.pdf

 

I've started regular chiropractic visits with this dog because I believe that keeping his pelvis in alignment is going to be helpful in preventing more muscle strains.

 

ETA: That Tam dog that you sold recently...really, really great worker and a character too!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Candy - Was the injury healing before the anti-inflammatories and crate rest? Maybe, but if it was, it was slowly and activity was not helping it.

 

On crate rest, I only took him out for several potty trips a day, normally on leash but sometimes, if it was just him, loose because he is well-behaved. I did not see any signs of pain when he was on the Rimadyl and, when I stopped that two weeks in, he did not show any sort of lameness or pain at all when he was taken out of his crate to do his pottying.

 

After the three weeks, we eased him back into activity but I have to admit that he was rearing to go and I might have let him begin a bit much a bit soon - but with no ill effects. If his injury had been more serious, I might have been making a grave mistake. Since he was not on a pain reliever, I was watching closely for signs of pain and trying to moderate his activity because these dogs will be active through a great deal of pain.

 

I hope your dog does very well with whatever protocol you pursue. Best wishes!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anna,

What a SMALL world ... I use to go to Nancy all the time when she was in Riverside (20+ years ago) and REALLY liked her. I know Joy had said she was getting into the Holistic. I will give her a call when I get back.

 

Yes ... Tiny Tam was NOT told he was tiny. He is the cutest thing isn't he :@) He did well for me and I hope he does the same for Carol. He's REALLY a fun one to work ... keeps you on your toes (in a good way).

Thanks for the article ... I figure the more info ... the better.

 

I was asking about it starting to heal from the 1st "go around" because I did lay him up for 2 weeks and then only moderate exercise (not working) for another 2 and it didn't seem to make much difference. Now it seems to be slowly getting better ... so wonder if it's just time with all the "other" added to it. Hopefully we are on the road to recovery ... (says with fingers crossed).

 

Thanks guys ...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a dog that has had exactly the same symptoms, where she would get up after a long rest on a comfortable bed and then lift her back leg completely off the floor (but not very high) and not put it down for 8-10 steps. However we were not sure at the beginning whether the legs were swapping.

 

We have no known cause at this stage for holding up the back leg, despite multiple episodes, vet visits and exams/xrays etc. She does have a suspected a spinal problem from when she was a pup but it remains undiagnosed.

 

Here is some information that may help:

 

The first time she held up the back leg it happened when she was about 18 months old and it was winter here in Oz (so not cold by worldwide standards but cold for her). I can’t remember exactly what length of rest we did (but it wasn't too long) or how long for the medications were for but slowly she stopped holding her leg up. However over the course of about 6 months there were about 4 more episodes (we did rest and medication each time). Of interest she seemed to go off her food a couple of days before each episode.

 

Then for 12 months she was fine. Then the next winter there were one or two more episodes.

 

However not too long after the last episode she got up once and held her back leg so high to her body it looked like a chicken wing. This time at the vets they found some very slight swelling down near where the toes join the feet and suspected a tendon injury. A much long rest (I think at least 6 weeks before she was allowed to play unattended outside and much longer before we played ball) and long course of medication followed. (Fingers crossed) It is about 14 months since she last had an episode and that includes our just concluded winter.

 

One thing I have learnt - if the foot is being held just a little bit off the floor the problem is more likely to be higher up the leg or in the spine, as the dog is trying to avoid weight bearing, whereas if it is the foot being held up really high it is possible that the foot is injured and they are trying not to knock it on the floor.

 

Good luck with finding out the cause. I know how frustrating it is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Candy - He may have been showing some improvement with just reduced activity but I have to admit that I did not reduce it what I would now consider "enough". If I had cut back all but easy walks and a little, self-propelled running during dog walks, he may well have healed on his own. Maybe.

 

I can't argue though that what the vet had me do seemed to do the trick very nicely, and in just a few weeks. Best wishes!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, back to the vet for a full range of X-rays. Foot, hock. leg, back. hips, spine ... etc :@) Nothing you could point at and say AH ... got it.

 

Anyone had anything similar that might add some "light" to the mystery?

 

Sounds like a hip flexor injury to me which can take a long time to heal and can become chronic due to scar tissue if you aren't careful, two weeks is definitely not enough time. I have a BC with a chronic injury to her hip flexor exacerbated by mild dysplasia. I would see a canine physical therapist if you have one in your area to check this. It does not show up on x-ray. My dog was mis-diagnosed and treated for mild arthritis for over a year, which of course did not help since it was her hip flexor.

 

Jen

Flute, Enna, Fever and Lava

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like a hip flexor injury to me which can take a long time to heal and can become chronic due to scar tissue if you aren't careful, two weeks is definitely not enough time. My dog was mis-diagnosed and treated for mild arthritis for over a year, which of course did not help since it was her hip flexor.

Where is the "hip flexor"? What do you look for?

 

Latest update. His left is getting better... (he doesn't hold it up when he gets up ... but still will "bunny hop" for a step or 2 ) I think it's the stretching that is helping. BUT now that he's not limping we can see he is "off" on his right rear. My vet sent x-rays to specialist and he "thinks" that it is the right knee that is the main issue. We think he pulled a muscle on the left compensating for the right.

 

Still not sure WHAT is hurt but figure lay him up for a couple of months and start back slowly.

 

Thanks everyone for some great ideas of what/where to look for.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Candy, have your orthopedic vet consider the possibility of a gastrocnemius fabellar fracture. This is a relatively common injury in working Border Collies and is very often misdiagnosed. Often crate rest (as Sue R described) for a prescribed period will be curative. You might try a Google search and see if you can get more specific info. Good luck!

 

See you at the Finals!

 

Amy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Candy, have your orthopedic vet consider the possibility of a gastrocnemius fabellar fracture. This is a relatively common injury in working Border Collies and is very often misdiagnosed. Often crate rest (as Sue R described) for a prescribed period will be curative. You might try a Google search and see if you can get more specific info. Good luck!

 

See you at the Finals!

 

Amy

I'll check into it with Joy when I get back. Thanks ... sounds like it might be something.

 

See ya soon,

 

Candy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
Nancy Modglin, DVM. (909) 796-4277. Have fun at the Finals,

A

 

Update on taking Roy to the vet/acturputerist/chiropractor ... I couldn't believe the difference!!!

 

I've gone in twice and will go back at least two more times but the difference is phenomenal. He was 50% better after the first time and then 80% after the 2nd.

 

So, anyone thinking about it I would recommend giving it a try. I've gone to a chiropractor for myself but this is the first time I've tried it on a dog. Don't know why I'm so surprised as it sure works for me.

 

Thanks Anna!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...