Lame Rear Leg ....

Hi, our Bella is 2 this month and we adopted her about 9 months ago and its the best thing we every did.

However we've noticed recently that her back leg/legs are getting very lame after she has been out for an energetic walk. She tends to come home and get on the sofa or her bed and when she gets up to move she literally hops on three legs keeping the rear left leg off the ground. She walks like she has a dead leg and is twisting her body when she walks.

After some regular movement she starts to use it again, but is very lame then after a good nights sleep she is up and ready to go again and you wouldn't think anything was wrong.

We've taken her to the vets twice and 'Sod's Law' says each time we go there she isn't lame and she makes no noise under examination. The vets keep telling us to keep an eye on her and come back. On short road walks she is generally ok, but over the fields and downs and being as energetic as she is, she gets lame when she arrives home.

Before we go back for the third visit I thought I would ask you kind people for any advice?

I've Googled the subject and read many versions of the aliment (OCD etc), but thought I would join a forum and ask the experts for some help for I go back to the vets.

Many Thanks

It could be a mucsle strain. They are very atlhletic and these things happen. Perhaps she would be okay if she were allowed to rest for a few days. Difficult I know but maybe just walks and no running and jumping for a bit and it will sort itself out.

i reply to in your welcome post i'm not sure if you saw it

It does sound like hes got the same problem as my sam, he had a bone growing into joint & ripped most of his ligaments, if your vets cant fix the problem theres a vet in nottingham that is best joint specialist in the uk, i dont know if you want to travel all that way.

http://www.buckleyhousevets.co.uk/about-buckley-house/

people from as far has scotland goto him becasue hes that good, I wish i'd gone to him first becasue my local vet didn't have a clue what was wrong i had x-ray after x-ray i must spend 100s, But after a while i decided i will have to go to someone who works on joints all the time and my vet recommended this vet.

if you get in contact with this vet they may recoomend a vet closer to you.

I'd certainly explore Steve's input. Also - have you got a video camera/phone or camera with a video function? In that case make sure you video it if it happens again so you have something to show the vet even if she's okay when you get an appointment. I'd say that. a 2 yr old dog that regularly strains a muscle has some sort of underlying issue.

That's a really good idea, I didn't think about videoing her limping. I will do that next time.

I'm confident its not a muscle strain as she's had this problem for a while now and she's been rested on numerous occassions and then still limps.

Steve thanks for your original response, I have held onto those details until I have seen my local vet again. The only problem we have is that Bella gets car sick so I cant just drive up the M1 at the moment.

I'll see what else the vet says and update all after.

Thanks again for your replies....

Sometimes you need to go to a specialist for the right diagnosis, there must be one near to you ask your vets for referral.

Finally got an appointment at our vets for this Thursday evening so I will take the advice from the forum with me and update all on the progress.

Sounds good! Keep us posted.

Dont want to freak you out but thats what happened with Cairo, same thing, go for a walk, he would start limping when he had rested, or hoping on 3 legs, holding the same leg up. Turns out it was a Luxating Patella,basically his knee didnt quite fit and was popping out thankfully we were insured, he had the op and is perfectly fine now.



there's a link into the thread
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t3813-luxating-patella?highlight=luxating+patella

Yes, I was going to mention luxating patella. It will usually make a dog hop like that. It can come on after exercise, or sometimes even when the dog's just walking along - the kneecap just slips out of its groove.

An operation is often the best way forward.

Bell Bell wrote:
I've Googled the subject and read many versions of the aliment (OCD etc), but thought I would join a forum and ask the experts for some help for I go back to the vets.

Many Thanks

P.S. It isn't OCD.

I think its me with the OCD .. sorry!

I've also read up on the Luxating Patella problem and it ticks all the boxes with Bella.

If the x-rays show that problem it will mean she'll have to have an operation.

I've checked her insurance premium and everything is in order and covered. To be honest I would give my last pound to make sure she wasn't in any type of pain or discomfort.

I'll update all as we go... Thanks Again.

If you're unhappy with the vets opinion I would urge you to get a second opinion or insist on an x-ray, Our previous vet saw Digby twice over 4 months before I insisted on a second opinion, It turned out that he had a ruptured cruciate ligament which by then was a 60% rupture. these dogs have amazing pain tolerance and he was showing very little distress from it. Luckily we were referred to a very good surgeon and he's now running around as good as new. Hope she's better soon

Well Bella had a series of X-Rays last week at the vets and the results showed nothing unusal?

Her Patella is fine and in the right place, nothing dodgy around her hips or joints on the x-rays apart from some fluid on her knee. So the vet took a sample which is currently off being tested and he said from his first inspection the fluid looked clear and normal?

We get the results back in the next couple of days, so the next step is a specialist if they dont show up anything, he has someone in mind quite local. But i'm more in agreement with Jim Wells and Digby that this sounds like a rupture or cartilage problem around her knee.

We took her for an energetic walk yesterday and bless her last night she hopped on 3 legs all night. I know they have a strong pain barrier but it breaks my heart to see her in any distress.

When I know more I will let all know...

thats what my local vet kept telling me. there was nothign wrong

i bet he got the same problem as my sam.

poor Bella.. and poor you! Yes it is horrible to see our beloved doggies suffering, they are so brave aren't they... Hope you get it sorted out..sending you both a hug!

Thank you ... I'm still waiting on the results so watch this space.

I am !!!

The results from the fluid on her knee came back as absolutley fine!

Therefore the vet has recommended her to a specialist called Davies Vet Specialists in Higham Gobion Herts, anyone heard of them?

We should know more after the 1st September, fingers crossed.

I haven't heard of them, but I haven't ever had to use one. They look good from what I read .
http://vetspecialists.co.uk/?gclid=CJiT7ejeyaoCFVEi3wodVi-DzQ

Good luck and do let us know how he gets on, fingers crossed

really hope she gets on okay and the specialist is able to shed some light on what is happening.

Yes please let us know how Bella goes..Bet you can't wait till the appointment.

The first appoinment we can get is the 1st September, so I will update all after we've been.

During our twice daily walks i've spoken to a couple of people who have visited this Davies Vet Specialist and they sing their praises. One woman actually said they kept her Springer Spaniel in and next day provided a 6 page report on her dogs actual condition which they recitified a week or so later!

I know this isn't going to be cheap, but thanks to a credit card with a lot of room on it and an insurance policy she will get sorted ASAP.

To be honest I would sell a kidney if it meant she wasn't in any pain.

I'll give all an update once we've been to the specialist.

Hope she turns out okay and will wait for the update.

Hope it all turns out ok

will be thinking of you..hope all goes well XX

ps loving your avatar pic !!

hello

Hi all, apologies for the late update but it has been manic with caring for Bella.

We finally got to the bottom of the problem with her lame leg. The initial visit to the vets and xrays taken didn't show anything abnormal apart from some water on her knee and she was then referred to Davies Vet Specialist in Bedfordshire.

Davies Vet Specialist then confirmed that she had a cruciate Ligament Rupture of 40% in her knee and operated next day. Below I have attached a link to their monthly magazine which has a full page write up about her condition.

http://vetspecialists.co.uk/downloads/Newsletter_Summer2011.pdf

She stayed in for 2 nights and was released on the 3rd day with a metal plate in her knee and a nice 4 inch scare on her leg (stitches coming out Wednesday). She had the hump with us for 2 days for putting her in doggy prison

According to the Specialist she had a 40% tear of her left rear ligament behind her knee and the water on the knee indicated this, however they still had to operate to confirm how bad the rupture was and whether it needed a metal plate or not, then whilst in surgery they implanted the plate.

She now cant be walked for 6 weeks and needs to be rested. We've had to buy stair gates etc and she is only allowed short toilet walks on a lead for 5 mins at a time twice a day.

However hopefully this will resolve the problem, but what I will say is if your dog has the same problem PLEASE take my advice and make sure you have pet insurance before hand. Luckily Bella was insured but after the Vet bill and Specialist Operation charges we are lucky to get change out of £3500!

I've decided to upgrade our insurance policy because we only took out the minimal insurance thinking she would be ok being only 2 years old and a rock steady staffy! How wrong I was!

She goes back in 6 weeks for a second round of xrays at the specialist(another £500 minimum) so i'll give an update then, or feel free to ask any questions.

Thanks

Glad she seems like she will be okay. Having to rest her must be very hard as they are so energetic. Pet insurance is definately a must as more often than not it pays off. Wish Bella a fully and speedy recovery and let us now how the next visit goes.

wow poor Bella..and poor you!! $$$$$$$$$$.

but glad you found out what it was, so hopefully now she is on the slow road to recovery..

Thanks guys, yeah its a slow recovery process but we cant wait until we can take her for a walk and she's fine when she gets home and not limping around in pain.

Short term pain for long term gain as they say.....

Sorry I missed this thread I was on holiday. I am so glad that you got to the bottom of bellas problem and wish her a very speedy recovery

Glad to hear you got a diagnosis! Hope she is feeling better soon!

Thanks for your kind comments...

Bella stitches came out today and the vet at Pets At Home said they simply dont have the technology to repair ligaments like the specialist do. They would have tried to sow the ligaments together somehow.

So albeit the op was expensive the specialist do have the advanced technology than standard practices at the minute.

She goes back to Davies Specialists in 6 weeks, so until then its short 5 minute lead walks 2/3 times a day.

Great news, you must be pleased., although a staffy+short walks=Pain in the bum Good luck and I hope she is now on the start of the road to recovery Xx

Oh god I am worried now! Sandi has had the same symptoms for a few weeks now, you wouldn't know anything is wrong when you see her out and about, she charges around like normal. but at home when she gets up she limps. She also really struggles to climb the stairs. She used to run up them, now she does more of a bunny hop. She is going to the vets tomorrow. Thank god I have insurance. I can't imagine keeping her on her lead for 6 weeks though, she will go mad!! I am glad you got Bella sorted.

Oh bless Sandi, sounds like the condition Bella had. We would take her for an energetic run and then she would spend the rest of the evening hopping on 3 legs or acting really lame.

I expect your vet wont find anything to start off with and will advise rest, which mine did. If Sandi doesn't improve after that I bet you will be sent to a specialist .... make sure your insurance is up to date tho.

Hope everything goes ok, she might only have a sprain!

Hi, well its been 4 months now and the operation has been successful.

We finally let Bella off the lead after 3 months of short lead walks.

Over the last month she has built up the strength in her leg again and can now have full energic runs most nights.

When she is really energetic she gets a little lame but is ok again the next day, but we discourage her from it.

But thankfully no more hoping on three legs and whimpering.

It was very much short term pain for long term gain and I have my loving staffy back on all 4 paws.

Thank you all for your caring words and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas

So glad to hear Bella is on the mend after her surgery, it can be a very worrying time. A very Merry Christmas to you too.

I am glad to hear it. I think I am going to take Sandi back to the vets, the specialist didn't think Sandi was bad enough to operate and told us to see how it goes. He said the ligament may tear completely and then she would need surgery. I am not happy just leaving it. Her leg is getting worse, she lifts it off the ground a lot now. It is good to hear your success story, as I am worried about the surgery, especially the rest period afterwards!

Good news on Bella.