waffles Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 This morning I called Levi to get up to go outside for the first time today. He got up slow from his crate and was on 3 legs (back right leg was up). He went to the bottom of the stairs and stayed there until I put his leash on. He was on 3 legs and lightly toe touching when outside-just peed and back inside. We put his bowl of food next to where he was laying and I left for work. I came home 3 hours later and he had not moved (food was still there). I gave him one Aspirin and put the food in front of him and he ate (didn't want him having the Aspirin without food). I took him out to go to the bathroom and he was lightly toe touching and walking slow. Came back inside and didn't move again until just now. He got up and drank some water while using the leg lightly. I squeezed, pulled, and looked at his leg and see nothing wrong. He didn't appear to be in pain with me touching it. He did normal activities yesterday and no signs of injury. On Tuesday morning though when I took him out for his first pee I could have swore I saw him limp just slightly with a few steps but that was it. I thought it was just me seeing things. Tuesday and Wednesday he was very active and normal. I have read through the whole ACL tear thread on here and of course, am scared that this has happened now to Levi. I plan to wait until tomorrow morning to see if there are improvements. If not, he is going to the vet. Any thoughts? Could this be something other than an ACL tear? I have read that ACL tears can appear to get better on their own so owners never know whats wrong until the dog shows symptoms again. When he tore his whole pad open he didn't limp like this so I am concerned it could be something serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frisbeegirl Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 How old is Levi? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waffles Posted August 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 How old is Levi? He is 3, almost 4 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frisbeegirl Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 A vet visit may be in order. No pain when you massage the leg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcv-border Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 What happened to Levi you asked? There are multiple reasons, not just a torn ACL, to account for the limping. Just throwing out ideas here (and I know other owners will have more suggestions) - a muscle strain (ileopsoas comes to mind first, but other muscle(s) could be responsible), a tendon/ligament strain, joint problems, spinal strain??? Sorry to sound like a broken record, but ... go to see your general vet if necessary for anti-inflammatories (if that is what (s)he determines Levi needs), but also try to get in a see a good ortho or rehab specialist vet to obtain a specific diagnosis, treatment and rehab plan. (Usually it takes longer to get an appointment with a specialist vet which is why I recommend touching base with your general vet first.) Levi is doing the best thing for himself - resting. Jovi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waffles Posted August 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Any way this is a reaction from getting a Lepto vaccine on Saturday? I can't even remember where he injected it. I am just trying to think of anything that could be related. He did not show any signs of pain (pulling leg away, yelping, flinching) when I rubbed and pulled his leg. Tomorrow morning we will call the vet if he does not seem to be normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frisbeegirl Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Keeva had a severe reaction to her first Lepto vaccine. My vet decided to not vaccinate her for lepto. And yes, there was severe muscle ache at the site as well as disorientation. Thank God that was along time ago.Until you mentioned it I wouldn't thought about it at all. May have something to do with it ,may not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWBC Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 If you end up going to the vet, be sure to let them know that you have given the dog aspirin. There is a "withdrawal" time between giving a dog aspirin and starting them on rimadyl(if that is a direction your vet chooses to go for pain relief) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnewe2 Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 I would definitely be thinking a reaction to the lepto vaccine. Then, not to sound like a broken record or specifically Julie P's broken record , with him not eating and generally not feeling well I would be having a check for TBD's (tick born diseases). But with the vaccine so recent I would be thinking that could be more the issue. I'm not a run to the vet kinda girl but for some reason this one has me saying take him to a vet. A sore leg wouldn't have my dogs off food but a TBD would. Just throwing it out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiga's_mom Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Tiga showed no symptoms after he tore his ACL other then limping. I manipulated the leg a lot and he didn't react at all. It wasn't until the vet did the drawer test that he reacted to anything. He did not loose his appetite at all but he is VERY food motivated. Definitely a vet visit and ask for the drawer test. Good luck and I hope it's something minor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waffles Posted August 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Thanks for the thoughts everyone. He has been eating normal except this morning he didn't get up to eat but he also didn't get up to greet me when I came home! But he ate just fine once I moved the food right under his face so I think he didn't want to get up even just a couple feet to get to his food. For now he is resting and I will see how he feels tonight to see whether or not I will give him another Aspirin. If he isn't good tomorrow then I will call the vet first thing. Will he do a drawer test right away with these symptoms or should I ask for it? Do they always sedate for it or no? I don't want to go in and just be sent home with pain pills and a "wait and see" approach. I would like to know right away if it is something more serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waffles Posted August 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 I will also ask about TBD's as well if we do go in. I have yet to find one on him but that doesn't mean much. We live in an area and frequent areas known for ticks so I think your suggestion is valid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedismom Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 I hope it's nothing serious. Just wanted to share that this has happened to Jedi several times. I feel it and I find or see nothing. A couple of times I was pretty sure it was a bee sting. Once or twice probably a muscle strain. I take him to the vet right way, and the first thing we always try is an anti-inflammatory. He's always been better after 24 hrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Lameness could be almost anything, from a stone bruise on the pad (they don't always react to manipulation, but walking on a gravel surface will cause a limp), an injured toe, all sorts of muscle strains or sprains, ACL, hips, back, etc., and yes, a vaccination site. I think you have two choices. You can crate rest him for 3-4 days and see if there's any improvement (in which case continue with the crate rest) or you can take him to the vet and ask for a few specific tests, though generally I think I vet would do a drawer test for a dog presenting lame on a hind leg. They don't always sedate them for that test; it just depends on how relaxed or resistant the dog is. I wouldn't necessarily rush to test for TBDs in this case, but if the lameness were to shift to different limbs, then I'd definitely consider testing. Bottom line: If you're the worrying type, take him to the vet and get him examined. If you're not the worrying type, try a few days of strict crate rest and then re-evaluate. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 I would suggest a vet check, making sure the vet is aware of the lepto vaccination. As Julie said, the drawer test may be done with or without sedation, depending on the dog. It is pretty definitive for an ACL injury/tear. There can be many reasons for this, and although the toe-touching is considered a classic symptom of an ACL injury, other problems can also result in this. And, not all ACL injuries result in surgery, depending on severity - Celt's first injury to his ACL was treated conservatively with rest and Rimadyl, and he stayed sound for almost three years before the ACL finally tore completely. If he hadn't been quite so active, with stockwork, rough ground (and all sorts of ground, muddy, slick, icy, snowy, etc.), and hard-running play, he might not have re-injured his ACL. In my experience, all of my dogs' occasional limping episodes have resolved themselves with rest in a short while, except Celt's this spring, of course. Here's hoping all will be well! PS - Although lepto vaccinations are known to cause reactions in some animals, they are subcutaneous shots and I don't think they would cause muscle pain but I might well be wrong. I've give quite a few to my own dogs and my daughter's dogs, and none have had a reaction so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnewe2 Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Reason I say maybe TBD is that he is off his food and is generally not feeling well, or that was my take on the post. If my dogs are hurt (like torn pads or soft tissue) they are still generally ready to go until the take a step on the sore leg/foot. But not lethargically laying around. But that's just my take on the op. I'd really be thinking more about the vaccine since the lepto vaccine was so recent. I've gotten so worried over things like vaccine reactions, reactions to flea meds and what not. Guess I'm a bit paranoid compared to what I once was. Having suffered through seizures which I think started from chemicals used for flea treating I'm jumpy about those things. That and having so many TBD issues from no treatment in a timely manner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiga's_mom Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 They didn't sedate Tiga when they did the drawer test but he's a pretty calm dog. If it was Annie she would likely need sedation. His was completely torn and he also tore most of the meniscus. We didn't have to ask for the drawer test but I guess it would depend on the vet. The drawer test is pretty fast and definitive. Good luck and I hope you get it all figured out and that it's not too serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcv-border Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 What side was the Lepto vaccine administered? There is a possibility that the vaccine could have caused the limping and malaise, but I would think that the two are correlated only if the vaccine was given on the R side (which is the side you say he is favoring). I had a vet that would always give the Rabies vaccine on the R side (R for rabies) and the Lepto vaccine on the L side. If the dog had a reaction, she could tell which vaccine was responsible. Jovi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waffles Posted August 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 So last night by 5:30 he was up and throwing toys at me. He was still limping but putting his whole pad down at times. We obviously just ignored him and put all toys away but he was seeming to be in better spirits. He ate just fine. I put him in his crate and when he got out this morning he shot out and jumped on the bed before I could stop him. We watched him walk and he looks 98% normal-no one would know anything was wrong but I think he is still walking a bit soft on that side, especially on our gravel driveway. He is back to his normal self, wanting to play outside, etc. We will rest him obviously though. If it were something serious would he be so much better overnight? I am encouraged to hear others whose dogs recovered from limping overnight but I am puzzled as to why. Hopefully all the rest yesterday and overnight really did help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waffles Posted August 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 What side was the Lepto vaccine administered? There is a possibility that the vaccine could have caused the limping and malaise, but I would think that the two are correlated only if the vaccine was given on the R side (which is the side you say he is favoring). I had a vet that would always give the Rabies vaccine on the R side (R for rabies) and the Lepto vaccine on the L side. If the dog had a reaction, she could tell which vaccine was responsible. Jovi The only vaccine he got was the lepto and I was so distracted feeding him treats that I can't remember where it was given. I think we may pass on the vaccine next year. It's so hard to know what is right for your dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frisbeegirl Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 Glad to here it. Keeva had only received the first Lepto vaccine and was to go back for the booster. It was given on her right side and the morning after the vaccine she had trouble with her back leg as if she had a muscle cramp. She was so disoriented didn't recognize water bowl/food bowl. I remember crying thinking that there was something wrong with my pup. After calling the vet, it took maybe two days and she was back to normal. My vet said No More Lepto! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiga's_mom Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 So glad he's feeling better today. If it was a fully torn ACL he would likely still be limping. Tiga tore his in March and we rested him completely for a month with zero improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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