I have a Shepherd/Sharp-ei mix female who's about 6 years old (looks more
like Shepherd, so that is probably the predominate gene in her).

About 3-4 weeks ago, she started limping when she got up from having laid
down for a length of time. The area giving her problems is one of her rear
legs. I hadn't thought much about it at first, as she is always playing
rough with my other dog, falling off the bed, or doing something or other in
the past that caused temporary limps. After so long however, I'm probably
going to take her to the vet - but wanted some opinions first.

She is not indicating that there is any pain whatsoever in this leg. No
licking or yelping at all. It's just when she lays down or sits for a
while, when she first gets up it seems very stiff and/or weak. Sometimes
she just barely limps, and a couple of times it looks like she can't put any
weight on it at all. However, once she's up and walking around for a couple
of minutes, everything just about seems to return to normal. If I let her
outside for a while, when she comes in she's trotting like nothing's going
on.

I've massaged her leg and felt around, and nothing feels abnormal.

To the more experienced - what does this sound like?

Thanks


Greg

If there was no problem prior to a month ago then I'm going to guess that
she has done some damage to her cruciate ligament. Because she can "walk it
off" it quite possibly is a strain or partial tear.A vet can manipulate the
leg to test for the ligament holding or being gone. It is called a drawer
test. In addition x-rays are taken to exclude fracture or joint problems
like dysplasia.
See a vet. If it turns out that I am right (hope not) check in at the Yahoo
group "Orthodogs". Lots of info specific to this injury and lots of support
if it turns out that she requires surgery.
Carol Ann

"DigitalCameraBasics" wrote in message
hlink.net...
I have a Shepherd/Sharp-ei mix female who's about 6 years old (looks more
like Shepherd, so that is probably the predominate gene in her).

About 3-4 weeks ago, she started limping when she got up from having laid
down for a length of time. The area giving her problems is one of her
rear
legs. I hadn't thought much about it at first, as she is always playing
rough with my other dog, falling off the bed, or doing something or other
in
the past that caused temporary limps. After so long however, I'm probably
going to take her to the vet - but wanted some opinions first.

She is not indicating that there is any pain whatsoever in this leg. No
licking or yelping at all. It's just when she lays down or sits for a
while, when she first gets up it seems very stiff and/or weak. Sometimes
she just barely limps, and a couple of times it looks like she can't put
any
weight on it at all. However, once she's up and walking around for a
couple
of minutes, everything just about seems to return to normal. If I let her
outside for a while, when she comes in she's trotting like nothing's going
on.

I've massaged her leg and felt around, and nothing feels abnormal.

To the more experienced - what does this sound like?

Thanks


Greg

If there was no problem prior to a month ago then I'm going to guess that
she has done some damage to her cruciate ligament. Because she can "walk it
off" it quite possibly is a strain or partial tear.A vet can manipulate the
leg to test for the ligament holding or being gone. It is called a drawer
test. In addition x-rays are taken to exclude fracture or joint problems
like dysplasia.
See a vet. If it turns out that I am right (hope not) check in at the Yahoo
group "Orthodogs". Lots of info specific to this injury and lots of support
if it turns out that she requires surgery.
Carol Ann

"DigitalCameraBasics" wrote in message
hlink.net...
I have a Shepherd/Sharp-ei mix female who's about 6 years old (looks more
like Shepherd, so that is probably the predominate gene in her).

About 3-4 weeks ago, she started limping when she got up from having laid
down for a length of time. The area giving her problems is one of her
rear
legs. I hadn't thought much about it at first, as she is always playing
rough with my other dog, falling off the bed, or doing something or other
in
the past that caused temporary limps. After so long however, I'm probably
going to take her to the vet - but wanted some opinions first.

She is not indicating that there is any pain whatsoever in this leg. No
licking or yelping at all. It's just when she lays down or sits for a
while, when she first gets up it seems very stiff and/or weak. Sometimes
she just barely limps, and a couple of times it looks like she can't put
any
weight on it at all. However, once she's up and walking around for a
couple
of minutes, everything just about seems to return to normal. If I let her
outside for a while, when she comes in she's trotting like nothing's going
on.

I've massaged her leg and felt around, and nothing feels abnormal.

To the more experienced - what does this sound like?

Thanks


Greg

"DigitalCameraBasics" wrote ...
licking or yelping at all. It's just when she lays down or sits for a
while, when she first gets up it seems very stiff and/or weak. Sometimes
she just barely limps, and a couple of times it looks like she can't put
any
weight on it at all. However, once she's up and walking around for a
couple
of minutes, everything just about seems to return to normal. If I let her
outside for a while, when she comes in she's trotting like nothing's going
on.

This sounds very similar to Murphy, who has arthritis in one hip. She used
to get really stiff and sore after a big playing session, and if she and her
sister had been really going mad she'd be sore all the next day.

Eventually the limp just never went away, so we went to see the vet, who
said it was arthritis. We tried the cartrophen shots, but they didn't help
much, so we're keeping them up 3-monthly to try and prevent further
deterioration. Rimadyl helped, but it upset her stomach (she's allergic to
beef and it's beef flavoured) so we've settled on Norocarp tablets (given to
her in a piece of cheese each morning) and a glucosamine/chondroitin
supplement on her food. She's doing great now - in fact the vet reminded us
that we need to always bear in mind that she *does* have arthritis, even if
she doesn't look like it, and not to let her run or play too hard as she
will aggravate the hip joint.

When it's quite bad we can feel the muscles just in front of her hips, they
get quite tight and any time she stops next to either my partner or myself
we'll give them a wee massage - your vet can probably show you exactly where
they are.

Definitely see your vet, but if it's just arthritis chances are it can be
managed very well with injections or anti-inflammatory pills (we were going
to try acupuncture on Murphy, but it settled right down so we didn't need
it). Some dogs even become pain-free just with a glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM
supplement.

There are definitely a few options for treatment of arthritis.

cheers
Rachel & Murphy
(New Zealand)

"DigitalCameraBasics" wrote ...
licking or yelping at all. It's just when she lays down or sits for a
while, when she first gets up it seems very stiff and/or weak. Sometimes
she just barely limps, and a couple of times it looks like she can't put
any
weight on it at all. However, once she's up and walking around for a
couple
of minutes, everything just about seems to return to normal. If I let her
outside for a while, when she comes in she's trotting like nothing's going
on.

This sounds very similar to Murphy, who has arthritis in one hip. She used
to get really stiff and sore after a big playing session, and if she and her
sister had been really going mad she'd be sore all the next day.

Eventually the limp just never went away, so we went to see the vet, who
said it was arthritis. We tried the cartrophen shots, but they didn't help
much, so we're keeping them up 3-monthly to try and prevent further
deterioration. Rimadyl helped, but it upset her stomach (she's allergic to
beef and it's beef flavoured) so we've settled on Norocarp tablets (given to
her in a piece of cheese each morning) and a glucosamine/chondroitin
supplement on her food. She's doing great now - in fact the vet reminded us
that we need to always bear in mind that she *does* have arthritis, even if
she doesn't look like it, and not to let her run or play too hard as she
will aggravate the hip joint.

When it's quite bad we can feel the muscles just in front of her hips, they
get quite tight and any time she stops next to either my partner or myself
we'll give them a wee massage - your vet can probably show you exactly where
they are.

Definitely see your vet, but if it's just arthritis chances are it can be
managed very well with injections or anti-inflammatory pills (we were going
to try acupuncture on Murphy, but it settled right down so we didn't need
it). Some dogs even become pain-free just with a glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM
supplement.

There are definitely a few options for treatment of arthritis.

cheers
Rachel & Murphy
(New Zealand)