Limping after exercise

Would really appreciate your thoughts, Digby is a 3 1/2 year old blue staff weighing in at 25kilo's, His mother was an irish blue so he's tall as well as stocky. We exercise him every day for at least an hour, off road around our local forrest which is hilly, His favourite game is to chase stones, he never picks them up just runs after them. We often run him up and down hills. He loves this and would keep going forever if we didn't stop him. I've noticed recently that after he's rested at home for a while he limps quite badly, finding it difficult to sit, This goes away after a couple of hours and he's back to is normal self. We take him to hydrotherapy fortnightly which we've continue after surgery for a ruptured cruciate ligament 18 months ago. They say they can't feel anything wrong and I wonder if we are over exercising him. Would love to hear from you and your experiences.

Poor Digby! The only thing I thought, is if its something to do with the operation 18 months ago? It could be over exercising I guess, does he limp at all whilst playing or only when you get back?? I haven't any experience on it though I'm afraid.

Cairo does this as well, once he has been out on a decent run, he comes back and sleeps then when he wakes he limps a little, its like
he stiffens up on one leg, half hour later and he is fine though

It could be linked to the operation. Maybe it's stiffening up after exercise?

Bugsy got like this, he was about 22kg, loved chasing stones and after a walk would limp slightly. We thought nothing off it and shrugged it off as 'after excerise aches'!

The trouble with staffies is they will keep going and going even if they are in pain. I would think that it does have something to do with the op, in Bugsys case it was osteoarthritis which in the end had virtually crippled him.

Maybe worth thinking about giving Digby Gloucosamine (I think you can get treats with it added).

Obviously I'm not a vet, this is just our experience!

stich has had limps before after he has had a good run,but just toke it as him been a bit stiff and shacky after his run and that.. he is 4yrs old now so iv started to take it all a bit easyer with the runs and that...


but then it might have some thing to do with digby,s op... you could try a diffrent vet for a second appinion...

Please please please dont anyone take this as critisism in any way as its not intended. Ive learned the hard way with horses and vets that if the animals not got good conformation its joints at some stage will be effected as the movement is not right arthritis usually sets in and this can happen at any age to any dog. You can have a very fit and athletic dog with arthritis its just wear and tear, weight, old age, ect the joint when still will fill with fluid and cause discomfort when its being used the fluid will disperse a little. It is usually seen when the dog has been out rested then they seem to be stiff and ache but being excercised will help and maybe add oil to there diet. When its severe the joint will not move freely and then muscle around the joint will start to shrink.

You have a good point there gem. Maybe some glaucosamine will help with the stiffness.

Gem/Caryll

Can this happen with pups took Milly over rucks again yesterday( big hills near us) she was off the lead and loved it but last night seemed a little stiff do you think she just did to much. i am a little reluctant to take her out today, went to park this morning but only for 10 mins.

Tracie-Milly-Moos Mum wrote:Gem/Caryll

Can this happen with pups took Milly over rucks again yesterday( big hills near us) she was off the lead and loved it but last night seemed a little stiff do you think she just did to much. i am a little reluctant to take her out today, went to park this morning but only for 10 mins.

Please dont worry Tracie im sure its just like you if you went to the gym first time you would be aching well milly had a ball yesterday and its excercise she not used too so thats probly why shes a bit stiff its not really the same.She is stiff but walking around will be okay.
But pups can suffer from arthritis when not conformed right, Im sure your girl has a happy healthy life ahead dont worry

Thanks Gem she is fine now we will just watch how much we do next time it was just so nice and she loved it time got away with us and when i looked at my watch we had been out over 2 and a half hours.

Tracie-Milly-Moos Mum wrote:Gem/Caryll

Can this happen with pups took Milly over rucks again yesterday( big hills near us) she was off the lead and loved it but last night seemed a little stiff do you think she just did to much. i am a little reluctant to take her out today, went to park this morning but only for 10 mins.

At 6 months you may have overdone it a little. I wouldn't worry too much - just restrict her exercise a little over the next couple of days & see how she goes!

Oh, and gem, it's been a loooong time since I went to a gym!

I took the pups to the beach couple days ago and after they have ran 200 miles chasing eachother Paris normally has a limp. I just thought she had maby pulled a muscle but my partner saw her licking her leg so investigated... She had a tiny bit of grass fron the dunes stuck in her leg. Obviously he kept it to show me and make me feel bad lol!

Thank you all for your replies, It's been really helpful. I think I worry too much after last time. It took three vets before a ruptured cruciate ligament was confirmed, all through the examinations Digby just stood there, didn't flinch, or look in the least bit in pain, when we saw the x-ray we were horrified that he had been running around on it. Staffies seem to have an enormously high pain threshold. I have added Glucosimine to his diet alongside the sardines he has weekly. I'll continue to watch him and have alternated long walks with shorter less intense walks.

Let us know how you get on??

jill wells wrote:Staffies seem to have an enormously high pain threshold.

Ain't that the truth!!

We just shortened Bugsy's walks on the advice of our vet and that helped a lot. But if I was you I would take vets advice over mine

Took Digby to Hydrotherapy and she noticed he was pushing his leg out to the side when he was swimming, She advised us to see the vet, so we're off to see her on monday, dreading another cruciate injury. I hated seeing him look so helpless after surgery last time and it's so difficult keeping him calm, Keeping my fingers crossed.

Fingers crossed it's something less than that!

Keep my fingers crossed that Digby is back to his healthy self very soon and it's nothing too serious

Poor you, I do hope you get a positive result. Try not to worry yourself silly till you know x